Legislators override economic development bill veto

COLUMBIA - Legislators on Wednesday overrode Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of an economic development bill that includes $7 million for a trade center in Myrtle Beach.

Overrides require a two-thirds vote in each house, and supporters of the massive bill had comfortable margins. The Senate overturned the veto 39-4, the House 81-24.

"That's great," said Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is leading the effort to build an international trade center on the site of Myrtle Square Mall.

"Obviously they believe in the merits of the trade center," Dean said. "They've put the ball back in our court now."

Sanford vetoed the bill late Tuesday night, citing its multiple add-ons as his reason. He particularly objected to a provision that expands University of South Carolina at Sumter from a two-year to a four-year college.

The main focus of the bill was to provide up to $500 million in bonds for economic university research that supports new industry, especially medical business.

Sanford said he vetoed the bill because he wants to change the way things are done. But legislators signaled they aren't ready for that change.

The House did not even discuss the override.

Rep. Tom Keegan, R-Surfside Beach, said afterward that it was hard to vote against Sanford's wishes but that "the benefits of the bill clearly overrides the concerns."

In addition to the trade center money, there is the possibility of research funds for Coastal Carolina University in the portion of the bill that would sell bonds for biomedical research, Keegan said.

In the Senate, most of the objections were from people who agreed with Sanford that the law was packed with items, such as the trade center, that were not discussed in committee or on the floor.

"My problem with the bill is not with the content but with the process," said Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken.

Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, said the trade center might be a good thing, but senators have no information about it.

"There's a convention center in Horry County that's bankrupt right now," he said.

But Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, who backed inclusion of the money for the trade center, countered that the convention center was not bankrupt.

He said the Myrtle Beach convention hotel, the Radisson, is struggling but "their convention center down there is very successful, that's why they're asking for an expansion."

The trade center provision would grant the money from bond funds if supporters show they also have federal and private support for the facility.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said last week he is trying to find some money for the trade center.