COLUMBIA--Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed the massive Life Sciences Act on Tuesday, taking a strong stand against efforts by some legislators to weigh down the measure with "numerous tack-ons."

In a statement released a little more than an hour before the midnight deadline, Sanford explained his reasons for vetoing the measure, which had become known as the "kitchen sink bill" because of the many provisions added onto it as it traveled through the General Assembly.

"This veto is all about protecting the taxpayers of South Carolina from politically-driven, pork barrel spending," Sanford said. "More importantly, it's about changing the way things have always been done in state government."

He said he still believes that both the life sciences and venture capital investment components of the bill are important for the state but said he was rejecting it as a whole because "there are so many other components of it that are objectionable." He outlined a handful that he found unacceptable.

Late Tuesday, House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said he was disappointed by the veto, but understood his reasoning.

"But there are some parts of that bill vital to this state, and the objectionable parts don't make the vital parts any less vital," Wilkins said.

It takes a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly to override a governor's veto. Wilkins and House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said they think that is a possibility.

"But anytime a governor vetoes, it changes the dynamics of the House," Harrell said. "I think we have the votes, but we'll have to wait and see."

The Life Sciences Act heads to the Senate next. If it overrides the veto, the bill will go to the House.

The act was originally designed to provide research opportunities and economic development in biotechnology and related fields. But during its progress from the House to the Senate to conference committee, the bill became laden with amendments. Among them: an international convention center in Myrtle Beach, new residency criteria for LIFE scholarships, a new four-year culinary arts program for Trident Technical College and allowing USC-Sumter to begin offering four-year degrees.

Sanford's statement late Tuesday said he objected specifically to portions of the bill that call for:

-- Financing the culinary arts program at Trident and an international convention center in Myrtle Beach because negotiations occurred in conference committee without public input.

-- Giving public institutions of higher learning the power of eminent domain.

-- Creating the South Carolina Research University Infrastructure Act as proposed because it would raise the state's general obligation bond limit by one-half percent, adding an estimated $25 million annually to the debt service. Sanford said the section would give more money to higher education without increasing accountability.

-- Creating programs at USC-Sumter and Trident Technical College without having them go through normal procedures to do so, such as getting approval from the Commission on Higher Education.

-- Stipulating that no USC campus can be closed without prior legislative approval. Sanford says state law already addresses that point.

-- Amending eligibility for LIFE scholarships because it would tap further into lottery funds that could otherwise be used in K-12.

-- Setting up a committee to look into opening a new law school at South Carolina State University because such a panel would bypass the Commission on Higher Education.