(Columbia-AP) Jan. 16, 2004 -Governor Mark Sanford's agenda to overhaul state government got a huge boost in the Senate on Thursday when Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell introduced roughly 1900 pages of legislation.

The legislation stands more than a foot tall and addresses many aspects Sanford called for in his budget. Sources close to Sanford say the bills contained nearly every element of reorganizing government that the governor wanted.

McConnell, a Sanford ally in restructuring efforts, hopes the legislation makes government more effective and accountable. The senator says the bill will give the Legislature a new role in overseeing how effectively state agencies spend money. He says the bill strikes the proper balance between legislative and executive branches.

McConnell says his staff has worked since last summer on the proposal. The legislation gives the governor authority to appoint chiefs at four new agencies created after merging dozens of smaller ones.

Sanford's budget calls for reorganizing several agencies. For instance, Sanford wanted the Forestry Commission, parts of the Department of Health and Environmental Control and Natural Resources Department rolled into a new cabinet-level agency.

The governor's $5.1 billion budget proposal was on lawmakers' desk when the second session of the 115th Legislature started on Tuesday. The 328-page plan is especially designed to deal with a projected $350 million budget shortfall. Read budget highlights (Adobe required). Read full budget (Adobe required).

updated 7:39am by Chris Rees