GOP hails victory for 'people's business'

Senators gather together during a break Tues., Jan. 11, 2005, at the Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. The 2005 General Assembly has opened for the year with the Senate taking on its rules. Sanford and Republican leaders want to change the rules to make it easier to stop filibusters, which they blame for the lack of action on some measures in recent years. MARY ANN CHASTAIN/The Associated Press e-mail this story Related Previous coverage • Citizens have a stake in state Senate rules battle

In a move that could help enact an income tax cut, jobs legislation and other measures, Senators made it tougher for as few as one of its members to block bills that a majority support.

Proponents said the changes to short-circuit filibusters and individual senators' ability to block voting would end the body's reputation as a graveyard for legislation and help improve the quality of life for South Carolina's four million citizens.

Democrats, outnumbered by Republicans 26 to 20, called it a power grab.

"This is a great day for the state of South Carolina," said Senate Majority Leader Hugh Leatherman of Florence. "The people's business will now be done."

Republican Gov. Mark Sanford and some in the business community believe that tax cuts, lawsuit reform and job creation tax credits are key to attracting new industry and creating more jobs. Sanford had made an income tax cut a centerpiece of his 2002 election campaign only to see it stall in the Senate.

Likewise, past efforts to reform the state's civil justice system were stymied in the Senate.

Hunter Howard, president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, hailed the vote as a major step "to ensure that meaningful legislation can be debated and, ultimately, voted on."

The chamber and a pro-business group co-founded by financier Darla Moore were major backers of the rules changes as a vehicle for legislation to raise the state's per capita income through tort reform, tax credits for job creations and tax cuts.

The voice vote after nearly three hours of debate was a major victory for Sanford who has contended that Senate rules allowing one member to stymie a bill or several to talk it to death had scuttled much of his legislative agenda in the first two years of his term.

The rules fight was the dominant issue on the opening day of the 2005-2006 General Assembly session.

"It changes the Senate dramatically," said Minority Leader John Land of Manning. "You will not have the deliberate debate we normally expect in the South Carolina Senate."

Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester, said, "We're all going to live to regret this day."

Republicans scoffed.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said members "have got to find some balance between being a deliberative body and being able to move legislation."

Leatherman said the rules are about "allowing the majority to be the majority." He said the changes would not be used to shut off meaningful debate but to suppress stalling "by talking about nothing."

Under the new rules:

— One senator exercising unwritten "senatorial privilege" will not be able to indefinitely block legislation.

— The number of votes needed to shut off filibuster is reduced from 28 to 26, or three-fifths of the 46 members present and voting.

— No amendments will be allowed when bills move to third and final reading.

— Democrats won't appoint their conference committee members to resolve differences in House and Senate bills. The appointment of Democratic members shifts from Land to Republican McConnell.

Sanford, who is in Texas for Air Force Reserve training, called Tuesday "the Senate's day. I can't credit them enough for voting to move our state forward" without sacrificing deliberative traditions

Partisan tensions showed through at times.

Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, accused Republicans of "trampling down a minority" that had ruled the Senate for most of the previous century.

"Live by the sword, die by the sword," said Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, the Rules Committee chairman.

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said it "is significant to the state and its ability to pass legislation." Wilkins has cited frustration over legislation passed by the House only to die in the Senate without a vote.

Not everyone was convinced the changes would work.

Sen. Darrell Jackson, a Columbia Democrat, said that "those people who know how to get stuff done will get stuff done and those people who know how to stop stuff will stop stuff."

Republican Jake Knotts of Lexington, who broke ranks with his GOP majority, warned, "I've done found ways to get around this. You betcha there's some tricks."

In other business, both legislative chambers received the latest details in the Graniteville train disaster, which has claimed nine lives, hospitalized 20 and displaced 5,400.

"We'll get through this one way or another," Rep. Robert "Skipper" Perry Jr. of Aiken told House members. The House stood in silent prayer for victims of the tragedy.

Tuesday marked the 25th year of service in the House for Wilkins.

"I obviously love this body and love this institution," he said. "When you realize you've spent a quarter of a century in a place, that means a lot to you."

Wilkins said House members were far happier Tuesday than at the opening of past year's sessions when budget cuts and gloomy financial projections cast a pall over lawmakers.

"I think in general the mood is upbeat, optimistic," he said.

House members spent about an hour in session Tuesday, greeting each other with hugs and handshakes as almost 240 bills were assigned to committees.

Among them was a resolution by Rep. Dan Cooper of Piedmont to remove the major signs designating State Highway 153 in the Upstate as the Earle Morris Jr. Highway.

Cooper filed similar legislation last year that was blocked by Martin. Last week, Martin said most businesses along the route responding to a survey support changing the name back to Highway 153. He said he plans soon to announce some action on the issue.

Republican leaders expect action this week on a jobs bill that would grant tax credits for investments and jobs creation and ease some tax requirements for the motion picture industry. Also up for subcommittee action is a tax plan proposed by Sanford to cut the state's top income tax rate from 7 percent to 4.75 percent over six years.

Among those watching the Senate's opening proceedings were a group of bikers who oppose changing the state's seat belt law. Clad in black leather or vests and sleeveless T-shirts, they packed each chamber's gallery.

A proposal from last year that has been re-introduced would allow police to stop a motorist for a seat belt violation.

Kevin Martin, a 42-year-old biker from Myrtle Beach dressed in riding leather, said he was there because he heard there was a mandatory helmet law being proposed and because he opposes the seat belt bill.

"I think it should be freedom of choice," he said. "If I don't want to wear one I shouldn't have to."