COLUMBIA, S.C. - A bill that would eliminate elections for the education superintendent and agriculture commissioner is headed for the House floor.

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation that would allow the governor to appoint his own person to those positions.

But some members of the committee questioned whether it took power away from voters.

"My personal preference is people vote on as many offices as they can," said John Graham Altman, R-Charleston.

Rep. Ben Hagood, R-Sullivans Island, said the legislation would ask voters to amend the South Carolina Constitution.

"Let the citizens decide," Hagood said. "By passing this, we will be giving the people of this state the opportunity to do that."

Gov. Mark Sanford still wants the lieutenant governor jointly elected with governors and to give governors the power to appoint adjutant generals and secretaries of state.

The original measure, whose main sponsor is House Speaker David Wilkins, included appointing the secretary of state, but that provision was dropped earlier in subcommittee.