COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford was to
discuss common themes of restructuring, government accountability
and the economy during his second State of the State address
Wednesday evening.
Earlier in the day, the governor said he already laid out many of
his priorities when he released his first executive budget this
month.
"I think that in fairly painstaking detail, we laid out our
priorities - what we wanted to change, what we wanted to add - in
our budget," Sanford said.
The speech was to highlight the same five basic themes that were
discussed in last year's State of the State: government
accountability, economy and the need for wealth creation, government
structure, education and quality of life.
The overarching theme that affects all of those issues is
government restructuring, Sanford said.
His plans to make government more streamlined and efficient got a
major boost last week when Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell,
R-Charleston, introduced restructuring legislation.
"Government restructuring impacts how viable we are in attracting
industry. Government restructuring could well impact the structure
of how we provide education in South Carolina. Government
restructuring impacts the delivery service mechanism we call
government," Sanford said.
The governor's speech also will highlight reforms made during his
first year in office, including changes in the Department of Motor
Vehicles and campaign finance reform.
Last session, Sanford signed a bill moving DMV from the Public
Safety Department to a stand-alone agency that answers to his
office. Under the new law, drivers can get tag renewal stickers and
registrations from county treasurers' offices or private entities
that could charge a service fee more than the standard $24 for the
transaction.
Drivers' license expiration dates have been extended from five to
10 years for most people. The agency also can contract with public
and private entities to administer driving tests.
Sanford also signed legislation last session requiring political
parties to disclose soft money contributions, making political
action committees unable to transfer money for state campaigns among
themselves and giving lobbyists more restrictions on
donations.