Posted on Sun, Jun. 04, 2006

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Sanford: Budget `an abysmal failure'

As primary nears, he plans to tour state to blast lawmakers for spending too much

HENRY EICHEL

heichel@charlotteobserver.com

COLUMBIA - With a week remaining before he faces voters in the June 13 Republican primary, Gov. Mark Sanford is going on the road to blast lawmakers for spending too much money.

The governor had wanted their votes on his budget vetoes on the record before the primary. But lawmakers refused to take the final step of signing the finished state budget before the regular session ended Thursday, thereby keeping it out of Sanford's hands until they return for a two-day wrap-up session June 14.

Sanford called the $6.6 billion budget, which goes into effect July 1, "an abysmal failure" as far as holding down government spending. Speaking to reporters in his office Friday, he said the new budget calls for a $1.1 billion, or 13 percent, increase over the year now ending.

"We have a real disconnect with what I think many people in South Carolina feel with regards to how much of their money ought to be spent in Columbia this year," said.

Since lawmakers won't return to the State House before the primary, Sanford said: "Then I'm going to go to them. I'm going to spend a whole lot of time next week moving around the state, talking about the numbers that I just walked you through. I don't think it's in the taxpayers' best interest to keep doing what we're doing."

Sanford is being challenged in the primary by Dr. Oscar Lovelace, a lightly financed political newcomer. While political observers say they don't expect Lovelace to defeat the governor, they are watching closely to see how big a percentage of the vote he gets against Sanford. The Republican nominee will face the Democratic primary winner.

In his news conference Friday, Sanford said S.C. government enjoyed a 20 percent increase in state revenue this last year. But instead of spending it, he said lawmakers should have saved it to meet future obligations, such as the $500 million that will be needed to make the state employees' health care plan solvent.

Asked if he plans to visit the home districts of lawmakers who had opposed him on the budget, Sanford hinted that he will.

"You're going to see me pop up a lot of different places," he said. "If you're going to cover large portions of South Carolina, it would be near impossible without happening to hit some of those districts."

The governor said the 2006 legislative session included some real accomplishments, however. Among the items he mentioned:

• Ending property taxes for school operations on owner-occupied homes, and instead raising the state sales tax by a penny to 6 percent. The sales tax on groceries will be cut to 3 percent.

• Creating a statewide charter school district, which will make it easier for people who want alternative public schools to start their own.

• Allowing the S.C. Heritage Trust to borrow $32 million to buy 39,000 acres of forest land for environmental preservation.

But Sanford said that a bill -- which lawmakers passed over his veto -- requiring local governments to compensate billboard owners before signs can be removed is a symptom of a serious problem.

"What that bill said was ... we have a political system that is too often driven by special interests," Sanford said.

What This Means To Voters

South Carolina will hold primaries June 13, open to all registered voters. All state offices and state House seats will be on the ballot, as well as many local offices. Because voters do not register by party, anyone may choose whether to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary, but not both. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.