(Columbia) May 3, 2004 - Governor Mark Sanford is following through on his pledge to bike across South Carolina. He hit the road for the first part of the trip on Saturday and paid for it on Monday, "I'm a little bit sore as a result of that bike ride over the weekend, but it was a neat experience and it's sort of one pedal at a time slowly gets you there."

Sanford's legislative agenda might have a harder time making it across the finish line. Shortly before taking off on his bike ride, the governor outlined what he calls a checklist for change. There are 16 proposed reforms.

Only two have passed both House and Senate, regulatory relief for small businesses and a legal change allowing teachers to file civil suits against students who attack them.

Sanford made income tax cuts a centerpiece of his legislative plan in January's state of the state address, "I passionately believe that cutting the income tax would help with the job situation we have in South Carolina."

Restructuring for constitutional offices and government administrative functions, a fiscal discipline act and other proposals are still unresolved.

Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland) says the session might not produce much and they blame the governor, "This year is probably one of the worst years, because we were bogged down in a filibuster and there are other things that are on the calendar. We really haven't done much and that's a shame."

Rep. James Smith (D-Richland) also didn't mince words, "We gave him deference in the first year, talking about a learning curve. You know right now, it has to be a failing grade because there's been nothing accomplished."

Sanford says, like biking, the legislative progress requires persistence, "Tenacity and patience are the two most important characteristics in the legislative process. You gotta keep coming at it, keep coming at it, keep coming at it."

A version of the Governor's income tax plan has passed the Senate committee, but Democrats say even if it makes it through the full Senate and is signed by the Governor, the General Assembly still hasn't done anything substantive about education, health care or protecting the environment. 

By Jack Kuenzie
Posted 7:42pm by BrettWitt