A move by the state General Assembly to cap local property tax assessments is poor public policy, and the way it came about is a bad reflection on our community and state.

It was tacked onto another bill by state Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, and it sailed through the Senate and House in the last two days of the legislative session.

Richardson should know better. His own county seriously explored a 15 percent cap before dropping it as unworkable. Richardson said he heard many cries for property tax relief. But that doesn't mean the assessment cap is an appropriate response. And it does not justify his reasoning for the last-minute add-on: "If I hadn't done it, I'm sure someone else would have." That's a terrible reason to do anything, much less tinker with the income and borrowing power of local governments.

As House and Senate committees looked at the idea earlier this year, surely they stumbled across these facts that should have killed this slapdash legislation in its tracks:

The constitutionality of it has not been established. It is now before the court. The legislature either cannot remember what it previously has done, or it enjoys the second kick of a mule. It previously approved a local option for a 15 percent cap on property reassessments. One county adopted the cap and it has been sued for it. It is surreal that the legislature would now mandate all 46 counties to do something that might not be legal.

The method of imposing property taxes is in the state constitution. If the legislature wants change, it should pursue constitutional change. It is telling that it instead opted for a bobtailed bill.

The precept of Home Rule should prevent the legislature from meddling in local tax decisions. If legislators were listening to the public as much as they claim, surely they heard cries from towns, counties and school boards -- all elected by local citizens -- saying it won't work. They say, among other things, that you can't get something for nothing. Somebody has to pay for government services, and to pretend that property value has not increased is folly. It merely shifts the tax burden to the great benefit of the wealthy.

Gov. Mark Sanford should veto the bill.