Senate passes bill that could bring jobs

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Gov. Mark Sanford, however, is still threatening to veto the legislation over a tacked-on measure that would make the University of South Carolina's branch campus in Sumter a four-year school.

Other amendments attached by lawmakers would add a culinary school to Trident Technical College in Charleston and a convention center in Myrtle Beach.

The legislation could unlock the potential of hundreds of high-technology jobs from a major biotech company that is considering a facility in Greenville County.

The prospect has not been identified publicly by state or county officials.

Sanford spokesman Will Folks said the governor supports the parts of the legislation that would provide financial incentives for drug companies that invest in South Carolina and create a $50 million venture capital fund to help startup companies.

But he remains "strongly inclined" to veto the bill over the unrelated add-ons, Folks said.

"This is a process problem that started with the USC Sumter amendment getting tacked on, and quite frankly the bill's weight got heavier and heavier as it continued to move forward in the process," Folks said.

The governor has line-item veto power for appropriations bills only.

The Life Sciences Act would provide financial incentives to pharmaceuticals or biotech companies investing at least $100 million and creating at least 200 high-paying jobs.

The legislation would also create a $50 million venture capital fund to boost entrepreneurism and provide $220 million to build research "infrastructure" — land, buildings, roads — at the state's three research universities.

The House approved the legislation 96 to 15 after it emerged from a conference committee last week. The Senate's vote Tuesday was 35 to 5.

Both votes exceed the two-thirds needed to override any veto by Sanford.

Sen. Jim Ritchie, a Spartanburg Republican that sponsored the venture capital portion of the bill, said many senators opposed making USC Sumter a four-year school, but felt that amendment was "not such an evil impediment as to kill the jobs-generating portions of this bill.

"Should an override be necessary, it appears that the votes are there," Ritchie said. He confirmed that a drug company is eyeing Greenville County for a new facility but said he doesn't know its name.

State Commerce Secretary Bob Faith won't say whether a drug company is considering a facility in Greenville County. But Faith has said about the incentives legislation: "We have active prospects for which it is an important piece of the recruiting package, and we need to get it passed so that we can win those deals."

Former Greenville Mayor Bill Workman predicted Sanford would veto the bill and that the Legislature would override.

Workman, who is retired but remains heavily involved in economic development, said the Life Sciences Act is the first instance he recalls in which lawmakers added controversial provisions to important incentives legislation.

"The Legislature has created a new precedent by adding only marginally related stuff to an economic development bill, and that's a spooky precedent," Workman said. If it continues, he said, "It's going to hurt both good government and economic development."