Legislative Digest: The week's Statehouse news

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Sanford veto: After a secret meeting with Republicans Wednesday, Gov. Mark Sanford decided to back off his threats of suing the Legislature over a massive economic development bill. Democrats were not invited to the meeting with Republican House members and senators. Sanford said he is taking lawmakers at their word that that they are willing "to fix this thing legislatively." The fight grew from Sanford's veto of an economic development bill that had more than a dozen amendments attached to it that, among other things, expanded college programs and scholarships. Sanford vetoed the bill and said it violated a constitutional requirement that a single bill be limited to a single issue. Legislators overrode the veto and Sanford threatened to sue.

Seat belts: Efforts to get a tougher seat belt law through the Senate have stalled and supporters say the bill's going nowhere. "If you don't have 28 votes, you just might as well come to that conclusion," said Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill and supporter of the legislation.

House pay: Despite the tough financial times facing most of state government, a handful of top people who work for the House of Representatives have seen double-digit pay increases during the past four years. Pay for the House's top lawyer, Charles Reid, is up 31 percent to $118,000, an analysis by The Associated Press showed. Reid had left the same job in 2001 and returned this year.

Jackson visit: The Rev. Jesse Jackson visited the Statehouse on Tuesday to rally support for putting more black judges on the bench. Jackson pushed for the direct election of judges in South Carolina, but there is no legislation pending on the matter.

Santee Cooper land: A bill in the Senate would allow Santee Cooper to keep the money from the sale of 1,100 acres of land. Myrtle Beach Republican Luke Rankin, author of the bill, said sending the money to Columbia would be an indirect tax increase on Santee Cooper customers. The state-owned utility plans to sell 33 plots of land valued overall at $13 million.

House furlough: House members will take an unpaid vacation during Easter week to save money, Speaker David Wilkins said Tuesday. Wilkins said it would save taxpayers $40,000. It would be the third year in a row lawmakers took an Easter furlough.

Licenses: The House approved a bill Thursday that would put a special code on driver's licenses of those convicted of violent crimes. Rep. Phil Sinclair, R-Spartanburg, said 10 officers have died in recent years after not knowing they were dealing with a convicted felons.

Golf course taxes: A bill in the Senate would require counties to use a standard formula for determining the value of public golf courses, resulting in lower property taxes for the courses. Currently, counties can use several methods to determine the fair market value for a course. Critics say it would cut revenues for already hurting local governments.

Mental health: The state Mental Health Department director told a Senate Finance subcommittee that South Carolina's mental health system faces an "impending crisis" unless legislators can find more money to fund critical programs.

Party switchers: Hemingway Rep. John "Bubber" Snow and Rep. George Bailey, of St. George switched to the Republican Party as filing for Statehouse seats closed Tuesday. The switch gives Republicans 75 of the House's 124 seats.

Also:

A House subcommittee approved a bill Thursday that drops litter offenses from a convict's record after five years.

A bill that would give the state grand jury powers to investigate environmental crimes was approved by a House subcommittee Thursday, despite strong opposition from the business community.

Small businesses would get a voice in the legislative regulatory process under a bill a House subcommittee approved Thursday.

The House Education and Public Works Committee approved a bill Wednesday to create a special breast-cancer awareness license plate.

The House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill Wednesday that would add a $10 surcharge to major traffic violations to pay for a program to prevent brain injuries.

The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill giving judges the power to take guns away from people subject to a restraining order. It's aimed at curbing domestic violence.