WILKINS PLANS BUSY SESSION

House Speaker David Wilkins said he wants the House to debate three major pieces of legislation today — marriage, property tax caps and income tax reduction.

Wilkins told House Republican Caucus members to expect to debate two bills on property tax reassessment. One would cap growth at 15 percent; the other would eliminate reassessments until the property changes hands.

The House then is expected to debate a proposal to deny acknowledgment and benefits to same-sex marriage partners wed in other states.

The House also will debate Gov. Mark Sanford’s plan to lower the state income tax to 4.75 percent over 10 years from 7 percent.

Wilkins told Republicans that they should expect to work from noon to as late as 7 p.m.

GOP SAYS RANKIN TO SWITCH PARTIES

Myrtle Beach state Sen. Luke Rankin plans to switch to the Republican Party, state GOP officials said Tuesday.

The move increases the GOP’s margin of control in the Senate to 27-19.

Rankin has served District 33 as a Democrat since 1993. In an open letter to Horry County residents, Rankin wrote he has considered which party affiliation would allow him to best serve his constituents.

“Because of recent rules changes in the South Carolina Senate, which require key leadership positions and committee assignments based on party affiliation as well as seniority, I am now certain that the needs of Horry County can be better served if I am a member of the majority party,” Rankin wrote.

In 2000, Republicans took control of the Senate for the first time since Reconstruction. The leadership then changed the Senate’s long-held seniority system.

In the past, seniority mattered as senators outlasted each other to gain power through committee chairmanships. Chairmanships now are handed out first by party, then by seniority.

CERTIFICATE PROPOSAL RECEIVES KEY READING

The Senate gave a key second reading to a bill Tuesday that would allow women who have stillborn babies in South Carolina to receive a state certificate.

The bill says a certificate may be issued for stillbirths that come after at least 20 weeks of pregnancy. The certificate would not be required, but those requesting it could get one from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

DHEC officials said it would be somewhere in between a death certificate and a birth certificate.

A similar bill already has passed the House.

QUALIFYING OPENS FOR JUNE PRIMARIES

Qualifying for June’s primary elections opened Tuesday.

Among those qualifying Tuesday were:

• Thomas Ravenel, the Charleston real estate developer and Republican who previously announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Fritz Hollings, who is retiring. A half-dozen other GOP and Democratic candidates are expected to qualify as well.

• House Speaker David Wilkins is seeking a 13th consecutive term for his District 24 seat. The Greenville attorney was elected speaker in December 1994, making him the first Republican speaker in South Carolina since Reconstruction. He is in his fifth term as speaker.

Qualifying continues through March 30.

-- From Staff and Wire Reports