A look at what went down Thursday at the State House:

SENATORS BACK PLAN TO BOBTAIL SANFORD’S INCOME TAX CUT

Gov. Mark Sanford’s plans to reduce the state’s income tax won key support from Republican senators Thursday, but critics have said it benefits the top half of the state’s income ladder.

Two dozen of the Senate’s 27 GOP members endorsed putting the Senate’s version of the income tax reduction measure onto a bill that cleared the House on Wednesday. The House heavily amended the bill with a variety of tax measures Wednesday, but the Senate next week will take everything out and insert just the Senate’s income tax plan.

The proposal would move the state’s top income tax rate to 4.75 percent from 7 percent over several years. No break would be implemented in years when state revenues don’t grow by 4 percent or more.

SANFORD SAYS HE QUESTIONED TAX GROUP’S ATTACK AD

An ad by a taxpayer group critical of the House’s top budget writer was “in poor taste,” Gov. Mark Sanford said Thursday.

The Americans for Tax Reform ad talks about state Rep. Bobby Harrell’s push for the Palmetto Bowl, calling it a $5 million “boondoggle.” Pictures of the Charleston Republican flash on the screen with Harrell’s name.

Grover Norquist, the tax group’s president, said Wednesday that Harrell’s actions became fodder for the association’s efforts to curb corporate welfare and pork barrel spending. Sanford said he has a call in to Norquist.

The group used Red Sea, a political consultant firm run by Jon Lerner, in the ads. Sanford also uses the company and plans to continue to do so.

BICYCLE CAUCUS SPINS ITS WAY INTO THE STATE HOUSE

Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, and Sen. John Courson, R-Richland, on Thursday announced the formation of a Legislative Bicycle Caucus, and newly converted cycling enthusiast Gov. Mark Sanford showed up to voice his approval.

Legislators in the Bicycle Caucus will meet a couple of times each year to discuss cycling-related legislation.

The major push this year by cycling enthusiasts was the Safe Routes To School bill, which encourages school districts to make it easier for children to walk or bike to school. It has passed the House and awaits Senate consideration.

Natalie Cappuccio, director of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, said next year she hopes to gain legislative support for a toll-free line cyclists can call to report and track incidents of drivers’ running cyclists off roads or tossing trash at them. The coalition also will continue to lobby for more bike lanes on state highways.

From Staff and Wire Reports