Tangible sign of good will

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signs they can work together for

greater good of our state.

Gov. Mark Sanford and House Republicans had a testy closed-door meeting last week. When the shouting was over, though, it appeared what was supposed to be a private session (one of the representatives taped the remarks) has produced some good.

The uneasy relationship between the governor and the House came to a head over the so-called Life Sciences bill. This started out as a critically needed piece of economic development legislation. It was loaded up like a Christmas tree through amendments that included making USC-Sumter a four-year branch, adding a culinary program at Trident Technical College in Charleston, relaxing the eligibility criteria for LIFE scholarships, creating a committee to study a new law school at South Carolina State University, giving Myrtle Beach $7 million for an international convention center and giving state public institutions the awesome power of eminent domain.

Sanford appealed to the Legislature to send him a clean Life Sciences bill, but he didn't get one. He vetoed it, and the Senate and House overrode his vetoes before the sun set the following day. Then, Sanford threatened to sue the Legislature over the practice of "bobtailing" unrelated amendments to a bill. That clearly angered lawmakers and it placed the economic incentives in the Life Sciences bill in jeopardy.

The governor has backed off his threat to sue legislators, at least for the moment. Such a lawsuit would rupture a relationship that's necessary for the governor to accomplish much of anything over the next few years. (The House already has passed the governor's income tax reduction plan.)

Some good has come out of this tension. Very quickly last week, the House unanimously passed a clean version of Life Sciences. As Commerce Secretary Bob Faith said, this bill is important to our state's economic development. It will create incentives that can help bring jobs, higher income levels and a better quality of life to our state.

South Carolina has suffered more than most states during the recession. Our state cannot afford to lose pharmaceutical and biomedical companies that don't want a cloud hanging over an important piece of economic development legislation.

Now it's up to the state Senate to pass a clean Life Sciences Act, too. Even if the governor doesn't sue over the weighted-down version sent to him last month, another challenge in the courtroom from some other party isn't impossible.

The Senate is burning precious time indulging a filibuster over seat-belt legislation. It should vote on that bill this week and start working on other pressing legislation, including the clean Life Sciences Act and the governor's income tax reduction plan.