COLUMBIA -- Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday asked lawmakers to help make South Carolina a land of "greater opportunity" by passing workers' compensation reform, capping college tuition costs and adding black judges to the state's benches.

In his fourth State of the State address since becoming governor, Sanford also warned that he would veto any property tax reform bill that resulted in increased taxes. He also asked lawmakers to approve his government restructuring plan, calling it a "legacy" to former Gov. Carroll Campbell, who died last year.

The governor asked lawmakers to improve the "soil conditions for business," describing the state as one in transition in global competition.

"I think that an accurate characterization of the state of the state would be that we're making real progress, but that we can do more -- and doing so means change in fundamental ways," he told the joint assembly of lawmakers in the televised speech.

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Sen. John Land, leader of the Senate Democrats, criticized Sanford in the Democratic response to Sanford's speech, blaming him for "soaring unemployment, stagnant job growth and the loss of our good financial status."

Impact fees get closer look

Sanford outlined his preferences for property tax reform, saying any plan should be revenue-neutral and lawmakers should examine sales tax exemptions and property tax codes that may not be enforced by local governments, such as land classified as agricultural.

He said legislators also should be sure any proposal does not hurt business.

David Hammond of Greenville described Sanford's talk about the fight over who should pay for growth as "pouring salt into wounds" because it unnecessarily pits new residents against existing ones.

"I don't think that's something a governor should be doing, making that an either/or issue," he said.

Tuition caps concern some

Sanford urged lawmakers Wednesday to do something about tuition increases before higher education becomes unaffordable for children in the state.

He urged linking any future increases to a higher education inflation index.

That will "unleash a lot of creative effort in ending inefficiency and duplication in our system," Sanford said.

Darlene Knight of Greenville, who said she has one child who is college-age and another who will be next year, said she was disappointed in Sanford's comments about tuition caps.

"I agree with him that it would be nice if the tuition at the state's universities was lower," she said. "But I would like to see more funding by state government instead of putting spending caps on."

Referendum urged to limit government growth

The governor repeated his calls for restricting the growth in government spending, arguing that would help the state become more competitive.

Sanford said the state ranks eighth in the nation in state spending on a per-capita basis. He asked lawmakers to allow voters to decide the issue in a November referendum.

“I will live by what the people of South Carolina decide,” he said. “This is a great way to avoid a lot of fighting and fussing come budget time.”

Sanford’s tax rebate proposal is tied to restricting next year’s budget spending to 5.5 percent. Lawmakers will have more than $800 million to work with, most of it in one-time funds.

Two bills are pending in the House that would restrict future spending.

Hammond said limiting government “is not a direct answer” to the state’s problems.

“What he didn’t seem to say is that we are last in education or close to last, that we’re one of the highest in unemployment, just that we have to stop government from growing,” he said. “I didn’t get the connection with the need to do that and the problems the state faces.”

Governor asks lawmakers to name more black judges

Sanford asked lawmakers to boost the number of black judges on the bench.

Calling it a “sensitive issue,” Sanford said about 30 percent of the state’s residents are black but only 10 percent of the state’s judges are black.

He said that in the spirit of the late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, those numbers should change.

Sanford was criticized last year for not ordering the state’s flags lowered when Parks died. Sanford said then the law restricts when he can do so and pledged to lower the flag in her honor when lawmakers change the law.

“Rightly or wrongly, there is a perception in different corners of our state that their government is not committed to the principle of diversity,” he told lawmakers, drawing applause.

Sen. Ralph Anderson, a Greenville Democrat, said Sanford’s proposal on judges was what he liked most about the speech.

Knight said she also agreed with Sanford.

“If there are qualified judges out there, that definitely needs to be answered,” she said.