Among the items cited by the Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan watchdog group were $5 million for Hunting Island beach renourishment, $500,000 to equip a Florence-Darlington Technical College building yet to be built or funded, $380,000 for an expansion of Johnson Hagood Stadium to accommodate a bowl game and $250,000 for a balloon festival in Anderson.

The news release accompanying the award points out that both legislative chambers are controlled by Republicans, also the governor's party. And while that party is most often associated with fiscal conservatism, the governor's vetoes were quickly overridden with virtually no discussion. It also notes that some legislative leaders were unhappy with the governor's introduction of two pigs "Pork" and "Barrel" into the House chamber.

"The mess made by the pigs was nothing compared to the chaos caused by the failure of the Legislature to put a lid on wasteful spending," the group said. The CAGW's remarks may sting some in the Legislature. But the "award" might give lawmakers pause next session, in the knowledge that their fiscal activities are under scrutiny by an organization best known for detailing congressional pork-barrel activities.

Nevertheless, it should be said that the governor and the Legislature did reach accord on one important fiscal matter for which legislators also deserve credit. Gov. Sanford's insistence that the state pay off its $155 million deficit with new revenues was ultimately recognized as necessary by the Legislature, ending the session on an optimistic note, and showing that legislators can exercise the fiscal discipline that state taxpayers expect, despite their veto overrides.

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