COLUMBIA — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford laid out his vision of the state’s major needs and accomplishments Wednesday in his second State of the State address, straying little from the agenda he has pushed since taking office last year.
The governor’s speech played well with his colleagues in the state House and Senate and held few surprises, aside from a call for all South Carolinians to boost their activity level by following his example as he takes his entire family on a bicycle ride across the state this year.
Gov. Sanford touched on five "root causes" during the address, which he said haven’t changed since last year’s address: The public voice in state government, the economy, government structure, education and quality of life.
In his conversational style state lawmakers and regular citizens have come to recognize as uniquely his own, the governor drew applause from his audience as he recognized some of the changes the state already has seen during his administration.
He acknowledged the state’s persistent revenue shortfall, this year sitting at $350 million. That fact, he said, kept him from pushing forward a large group of new programs. Instead, he is continuing with his call for systemic changes inside state government.
"I would report to you that within my cabinet, restructuring has brought real savings and even greater accountability," he said, "What I must also report is that I have gone as far as I can go."
He asked state legislators to pass the restructuring bill now under consideration in the senate, and allow South Carolinians to vote in a referendum on changes to the way many state officials are chosen.
Sen. Billy O’Dell, R-Ware Shoals, who recently stepped over the aisle to make the Anderson-area delegation wholly Republican, is one of the bill’s co-sponsors. But he said he doesn’t support every single measure contained inside.
"I don’t think putting everything in state government under the governor’s office is good policy," he said.
Although the governor said he has done all he can in restructuring his cabinet’s offices, Sen. O’Dell said since most of state government is linked to education, what’s left over is in fact dominated by the governor’s office.
"It’s not like he doesn’t have a lot of authority to shape and move South Carolina," he said.
He and other Anderson area lawmakers who paused to talk with colleagues and reporters following the speech were selective in their praise for the governor, but said they have come to appreciate his casual speaking style and his sometimes off-the-wall ideas.
In particular, each was taken off guard by Gov. Sanford’s announcement that he will take his entire family on a cross-state bicycle ride this year to draw attention to the need for South Carolinians to increase their activity levels. That proposal drew a few laughs even as the governor invited everyone and anyone in South Carolina to come along on his trip.
But those kinds of proposals are what make the governor an effective leader, Sen. Bob Waldrep, R-Anderson said.
"He is a man of ideas," he said. "He is the most non-political person I’ve seen to be in politics in a long time."
While his bike ride idea might not inspire an immediate rush to the road, his government restructuring plans and some of his other initiatives are legitimately groundbreaking, Sen. Waldrep said.
"I think he’s showed a lot of courage in addressing some of the issues many leaders have avoided in the past," he said.
The Anderson lawmakers also noted that Gov. Sanford has shown himself to be pro-industry and growth, something that right now is often centered in the Upstate.
"I think he has a strong desire to sell South Carolina," Rep. Michael Thompson, R-Anderson said.
Emily Huigens can be reached at (800) 859-6397, Ext. 326 or by e-mail at huigensee@IndependentMail.com.
