COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina House of Representatives prepared Tuesday for the start of new legislative session with Republicans firmly in control, re-electing David Wilkins to his tenth year as House speaker and outlining their priorities.

When first elected to the top post in the House a decade ago, Wilkins was the first Republican elected speaker in the South since Reconstruction.

During his tenure, Wilkins has rejected offers from President Bush to serve as a federal judge and as an ambassador because of his "loyalty to South Carolina," said Rep. Annette Young, R-Summerville, who nominated Wilkins.

Wilkins noted that over the past decade, the House has reformed welfare, passed property tax relief and created LIFE scholarships. Members have dealt with the emotional issues of removing the Confederate flag from the Statehouse dome, outlawing video poker and creating a state lottery.

House members also have had to address the consequences of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that devastated an already sluggish economy, he said.

"We're on the road to recovery not because we asked South Carolinians for more of their hard-earned tax dollars but because we demanded government to do more with less," Wilkins said.

Wilkins, along with new Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, outlined the priorities of the House Republican Caucus.

The five items on the "Palmetto Pledge" are job creation, reducing income taxes, tort reform, government restructuring and school choice.

Wilkins said he plans to pre-file this month the "2005 Jobs Creation Act," legislation aimed at creating small businesses and offering incentives for existing small businesses to expand.

"We are committed to working together to energize our economy and create the kind of high-wage, high-tech jobs that will improve the lives of all South Carolinians and make the state a major player on the global economy," Merrill said.

The agenda resembles Republican Gov. Mark Sanford's "Contract for Change" that was announced last month.

Republicans, who hold a 74-50 majority, elected Merrill their new leader in October to replace Rep. Rick Quinn of Columbia. Quinn resigned from the position in September after losing a primary election for the seat he has held since 1989.

Members were sworn in Tuesday and seats assigned. Wilkins also addressed the 12 new members of the chamber, telling them their "two most important commodities here in Columbia are your integrity and your vote.

"Safeguard them both," Wilkins said. "You have accepted a life changing challenge and you will learn as much about yourselves as you do about state government."

Wilkins pointed out one new member in particular, Rep. Carl Anderson Sr., who represents Georgetown and Williamsburg counties. The Democrat defeated Republican Bubber Snow of Hemingway.

Anderson lost his son, 21-year-old Airman 1st Class Carl Anderson Jr., in August after a roadside bombing in Iraq.

"We honor your sacrifice," Wilkins told Anderson. "You carry the gratitude of an entire nation with you."

House members also re-elected Spartanburg Republican Doug Smith as speaker pro tem. He's been serving in the No. 2 spot since 2000.

Charles Reid was elected the new House clerk, replacing the retiring Sandra McKinney. McKinney has worked in the House more than 30 years, 16 of those as clerk.