COLUMBIA -The House on Wednesday passed a bill that forbids state agencies, including colleges, from hiring lobbyists.

The bill, if passed by the Senate and signed into law, would nullify Coastal Carolina University's $64,000 contract with a lobbying firm that includes former state Rep. Mark Kelley of Myrtle Beach.

A college foundation that does not receive taxpayer money could pay for lobbying, however.

The bill originally banned all lobbying by state and local governments, but that was changed because legislators said they could not forbid local governments from hiring lobbyists.

That didn't stop some on the House floor from trying to change it again.

Rep. Billy Witherspoon, R-Conway, who has often complained of being lobbied with taxpayer money, proposed to ban lobbying by the S.C. Association of Counties.

Witherspoon said Horry County pays $30,000 a year in dues to the group, which comes from tax money, "and they use that against us to lobby."

Witherspoon's amendment was defeated 54-48.

Members spent hours debating whether the proposal should apply to all lobbying by state agencies. Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, tried to ban all state agency lobbying.

Harrison said he didn't have a problem with lobbyists, "but what I do have a problem with is the inconsistency we're showing here."

There is a difference between lobbying by state employees and when it is done for an agency by a hired lobbyist, said Rep. Rick Quinn, R-Columbia.

"It is the difference between communication and political influence," he said.

Hired lobbyists usually represent many companies that could contribute to campaigns, and they often have personal ties with legislators that they use to influence lawmaking. Employees don't have that edge, Quinn said.

The change making the bill apply only to hired lobbyists passed 59-45, and the bill passed 81-23 after several other attempts to amend it.

After a third reading today, which is a formality, the bill will be sent to the Senate.