Story last updated at 5:00 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2003 Sanford won't recall lawmakers for stalled incentive
bill
Associated Press
GREENVILLEóGov. Mark Sanford won't recall
legislators to pass an economic development bill that Greenville County
Council members say would help lure a biotech company to the Upstate.
Greenville leaders say the bill's incentives are needed to recruit a
pharmaceutical plant potentially as large as BMW Manufacturing Corp. in
Greer. Officials haven't identified the biotechnology company, the number
of jobs it could create or other states in competition for it.
Council Chairwoman Phyllis Henderson says she didn't expect Sanford to
call a special session at the council's request, but the request was
intended to underscore the need for the bill.
Sanford cannot set the agenda or the period of time for the session if
the General Assembly is called back, spokesman Chris Drummond said.
"You're talking $75,000 a day and the governor still not being able to
tell them, 'These are the issues I want you to take up in this period of
time,' " Drummond said.
The bill involved firms investing at least $100 million with a minimum
of 200 jobs that are 150 percent above the state's average per capita
income, House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said.
The bill passed the House, but was held up in the Senate by a
filibuster on another bill by Sen. John Kuhn, R-Charleston.