COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford traveled across the state Monday to call for changes in the way people can sue in South Carolina.

The Republican governor wants lawmakers to limit certain kinds of lawsuits as a way to encourage economic development in the state.

"We have a quality of life that is second to none in this state, but until we make our civil justice system more business-friendly, those jobs are going to keep on rolling through - not stopping and staying in South Carolina," said Sanford, who traveled with two business leaders to push one of his top legislative priorities.

Hunter Howard, president of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Fields, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, traveled with Sanford to Lexington, Myrtle Beach and Wellford.

The Senate is considering legislation that would limit where people can bring lawsuits, whether wealthy defendants will continue to pay more than their share of damages and how long property owners will be able to sue contractors for shoddy construction.

The biggest sticking point involves how much wealthy people or companies would have to pay in a case involving several defendants. Supporters say it's unfair for the richest defendants to pay the most even if they are not the most responsible for the damages. Critics say injured people would get less money if companies' payments were limited.

The House has passed similar legislation.