The praise for Gov. Mark Sanford's first State of the State wasn't unanimous, but it was pretty darn close.

Republicans loved their party leader's speech, from its praise of President Reagan to its promise not to raise taxes.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he admired Sanford for not just talking about cutting government, but identifying concrete cuts to be made. That included eliminating the position of Governor's Mansion director and its $80,000 salary.

"It's a new day of leadership," Bauer said. "I think that he talked about a lot of things that past executors never brought up."

The only people who loved the speech more than Republicans might have been Democrats.

Sen. John Land, D-Clarendon, gave the Democrats' official response live on S.C. ETV. He gushed over the speech, saying "I like that," or "I like that idea" eight times in his four-minute remarks.

"I can't fault anything that he has said in his address," Land said. "He sounded like a Democrat. I can wholeheartedly endorse and work for all of the proposals that he had."

Land said he specifically liked Sanford's ideas on being more accessible to the people and to the General Assembly.

He also liked the idea of taking more control over the largely autonomous State Budget and Control Board, state government's administrative arm, with its 1,100 employees and $27 million budget.

"That's a big agency and a lot of us in the General Assembly feel that no one has control over it as such," Land said.

On the budget, Land said he joined Sanford in pledging to stop spending one-time money on recurring needs such as health care -- a practice largely responsible for the budget crisis. One-time money is revenue that's only available for one year.

Don Weaver, president of the S.C. Taxpayers' Association, also loved the speech.

His group purchased newspaper ads in Wednesday's editions reminding Sanford of his campaign promise not to raise taxes. The association also held a news conference Tuesday to protest a proposed cigarette tax.

In his speech, Sanford said he did not like raising the cigarette tax. He said raising any tax should be accompanied by a cut in another one, such the income tax.

Sanford campaigned last year on a plan to eliminate the income tax over 18 years.

Weaver said he'd been bracing for a long fight in the Legislature over the cigarette tax. He was delighted the governor opposed it, too.

Weaver said Sanford offered "some of the most common-sense proposals" ever made by a governor.

Those less enthralled with the speech included the state's constitutional officers. Sanford proposed having their positions appointed by the governor rather than elected by the people.

Democrat Grady Patterson, state treasurer for more than 30 years, took great issue.

"His proposal does not create efficiencies -- all of the functions of government will still occur -- it just eliminates checks and balances and creates a different chain of command," Patterson said.

Patterson also disliked Sanford's idea of moving state employees' retirement money out of the treasurer's control and into a separate trust fund. Sanford described it as a way to do better by the state's 64,000 employees: "It's not the raise we all would like, but it does a better job of investing $15 billion of their retirement money."

Patterson said his office has been a careful and successful steward of that money, regularly beating most portfolios. "How do you beat number one?" he asked.

Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, the chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, had kind words for the most part. But he said he was concerned about Sanford's desire to appoint offices such as the treasurer's.

"I think those positions belong to the people," Govan said. "They've made wise choices in the past, regardless of which party. I think those individuals have done a good job."

Overall, Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said he saw Sanford as starting a conversation with the General Assembly.

"I think he was specific in some areas. But I think he purposely was just trying to start a dialogue in some other areas. I think that's appropriate."