COLUMBIA - In an effort to catch the eye of state lawmakers, about 60 local business leaders and elected officials spent the day in Columbia on Tuesday for the third annual Florence County Legislative Day.

The group from Florence heard from Gov. Mark Sanford; several legislators; S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Chad Prosser; and Bill Steiner, the director of Community Builders, which is helping several Florence County municipalities, including Florence, redevelop their downtowns.

The group also toured the Governor’s Mansion and attended two receptions. Florence County native Josh Turner, a country music recording artist, was scheduled to perform as part of the event in the evening.

Florence Mayor Frank Willis moderated the events of the second half of the day, during which the governor spoke. Sanford talked about reducing the state’s income tax and giving tax breaks to parents who send their children to independent schools in an afternoon address at the Gressette Building on the Statehouse grounds.

“We don’t treat small businesses as well as we treat large businesses in South Carolina,” Sanford said, adding that small businesses account for the bulk of new jobs.

Sanford said his state income tax proposal, during a 10-year period, would reduce the income tax for small businesses from 7 percent to 5 percent - the same rate, he said, that bigger businesses pay.

Sanford said his proposal to allow public funding to go toward a school that the student or parent chooses would im-prove schools overall.

“Our economy is transforming to a global economy,” he said.

Before Sanford addressed the Florence contingent, the group heard from several legislators at a luncheon at Columbia’s Capital City Club. Most of the comments at the luncheon were brief and nonspecific, with more of an opportunity to lobby during the afternoon and evening receptions, which were expected to draw more House and Senate members.

Florence County Council Chairman K.G “Rusty” Smith introduced speakers at the luncheon. Smith introduced Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, R-Florence, as a successful businessman in Flor-ence County. Leatherman said the group’s trek to Columbia for Legislative Day makes a difference to lawmakers.

“Florence County is on the move,” Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said to the crowd, adding that he is excited with what he sees when he visits the county.

Sen. Kent Williams, D-Marion, said he wanted to deliver the message of regionalism.

“When Florence grows, so will the outlying area,” he said. “We’re in this thing together.”

Sen. Glen McConnell, Speaker Pro Tem of the Senate, said “You are doing the right thing coming up here. You are making a statement about the county.”

McConnell also joked that legislators who want to stay in good graces with Leatherman, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, should make an effort to attend the evening reception at the Columbia Museum of Art.

Rep. Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, spoke to the group in place of Speaker of the House Rep. David Wilkins, R-Greenville. Doug Smith said he has seen the state’s new revenue numbers and “things are looking up from a fiscal standpoint.” He also said he thinks the General Assembly would deal with minibottle legislation and shortening the legislative session this year.

In a question-and-answer session after he spoke, Sanford said the state will have to look at some different options if the proposed Interstate 73, which would run from from Myrtle Beach to Michigan, is to be built sooner rather than later.

“We’ll have to think outside the box,” said Sanford, noting that although tolls are not palatable to some, money might not be available from other sources.

Prosser said the building of I-73 is critical.

“Some of the federal recognition it (I-73) has gotten is a huge step,” he said. He said South Carolina has taken the lead in moving the proposal for I-73 forward and that he feels good about the project.

Prosser, a Florence native, also praised Florence’s efforts in drawing amateur sports events to the area. He mentioned Freedom Florence as a success in bringing in tourism money. In the last three years, he said, Florence County has seen an in-crease in accommodations tax at a rate nearly double that which other counties are experiencing.

As for Parks, Recreation and Tourism’s effort to bring tourism dollars into the state, Prosser said the agency has increased spending to market the state to $15 million. He said Florence County draws visitors who come to hunt and fish in the county and that could be fruitful, since trends are moving toward more outdoor-based activities for visitors to the Palmetto State.

After Prosser, Steiner talked about the work he has done in Florence County to help redevelop Florence, Timmonsville, Johnsonville and Lake City.

“Florence’s redevelopment plan has gone well, but there is still a lot more to do,” he said.

Steiner said the national trend is to redevelop downtown areas, and that redevelopment makes good economic sense. He also said downtown areas should be designed for people instead of cars.

“In the past, downtowns were designed for cars, but (car traffic) on Irby Street needs to slow down,” he said. “You have to design it for people.”

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