Sanford unveils plan to revamp the government

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Sanford would reduce the number of elected statewide officials to four, create a new administrative department, and gain new appointive power and authority to shift programs among agencies.

Some of the plan would require voter approval of constitutional amendments that can only be enacted by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. If so, the referendum could take place in November 2004, but any changes approved then couldn't become effective until January 2007 when current terms end.

Citing his election in November as a vote for change, Sanford said in a Statehouse press conference, "It's been over a decade since (then Gov.) Carroll Campbell started our state down that road — he got us half the loaf — we're going back and asking for the whole loaf."

There was some skepticism and opposition that cut across party lines. The short-ballot plan drew a lukewarm response from Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and outright criticism from Secretary of State Mark Hammond of Spartanburg, two Republicans whose independence and duties would be curtailed by placing their offices under the governor.

Democratic state Treasurer Grady Patterson said it is "a terrible idea."

Bauer said he is "reluctant to give up those elected offices, but I'm open to listening to any debate. I'm happy the way things are and I'd like to have more responsibilities," not less as the plan initially indicates.

While Bauer's job would become full-time, it would lose its primary responsibility of presiding over the Senate. Members of the Senate have whittled away the office's responsibilities over the last decade.

Secretary of State Mark Hammond of Spartanburg said he is "prepared to go out and fight for the state constitution and the people's right to vote."

Hammond was critical of the timing of the legislation and questioned whether it would receive adequate review: "This should be a well-thought out process. It's asking quite a bit with only five weeks left in the session."

Sanford said, "This is not about taking away anybody's voice because you will still have that loud and clear in the elected legislative and executive branches."

Sanford said he hadn't approached any of the affected elected officials about the details of the plan, a point that rankled Hammond.

Education Secretary Inez Tenenbaum, a Democrat and potential candidate for governor in 2006, said she is not opposed to the legislation.

Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, the House minority leader, reacted cautiously. "What's the public policy behind any of these changes? We want to work with the governor, and there will be things we agree on based on whether it improves the efficiency of state government," he said.

Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins, said he hadn't seen the proposal's details, but "if it means taking choice away from the voters" and reducing accountability to them, he would oppose it.

The legislation would:

— Initiate a "short ballot" by making all but five of the nine elected statewide constitutional offices appointive.

— Have the governor and lieutenant governor run as a ticket. The governor would select his running mate and the lieutenant governor would become a full-time position as a member of the executive branch.

— Shift secretary of state, superintendent of education, treasurer and agriculture commissioner to Cabinet-level gubernatorial appointees. The comptroller general would be nominated by the governor, subject to unanimous approval by the Budget and Control Board.

— Remove treasurer and comptroller general from the budget board which would consist of the governor and House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committee chairmen.

— Leave attorney general and adjutant general as elected offices.

— Create a Department of Administration that would include the Offices of General Services and Human Resources and 12 other agencies.

— Allow the governor to shift Cabinet agency programs from one department to another.

A constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote by both House and Senate would be necessary to make changes affecting the offices of secretary of state, education superintendent, comptroller general and treasurer.

The Agriculture commissioner's office was created by statute and can be made appointive by a majority vote of the Legislature.

Patterson said removing the top financial officers' independence and seats on the budget board would eliminate officials "who are often the last line of defense against horrible fiscal decisions."

The last major overhaul of South Carolina's once decentralized state government took effect in January 1995 when dozens of autonomous and semi-autonomous boards, commissions and agencies were consolidated into Cabinet departments with directors appointed by the governor.

Sanford's plan, generally unveiled during his 2002 campaign, won the backing of the Legislature's majority Republican leadership and that of some Democrats, including Sen. John Drummond of Ninety-Six.

Senate Majority Leader Glenn McConnell of Charleston, said the plan "is about moving South Carolina forward, protecting what is great about this state and effecting change where change is needed."

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said the legislation would complete "the historic and sweeping changes" enacted in the early 1990's.

"Now that we've worked under that for almost a decade, we've seen what works, what doesn't work and where we need to make even greater reforms."

Wilkins and McConnell will sponsor the legislation in their respective chambers.

Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee that will get first crack at the bill, cited what he said were the political realities facing it in that each office and each official has a constituency.

"These people have their own friends in the General Assembly. Look at secretary of state. Mark Hammond is from Spartanburg and that delegation has 11 members."

But he said the time element, "gives us the ability to deal with some personalities in office and will make it easier."

Sanford said the legislation is necessary because it will attack South Carolina's high cost of government, 30 percent above the national average, and to provide better, more open, more efficient and more accountable government."

He expressed doubt that the Legislature will approve the entire package, but said well over half was likely, although he didn't spell out what might be rejected or approved.

"Will we be able to get another good piece of the pie? I think so," Sanford said.

The package would allow a "more coordinated approach" to governance, Sanford said.

Sanford said the budget board, a hybrid not seen in many other states, would have fewer members and fewer duties because "some of the purely administrative functions it now handles will be moved over to the executive branch.

"Eliminating it, at this point would be too big a bite of the apple," he said.

_Dan Hoover covers politics and can be reached at 298-4883.