Sanford warns of lawsuit over economic bill

COLUMBIA - Gov. Mark Sanford is threatening to take the General Assembly to court for passing a giant economic development bill he says could violate state law.

Sanford, whose veto of the Life Sciences Act was overridden by the House and Senate on Wednesday, said the bill "trampled over the interests of taxpayers" because it is loaded with pork-barrel projects.

A governor's legal challenge to a state legislature would be highly unusual.

At a news conference Thursday, Sanford said he would either seek a new law preventing legislators from adding unrelated amendments to future bills or take legislators to the state Supreme Court.

"It's my belief that this process needs to stop," he said. "If you look at a bill like this, you see a real clear constitutional question."

The core of the Life Sciences Act would provide economic incentives to biomedical companies that locate to the state and set up a state-run venture capital fund.

But the bill eventually ballooned into one that, among other things:

Grants four-year status to the University of South Carolina at Sumter

Provides about $7 million in bond money for an international convention center in Myrtle Beach

Provides $220 million to the state's three research universities for construction projects.

Sanford said that although he liked the initial portions of the bill, many amendments were too costly and never received an honest debate.

He said he would decide whether to seek a court ruling in the next few weeks.

"In a perfect world, the governor may be right, but we had a major bill to create high-tech jobs," House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said.

Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, opposed the bill and said he would support Sanford if he chooses to battle it in the courts.

"In my 12 years of service, I've never seen a more cobbled together piece of legislation," he said. "If it were a Christmas tree, it would have a thousand bulbs."

The legal issue centers on whether the bill is limited to just one subject, a requirement spelled out in the state's constitution.

Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, says all the amendments are related to economic development issues.

USC law professor Richard Seamon said a lawsuit would be pivotal.

"It could have a major impact on the power relationship between the legislature and the governor," he said.

A lawsuit over the issue would not be totally without precedent. The S.C. Chamber of Commerce filed a 1986 suit against the state Senate over "bobtailing" - adding extraneous amendments. That suit was dropped in exchange for a pledge the practice would end.