Posted on Thu, Jan. 18, 2007

email this

print this

Reactions

“I thought it was a lot of lofty ideas, and I hope the General Assembly will work to get some of them done.”

— Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer

“At the top of my list is the desire to work together. ... If we get that done, the rest of the things we’re talking about become much easier. Most of the things he talked about tonight are things we actually agree upon.”

— House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston

“I thought it was a good speech. I thought it was an encapsulation of Gov. Mark Sanford’s view of the role of government: create opportunity, to hold the line on spending and empower the people with choice.”

— Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston

“You will see change this year on DOT. ... I need to know how he would envision the structure of it and what he would do with it.”

— Senate Finance chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence

“Just as I mentioned last year, the governor throws out ideas but he doesn’t give the General Assembly guidance on how to implement his proposals.”

— Senate Minority Leader John Land, D-Clarendon

“I saw the governor reaching out tonight perhaps more than I ever have in the past, and I hope that sets the tone for a productive session.”

— Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland

“I am just pleasantly surprised. He’s got my bill to reduce school districts in his State of the State. I’m just flabbergasted.”

— Rep. Ken Kennedy, D-Williamsburg

“I think he was right on in mentioning such issues as global warming, climate change, conservation. But we couldn’t differ more on such issues as education, health care and the way we go about putting money back into our citizens’ pockets.”

— Rep. Bakari Sellers, D-Bamberg

“I think he had a more humble approach this year. Maybe that can help initiate change.”

— Rep. Don Bowen, R-Anderson

“I think the governor was trying to empower the people in this speech by giving them choices in many aspects of government. If I had to offer a criticism, I would say that his remarks were well delivered, he’s a good communicator, but we’re still looking for direction, a step-by-step on how do we do this. I wanted more substance.”

— Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington