The governor has proven a persistent foe of "bobtailing" -- amending legislation with non-germane provisions that couldn't be approved on their own merits -- with his veto pen.

He is adding the "pass-through" to his list of needed budget reforms this year. The result should be more openness and accountability in state spending.

For the most part, the so-called "pass-through" funds are monies legislators manage to get in the budget for pet projects without a designated line item. The monies then are dispensed through various state agencies at the request of individual lawmakers, primarily for hometown projects. In discussing the problem on our Commentary page today, the governor gave as recent examples an athletic field in Chapin and a new senior center in Edgefield.

As the governor notes, programs or projects funded by the "pass-through" process may be legitimate and beneficial. But they shouldn't be allowed to avoid normal scrutiny during budget review, particularly in terms of whether an expenditure meets the test for state funding. "If something is worth funding, it should be included in the budget and offered up for discussion against every other funding need in state government," Gov. Sanford writes.

That's particularly important in view of the state's limited revenues and its many needs. Perhaps if greater scrutiny had been exercised in recent years, the state Legislature could have avoided using state trust funds that had been dedicated for environmental cleanup and other specific purposes to pay for general operating expenses.

A new executive order from the governor prohibits Cabinet agencies from passing through appropriations not directly related to their respective missions. Additionally, agency heads will be required to prepare a list of grants annually, and certify that each is necessary to further the specific goals and purposes of the agency.

"The more light we shine on the spending process here in Columbia, the less likely folks are going to be to try and hide things from the taxpayers of this state," Gov. Sanford said, in signing the executive order.

It is unfortunate that the governor's executive order can apply only to his Cabinet agencies. That's another reason to restructure state government to give the governor expanded authority over the state's bureaucracy.

Simply by focusing on the abuse, the governor is bound to slow it down. He says the new policy will provide needed transparency in state spending. The potential for public scrutiny should also provide a welcome measure of disinfectant to the state's budget process.

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