Sanford remains resilient as proposals hit roadblocks

e-mail this story print this story Dan Hoover • Sanford remains resilient as proposals hit roadblocks (04/16/05) • Waiting for Wilkins near a boil (04/10/05) • Edwards goes to college to stay visible (04/02/05) • Sanford makes some inroads with Legislature (03/27/05) • Graham has had good timing, meteoric rise (03/19/05)

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He hauled pigs into the Statehouse, rode in a horse and buggy to make another point, went to the public, and showed up before committees to plead his case, complete with visual aids.

But as his third legislative session approaches the home stretch, Gov. Mark Sanford still has a mixed bag to show for it, and last week wasn't much help.

The Republican-held General Assembly — the Senate portion, anyway — again didn't buy fellow Republican Sanford's signature issue, income tax cuts for all. Instead, the House yielded to the Senate and signed on to a modest break for small business.

It appeared to be a case of salvaging a few slices for fear of losing the whole loaf.

At the same time, Sanford appears to show more resilience than frustration at seeing his signature issue stymied session after session.

An odyssey

As Sanford views it, the "larger cause" remains an odyssey, as he called it.

His $1 billion plan to reduce the state income tax to 4.8 percent from 7 percent in stages was again passed by the House early this year, but was thrown out by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence. He subbed in his own plan to pare two points from the small business tax of 7 percent.

Seeing the handwriting on the wall, the House agreed to the change Tuesday after Sanford signaled that his veto pen would remain in his pocket.

Happy face?

Sanford threw in the towel, put on a happy face, called it a "clear win" for those on the receiving end and quickly signed it into law.

While he didn't get what he wanted, Sanford said the $130 million, four-year cut still dovetails with his overall goal of making South Carolina more competitive in a world marketplace by placing small business on the same tax rung as big business.

"There's no silver bullet in regard to competitiveness, but a lot of little things we can do a bit better," Sanford said.

His other pet bill, the far more publicly contentious tuition tax credits for public and private school parents, is still before the House Ways and Means Committee, where Sanford says the head count is "tight" and opponents say they have the votes to kill it.

Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, placed it at 13-12 or 14-11 in favor.

The governor didn't get any help from the Board of Economic Advisers that put up its slide rules and computer models and weighed in Tuesday. It contended the plan could siphon up to $231 million from public education over five years, providing more fodder for opponents.

"The BEA clearly needs to go back to school," Sanford said. It's his math that works, he said.

Bright spot

There was one clearly bright personal spot. The conservative National Review published a glowing piece on Sanford headlined "A Carolina Kid" and tagged him as "one of the best new governors," who "knows how to make a message work."

Democratic Senate leader John Land III, D-Manning, argues that Sanford's inability to deliver on his prize bills shows "the governor is not relevant to the General Assembly."

In his 30 years in the Legislature, Land has served with five other governors, all of whom, when they made strong pitches for their defining issues,"were hard to turn down."

"This governor throws out ideas, but doesn't lobby for them then," Land said.

"I categorically disagree with that," Sanford said. "If somebody doesn't think we haven't pushed hard for income tax the last two years, they haven't been watching. What more could we have done?"

Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said he was glad Sanford had "realized the recklessness of his tax proposal and has now opted for the more reasonable and responsible plan."

Hutto, a potential Sanford re-election challenger next year, shouldn't get his hopes up. Sanford said he will definitely be back in 2006 with his thrice-rebuffed tax cut.

"We started a wave and got a third of a loaf, so we'll be back next year for more," he said.

To demonstrate his seriousness, Sanford is holding on to one of the two pens he used in signing the business tax cut bill — for use next year if the broader tax bill is enacted.

Steering clear of using names, Sanford spoke of getting "heartburn" from a Republican-held, tradition-steeped, often seniority-bound Senate, where he said there is "a philosophical disconnect" between younger members and older colleagues.

Next year?

Hutto and Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater, now have company in mulling over a run for Sanford's seat next year.

Florence Mayor Frank Willis told his hometown newspaper last week that although he hasn't made a final decision, he is "seriously considering" the race.

They are expected to be taking soundings during their party's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner on Thursday and state convention in Columbia on Friday.

State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, a Democrat, has left the door open, if no one else opts to tackle Sanford.

Moore said recently he is close to a decision, while Willis set an early May deadline for himself.

With the exception of Tenenbaum, of Columbia, none of the others hail from a population center and have no track record for raising the millions of dollars now required for competitive gubernatorial runs. Dan Hoover's column appears on Sunday. He can be reached at (864) 298-4883.