(Columbia-AP) July 13, 2005 - House Speaker Bobby Harrell says the state has been lax in recruiting business, creating jobs and boosting the economy for several years.

Harrell spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday, a day after Standard and Poor's cited slow economic growth and high unemployment as reasons to drop South Carolina's Triple-A credit rating a notch to AA-plus. The loss of credit prestige also could cost the state more when it borrows money for schools, roads and economic development projects.

Harrell says new jobs have been slow to materialize under Republican Governor Mark Sanford and ex-Governor Jim Hodges, a Democrat. Harrell says neither focused on job growth as much as former Republican Governors Carroll Campbell and David Beasley.

Sanford was not available for comment. State Commerce Secretary Bob Faith says the governor's working hard on economic development.

Posted 10:01pm by BrettWitt