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Surprises aren't expected in Sanford's State of the State speech

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Mark Sanford is expected to lay out a toned-down agenda for the Legislature in his State of the State speech Wednesday night.

For now, Sanford's office isn't talking much about his fourth agenda-setting speech, beyond saying there aren't many surprises in the hour-long address.

He's expected to talk about what elements of the Legislature's plans to cut residential property tax rates he supports as well as his proposal to spend $151 million in expected state surpluses for tax rebates amounting to about $150 per household.

In the past, Sanford has said property taxes aren't as much of a state priority as income taxes because local governments, not the state, controlled property taxes. The income tax break, he said, would help transform the state's economy.

But Sanford largely lost the income tax fight last year. Trotting that income tax break out again would be like "putting old wine in new bottles," said Neal Thigpen, a Francis Marion University political science professor.

Some people want to see what Sanford has to say about the Legislature's property tax cut efforts. A couple of weeks ago, he described the income tax rebate proposal as an installment on property tax relief.

Those words might be signs of a subtle makeover legislators are hoping for from Sanford after three years of clashes. "I think there's a new pragmatism this year in terms of relationships between the governor and the Legislature," College of Charleston political science professor Bill Moore said.

Then there's the state's economy and 7.1 percent unemployment rate. South Carolina's jobless rate is the nation's third highest, lower only than hurricane ravaged Mississippi and Louisiana.

While Sanford has been roundly criticized for the state's economic performance, don't expect him to say "I got the message," Thigpen said. "That's not Sanford for the most part," he said.

Sanford can play the issue a couple of ways, Moore said. "One way is to say, 'Had this proposal passed, things may have been different.' Another way is to say, "Pass my proposal in order to change this.' You can use it to try to make a positive out of a negative," Moore said.

Senate Minority Leader John Land will have five minutes to give the Democratic response to Sanford's speech. On Tuesday, Land said "I won't hold back a thing."

Sanford "absolutely needs to tell the people of South Carolina how he got us into 7.1 percent unemployment," Land said. "We aren't growing any jobs in South Carolina. They just aren't happening. He can't blame it on anybody else. He's been our governor for three years."

Land won't be the only critic waiting after the bright lights fade Wednesday night.

Three men already are campaigning to make Sanford's 2006 State of the State speech his last.

"We're hopeful he'll lay out a plan for how he'll put South Carolina back to work," said Joe Werner, spokesman for Florence Mayor Frank Willis's Democratic gubernatorial campaign.

Tim Shock, campaign manager for Democratic Sen. Tommy Moore's gubernatorial campaign, said he hoped Sanford spent time talking about the economy, too. "Over the last three years, he has not provided what we believe is necessary for economic development," Shock said.

Oscar Lovelace, Sanford's lone Republican primary opponent said the governor has to emphasize property taxes. "If Sanford fails to call for property tax reform in the State of the State address Wednesday, the property taxpayers of South Carolina will understand that he is intentionally snubbing the wishes of the people," he said.

For now, Sanford's focus is on outlining his plans for the state for 2006, spokesman Joel Sawyer said.

"The governor looks forward to outlining his vision for South Carolina for this year tomorrow night," Sawyer said Tuesday. "We'll leave the politics to the politicians."