Gov. Mark Sanford's Cabinet will meet for the first time today -- but the public is not invited.

During last year's gubernatorial campaign, Sanford said an open government was vital.

"Sunshine," he said then, "is the best disinfectant."

Sanford spokesman Chris Drummond said Tuesday that the group can meet in private because it's not a public body.

"I don't see where it's a legal requirement to have it open," he said.

The Cabinet -- the group of Sanford appointees who lead 13 state agencies -- will meet at 9:30 a.m. The public and the media, however, will only be allowed in after the meeting, at 10:30 a.m.

Bill Rogers, executive director of the S.C. Press Association, said the meeting should be open to the public under the state's Freedom of Information Act.

The Cabinet meets the definition of a public body, Rogers said. It is a committee formed by Sanford with public dollars to advise him.

Sanford, Rogers said, has "advocated open government. I wish he would rethink this. I think his heart is in the right place. I think he's just a little confused."

Last month, a state government watchdog group chastised Sanford for refusing to have his policy task forces meet in public and honor the Freedom of Information Act.

Hodges says Sanford wasn't straightforward

Former Gov. Jim Hodges on Tuesday called his successor's comments about how he handled the finances at the Governor's Mansion a "misrepresentation of the facts."

Hodges said it was standard practice for governors to shift money from other funds under their control to cover costs at the mansion.

"The mansion budget is never adequate," said Hodges, a Democrat. "On an annual basis you would have to tap into other fund sources."

Republican Gov. Mark Sanford said Monday he might have to close the Governor's Mansion for four months because most of the mansion's budget had been spent by Hodges.

"There was a disregard for costs and disregard for who would be picking up the pieces after the administration left," Sanford said Tuesday.

Sanford said he has to either close the mansion until June 30 or raise private money to cover operating costs like salaries for the 11 employees, utility bills and food.

If the mansion closed, Sanford's family would continue to live in the private quarters, but they wouldn't have a staff, and would cook their own meals.

Hodges transferred $100,000 from administrative and program funds to the mansion two days before he left office to cover the cost overruns. Sanford said he won't use that money because it was intended for the Office of Veterans Affairs, the Commission on Women and the Review of Foster Care for Children.

Plan To Increase Tax On Cigarettes Revived

Health care advocates and some House Democrats have renewed their call for an increase in the state's cigarette tax to spare Medicaid from drastic cuts.

House Minority Leader James Smith, D-Richland, spoke Tuesday against a proposal under consideration in the House Ways and Means Committee that would reduce eligibility for the joint state-federal program, which pays for medical services for the state's neediest residents.

Supporters of the proposal say it would save the state $3.5 million needed to help with the current budget crisis.

Smith said the budget cannot be balanced on the backs of children whose health care is provided by Medicaid dollars. He said the proposal would leave more than 11,000 S.C. children without health care coverage.

House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, R-Richland, said reducing the Medicaid eligibility would cut back on waste.

"We have to decide as a state: Are we a safety net or are we an insurance program?" Quinn said.

State Rep. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, said a 53-cent increase in the state cigarette tax would raise $170 million that could specifically fund Medicaid programs.

"This is a very responsible solution to addressing our health care crisis," Lourie said.

House panel approves stronger seat-belt law

A House subcommittee on Tuesday approved legislation that would strengthen police officers' ability to enforce seat-belt laws.

The House Transportation Safety Subcommittee approved the bill that would create a primary law allowing seat belt enforcement. Currently, police cannot ticket a motorist who is 18 or older for seat-belt violations unless the motorist is pulled over for another reason, such as speeding.

Seat belts save lives and prevent injuries, said Terecia Wilson, safety director of the state Transportation Department. In each of the past five years, more than 1,000 people were killed in traffic crashes statewide, Wilson said.

Many lawmakers have concerns about a primary seat-belt enforcement law. Some say it's an individual's choice.

State Rep. Joe Neal, D-Richland, said racial profiling remains a top concern for him under a primary enforcement law, but he thinks it's time to make the change.

The bill now moves to the full Education and Public Works Committee for debate.

House subcommittee backs DMV reform

A House subcommittee approved a bill Tuesday that would make major changes in the troubled Division of Motor Vehicles.

The House Motor Vehicles Subcommittee approved the bill that would remove DMV from the Public Safety Department and make it a stand-alone Cabinet agency with the director appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Under the bill, the agency would enter into contracts with public and private entities to administer driving tests.

The bill calls for driver's license expiration dates to be extended from five to 10 years for most people and allows drivers to get tag renewal stickers and registration from DMV offices, county treasurers' offices or private entities.

The bill now moves to the full Education and Public Works Committee for debate.

Senate panel approves property rights bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a property rights bill Tuesday.

Proponents had pushed for a bill that would force local governments to pay landowners when zoning law changes diminish their property values. But the bill that now moves to the floor for debate calls for expedited court hearings and a new mediation process for disputes and for training of local zoning officials.

"It's a bill that we believe represents the best opportunity for giving property owners some relief for filing appeals of local zoning board" decisions, said state Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, chairman of a property rights task force that drafted the legislation.