In what perhaps passes for educational reform in the state Senate, two senators have submitted legislation that would require the state's constitutional officers to possess a four-year college degree. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, and Darryl Jackson, D-Richland, isn't necessarily aimed at elevating the standard for the state's constitutional officers.

Rather, the senators are supporters of Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, according to The State newspaper, which reported the legislative initiative.While this bill has virtually no chance of passage, Sens. Knotts and Jackson presumably have made their political point:

Their candidate, the lieutenant governor, has a college degree (the University of South Carolina), while his major Republican opponent, Mike Campbell, doesn't (though he has attended USC).

A number of other points already have been made in this campaign, mainly regarding those that should have appeared on Lt. Gov. Bauer's driver's license. The lieutenant governor has done his best to make light of his penchant for speeding, and ability to avoid being ticketed, while on the campaign trail.

He should be grateful for this limited bipartisan effort to accentuate the positive, though experience has shown that completing an undergraduate education doesn't necessarily translate into judgment and maturity, qualities that every candidate for constitutional office needs in abundance.