Sanford pitches restructuring plan to Senate Judiciary

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford tried to rebuild support for his plans to restructure state government by testifying before a Senate committee Tuesday, but senators ended up voting on amendments that significantly weaken part of the legislation.

Sanford's proposal, which has been a key piece of his agenda, eliminates all but four of the nine current elected statewide offices and shifts or merges some agency responsibilities.

The proposal is contained in two bills, the first dealing with the constitutional officers and the second with the agency structure.

But the Senate Judiciary Committee couldn't get past the first bill, which would allow voters to change the state Constitution and eliminate elections for the education superintendent, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, adjutant general and comptroller general. It also calls for the lieutenant governor and governor to run on the same ticket.

Senators put up and approved amendments to keep the adjutant general, agriculture commissioner and lieutenant governor as elected officials. All of these offices currently are held by Republicans.

Yet the committee voted to change the education superintendent - the only constitutional office held by a Democrat - to an appointed position.

Supporters said education was key to a governor's agenda and that he needed to appoint an education superintendent who supported his views.

But other lawmakers said politics was at play.

"I know it can't be a coincidence the only office with a 'D' behind its name is going to be treated differently," said Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater. "This is a tragic situation that we are about to embark on playing this kind of partisan politics."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Glenn McConnell said some of the constitutional officers have been lobbying to retain the status quo.

"I hold a lot of the constitutional officers responsible for what happened in here today," said McConnell, R-Charleston and the bill's sponsor. "It appears that their job security is the highest priority and not the question of giving the public the choice on the management style they want."

The committee adjourned Tuesday, after more than three hours of discussion, without voting on the entire bill or taking up about a dozen additional amendments. They planned to discuss the bill again next week.

Sanford's office expressed displeasure at the route taken by senators Tuesday.

"It's unfortunate there are some folks who would stand in the way of letting folks decide the structure their own government is going to take," Sanford spokesman Will Folks said.

Sanford's appearance before the committee - about half the senate's 46 members - was a rare move.

He emerged saying it was in the Senate's hands. "The key with the legislative process is you put the meat into the beginning of the sausage machine and you wait and see what comes out the other side and you make the determination of whether it adds to what you're trying to do or detracts from it," Sanford said.

"This is all about how you become more competitive as a state," he said.

The governor would continue to "push very hard" for the bill in the coming days, Folks said.