State legislators should do more for government restructuring than the half-measures they have approved so far this session. Gov. Mark Sanford has made a compelling case that the state's chief executive should have greater authority over executive functions of state government.

So far, the House has approved a bill that would give state voters a chance to decide whether only two constitutional officers should be appointed by the governor. Proposals for administrative restructuring bills are substantially weaker than what Mr. Sanford has sought.

The governor reaffirmed his intention on Tuesday "to push for more" on behalf of his reform agenda, citing his duty to the state's four million residents whom he says deserve greater accountability and increased efficiency in state government. He's right.

Mr. Sanford emphasized the contrast between his statewide constituency and the parochial scope of individual legislators in remarks during House Speaker David Wilkins' weekly program on S.C. Education Television. Unfortunately, the governor has executive authority over less than 20 percent of state government.

Granted, the House plan to let voters decide whether the state superintendent of education should be appointed by the governor offers the opportunity to extend executive authority over one of the state's most important responsibilities. The House also has agreed to put the secretary of state question on the ballot.

The Legislature would be better advised to allow government reorganization to be comprehensively considered, leading up to a statewide referendum. The governor has urged that the commissioner of agriculture and adjutant general also be included on the list. And he has recommended that the governor and lieutenant governor run as a ticket in the general election, as do the president and vice president at the national level. The Senate should enlarge the scope of the referendum.

Legislative proposals for a Department of Administration still leave substantial authority in the hands of the state Budget and Control Board, of which the governor is only one of five members. The board controls personnel matters, purchasing and property management. More accountability is needed for operations that should be overseen by the executive branch.

The Senate plan for a health agencies merger also falls far short of what the governor has sought. Mr. Sanford has recommended a substantial consolidation that would reduce duplication and save millions annually in reduced administrative costs.

The Legislature still can advance the governor's reform agenda this session, if it chooses to do so. The governor should take every opportunity to push for approval of a restructuring agenda to give the state's chief executive the authority that the job requires. So far, legislative progress toward reform has been woefully inadequate.