"We call this bill the right-to-farm bill. It has little to do with that. It has to do with usurping local government. It's a liberal power grab by the people in Columbia."

— Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, commenting on a Senate-passed bill loosening restrictions on poultry farms

MAKING FRIENDS

Rep. Ken Kennedy, D-Williamsburg, almost became the man who killed spring break for the House.

Lexington and Richland county lawmakers were at each others’ throats on Thursday over a bill that would grant Lexington Medical Center a license to create a heart surgery center.

But other than the 10 members of the Lexington delegation in the House, and the 10 from Richland, the other 100-plus representatives didn’t seem to have a dog in this fight. And it was late on Thursday afternoon, after a long day on the floor Wednesday.

So, Kennedy decided the Battle of the Midlands could wait. Kennedy made a motion that the House adjourn for the day.

But Kennedy’s motion came before the House officially had adopted a proclamation to take this week off, something representatives had been planning to do for a while.

“If we adjourn now, we have to come back next week,” Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, said to his colleagues. Smith didn’t want to quit for the day anyway.

Kennedy’s motion was quickly defeated, and House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Charleston, quickly made the necessary motions to give the House this week off.

The hospital debate then raged on — for another 12 minutes, until House rules allowed a motion to adjourn to be considered again.

Then, the motion to adjourn by Rep. Becky Martin, R-Anderson, was agreed to, and lawmakers split town, not to return until April 18.

The Senate, however, will meet next week, so it will not be an entirely lawmaker-free time in Columbia.

LUCKY NUMBER

There's an old news saying that Buzz is what happens in the Buzz' neighborhood, and that applies to legislation as well.

The Senate Finance Committee last week amended a change they made in the tax code last year that allows small businesses to pay essentially a flat tax.

The problem is some businesses are paying more in taxes under the new law.

So how did the General Assembly get involved?

"My accountant brought this to my attention," said Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee.

UP IN SMOKE

It was a difficult question, and tobacco lobbyist Fred Allen, The Buzz is sure, answered as truthfully as he knew how.

When Allen was asked by Rep. Liston Barfield, R-Horry, what Allen thought Gov. Mark Sanford would do if a cigarette tax increase bill reached his desk, Allen spoke slowly.

“It is difficult for anyone to predict the actions of our current governor,” he said.

The Buzz noticed a lot of heads nodded in the subcommittee room.

TWO IN RACE

The Republican primary race for secretary of state got a little lighter last week.

L.W. Flynn of Columbia dropped out and endorsed Bill McKown, a Surfside Beach town council member.

McKown faces incumbent Mark Hammond of Spartanburg, first elected in 2002, in the June 13 primary. Democrat Cheryl Footman of Orangeburg faces no primary opposition.

ANCHORS AWAY

Former U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings’ work in Washington is being honored by a ocean research group.

Hollings will be presented with the Adm. James D. Watkins award Tuesday at the Renaissance Charleston Hotel.

The award is being given for Hollings’ “thoughtful and hard-fought dedication to ocean research, conservation and education.” The group said the senator’s nearly four decades of work led to greater scientific understanding and public awareness of marine ecosystems.

Attending the luncheon along with Hollings will be Charleston Mayor Joe Riley; Watkins, who chairs the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy; and retired Navy Rear Adm. Dick West, who heads the Washington-based Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, which is giving the award.

• AT THE STATE HOUSE

Some ways to influence lawmakers this week:

TUESDAY

• THE SENATE convenes at noon. At 10 a.m., 209 Gressette Building, a Judiciary subcommittee discusses public education funding requirements.

WEDNESDAY

• THE SENATE convenes at 2 p.m. At 10 a.m., 408 Gressette Building, a Judiciary subcommittee considers a bill making it unlawful to willfully disturb a funeral service.

THURSDAY

• • THE SENATE convenes at 11 a.m. At 9 a.m., a Judiciary subcommittee reviews rules on governments’ ability to obtain private property.

MORE MEETINGS

• Go to http://www.scstatehouse.net/ for a list of meetings.NO HOUSE SESSIONS

The House of Representatives is on a one-week Easter vacation this week.

Members will return to work on April 18.

LAST WEEK

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: A bill providing free early childhood education to all at-risk 4-year-olds in some poor and rural school districts gained approval in a House subcommittee. The voluntary program would be available in eight districts that sued the state over funding. All districts statewide are required to provide a 4-year-old program. But most can’t accommodate everyone who signs up.

BREAST-FEEDING: Mothers can breast-feed their children in any location they are authorized to be, and the practice cannot constitute indecent exposure, under a bill on its way to Gov. Mark Sanford’s desk.

POULTRY FARMING: Local governments would lose power to limit how close poultry operations can be to residences under a bill that won key Senate approval. During the past few years, 13 counties have passed zoning laws restricting poultry operations with setback requirements.

CIGARETTE TAX: Cigarette taxes would increase by at least 30 cents under bills a House subcommittee approved, but the measures face long odds when they reach the full House Ways and Means Committee. One bill raises the tax to 39 cents a pack, up from the nation's lowest at 7 cents, and uses the money to expand health insurance for children and low-income workers. The second raises the tax by 30 cents and allows the Legislature to later decide how to spend the money. That proposal comes with a corresponding reduction in state income taxes.

MEDICATION SALES: A House-passed bill requiring medications that can be used to make methamphetamines be sold from behind pharmacy counters gained Senate approval.

INMATE FUNERALS: A bill that would allow inmates in minimum security prisons to attend a relative's funeral is heading to a Senate committee. Inmates could attend the funeral of a parent or someone who served as a parent, sibling, spouse, child, grandparent or grandchild. The Department of Corrections would provide the transportation and could charge inmates for the service.

TO LEARN MORE

• YGA Today, midday news from inside the State House, is updated several times each legislative day at http://www.thestate.com/.

WHAT THEY MAKE

• Go to http://www.thestate.com/ for an updated, searchable list of salaries for state employees earning more than $50,000 a year.