A quick spin: What’s going on around the State House

What’s going on around the State House:

SENATE OKS COLLEGES, RESEARCH BILL

The state could borrow up to $500 million for college research and economic development projects under a bill on its way to the governor’s desk. The Senate on Tuesday approved a final compromise, worked out last week by a conference committee and already approved by the House.

Under the bill, tourism projects would qualify for more economic development money and a venture capital fund would be created to spur growth in new companies. Colleges would have more flexibility to condemn and buy land, give bonuses and do other things to reduce reliance on state funding.

The bill also would expand USC Sumter to a four-year program and create a four-year culinary arts program at Charleston’s Trident Technical College.

RESTRUCTURING BILL TAKES A STEP BACK

Despite two weeks of lobbying by Gov. Mark Sanford and his supporters, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday returned a state government restructuring bill back to a subcommittee for more work. That came after the full committee voted 11-7 to leave the secretary of state as an elected office.

Two weeks ago, the committee had agreed to eliminate elections for the education superintendent, but refused to do away with elections for the lieutenant governor, adjutant general and agriculture commissioner.

Sanford wanted a referendum in November to decide if five of the state’s nine constitutional offices should be appointed, rather than elected. If approved, voters would elect a governor and lieutenant governor on a joint party ticket, the attorney general and the treasurer. Elections for the adjutant general, education superintendent, comptroller general, secretary of state and agriculture commissioner would be eliminated.

The committee did not take up a second restructuring bill that would shift or merge the responsibilities of some state agencies.

LATE TAX PAYERS COULD FACE PENALTY

People who owe taxes and don’t pay on time face an extra 20 percent penalty paid to the Revenue Department under a bill that cleared the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.

The bill, which already has cleared the House, calls for the surcharge after a tax payment is 120 days overdue. The Finance Committee changed that to say the extra money is owed 120 days after appeals are exhausted on tax disputes.

The Revenue Department would give the money collected to S.C. Business One Stop, its program to help people start businesses and handle tax matters.

LOWER FLAGS TO HONOR WAR DEAD

South Carolina military service members killed in combat would be honored by flying the flags atop the State House at half staff on the day of their funeral under a bill that’s headed to the Senate floor.

The House bill won approval from the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday. The bill adds soldiers killed in combat to a long list of dignitaries getting the honors now, including governors, members of Congress and statewide office holders.

JACKSON VOWS TO SUE OVER BLACK JUDGES

The Rev. Jesse Jackson says he will file a lawsuit against South Carolina to get rid of a system of allowing the legislators to elect judges — a method critics say keeps blacks off the bench.

Jackson said judges should be elected by popular vote, the same as prosecutors, senators and city council members. A popular vote would result in greater racial and regional diversity, he said.

Fewer than 7 percent of judges elected by the General Assembly are black, though 30 percent of the state population is black.

Jackson said his organization, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, will file the suit on behalf of the state’s residents in the next few weeks.