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Article published Jan 11, 2004
Fresh start for Sanford
AMY GEIER EDGAR
Associated Press
COLUMBIA -- After facing criticism last year
for not doing a good job of communicating his agenda to state lawmakers, Gov.
Mark Sanford seems to be starting the new legislative session on a different
note.Lawmakers praised Sanford last week for having early discussions with
legislative leadership and for creating an executive spending plan that can be
used as a starting point for House budget writers when they return to the
Statehouse on Tuesday.Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman praised Sanford
for his realistic proposal, released Thursday.House Ways and Means Chairman
Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, noted that Sanford met last week with legislative
staff and GOP leadership to discuss the budget."I think he's trying very hard to
start off on the right foot," Harrell said.The relationship between Sanford and
the General Assembly has been rocky from the beginning.The governor annoyed some
legislators when he vetoed local issue bills that his predecessors routinely
allowed to become law. Sanford said the bills were illegal special
legislation.Sanford also told lawmakers that if they didn't go along with his
plans to raise the cigarette tax and lower the income tax, he would go to their
districts to pressure them to change their minds.Sanford said the improved
communication is the result of a conscious effort."Being governor is a learning
process. I'm new to the system, and I'm learning," Sanford said. "We're doing a
better job communicating with lawmakers."Tom DeLoach, chief executive officer of
the South Carolina Business and Industry Political Education Committee, has
noticed the change in the air at the Statehouse.BIPEC worked recently with staff
from the Governor's Office as well as House and Senate leaders. The Governor's
Office has made "significant strides and gone beyond the call of duty to
strengthen communications," DeLoach said.Sanford must cooperate with the General
Assembly if he expects to advance key pieces of his agenda -- including his
restructuring plan and income tax proposal. The governor's first year passed
without major pieces of his agenda being approved.But Sanford is making
progress, said Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon."In many
ways he's kind of growing into the job and realizing how you have to proceed to
get things done," Huffmon said.