“We could solve everybody’s problem by just having it in Aiken or Summerville, since that’s where they win all the championships.” — Rep. Skipper Perry, R-Aiken, on a House resolution on the location of the state high school football championship games

KODAK MOMENT

Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, has been one of Gov. Mark Sanford’s most vocal critics in the State House. So when the white-haired senator found himself on the same page as the governor, it was reasonable to mark the occasion.

As Leventis stood at the Senate podium urging his colleagues to uphold Sanford’s veto of a bill that protects billboards, others in the chamber took note.

“Am I to understand that you are standing there actually defending the governor?” Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, queried in mock surprise.

Leventis said Leatherman was correct, and then pulled a small digital camera from his pocket.

“I’m so astonished, I’m going to take a picture of myself,” Leventis said, holding the camera at arms length, and — click — the moment was captured for all time.

ON THE SAME PAGE

Members of the House Ways and Means Committee were feeling the spirit as they quickly plowed through their review of the budget draft last week.

“Can we just sing “Kumbaya” right now?” joked House Ways and Means chairman Dan Cooper, R-Anderson, as the committee raised few issues with new budget programs.

“Power to the people!” Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, shot back.

Of course, minutes later the committee was singing the blues after Gov. Mark Sanford issued a pre-emptive veto via press release, criticizing the House plan. The fallout put budget talks on hold and forced Republicans to hold a “Come to Jesus” meeting.

And the people said: “Amen.”

THE CAUCUS IS FLAT

Standing outside the locked doors of the Blatt Building conference room last week, The Buzz had serious caucus envy.

Oh, how we wanted to be inside that room listening to the mea culpas or whatever was being delivered in such secrecy among members of the House Republican Caucus.

It was those guys with guns keeping us out.

Seriously. Men with guns.

Sure, it was only House Sergeant-at-Arms Mitch Dorman and his staff, who are among the nicest bunch around. But still.

We suddenly wondered if we weren’t dealing with some military junta. Which made us think of the Middle East. Which made us think of Thomas Friedman.

Friedman, as you know, is the author of Gov. Mark Sanford’s favorite book, “The World is Flat,” and is an expert on the Middle East, having made an award-winning career as a foreign policy correspondent.

So, given that Sanford’s spat with the House Republican Caucus was the root cause of our caucus envy and that locked-down meeting last week, The Buzz suggests Sanford get his Flat-World friend to come mediate the latest squabble.

After more than 20 years writing about overseas diplomacy, and with his philosophy degree from Oxford University, Friedman would seem perfect for the job.

Of course, House members might think Friedman would be biased toward Sanford, which would set off another round of nasty press releases, indignant commentary and probably more locked meetings guarded by men with guns, and ... oh, just never mind.

NORTH OF THE BORDER

North Carolina officials say the Tar Heel State’s lottery is on track to begin ticket sales March 30.

But coming up with a logo was a bit more of a problem.

Earlier this month, the lottery was aiming for a look featuring fireworks. One commissioner, though, thought it was a palm tree, and it got shelved anyway because of copyright concerns, according to the Associated Press.

So last week, the number-crunchers settled on a look featuring a lighthouse, mountains and a shooting star.

All that could have been put on South Carolina signs a few years ago, but folks here settled on a palmetto tree.

That is a palmetto tree, right?

• AT THE STATE HOUSE

Some ways to influence lawmakers this week:

TUESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at noon. An Agriculture subcommittee discusses limits on landfill expansion (410 Blatt Building, 2 p.m.). • THE SENATE convenes at noon. A Judiciary subcommittee considers changing the primary election runoff date (209 Gressette Building, 2 p.m.).

WEDNESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 10 a.m. A Health and Environmental Affairs subcommittee reviews fitness requirements for school bus drivers (426 Blatt Building, 9 a.m.)

• THE SENATE convenes at 2 p.m. The Medical Affairs Committee discusses limiting sale of pseudoephederine drugs (308 Gressette Building, 9 a.m.).

THURSDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 10 a.m. A Labor, Commerce and Industry subcommittee reviews property closing rules for time shares (403 Blatt Building, 9 a.m.)

• THE SENATE convenes at 11 a.m.

MORE MEETINGS

• Go to http://www.scstatehouse.net/ for a list of meetings.LAST WEEK

GOP FLAP: House Republicans regrouped behind locked doors after GOP Gov. Mark Sanford used three party leaders to criticize developing state spending proposals. The scramble canceled budget hearings set for Thursday.

COLD MEDICINES: A Senate subcommittee advanced a bill that would put Sudafed and other cold medicines used to create the illegal drug methamphetamine behind the counter.

DISABILITY PROTECTIONS: A bill to protect vulnerable adults who are under the care of the state’s mental health and disability agencies was approved by a Senate subcommittee. It would establish a special unit within the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults, and deaths.

HOG-DOG FIGHTING: A bill targeting bloody hog-dog fighting was broadened to target any contest involving dogs that harms or kills animals so their owners can make money. The bill sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee would allow criminal prosecution and property seizure when owners bet or win prizes at events where dogs bite and hold another animal in a way that could maim or kill.

SCHOOL TESTING: A bill letting public school systems reduce the number of annual standardized tests administered to elementary and middle school students was approved by a Senate subcommittee. Over objections from district science and social studies coordinators, the panel recommended requiring only sample testing of each child in those subjects in grades three through eight.

TO LEARN MORE

• YGA Today, a midday look inside the State House, will be posted at http://www.thestate.com/ early afternoon each legislative day.

WHAT THEY MAKE

• Go to http://www.thestate.com/ for a searchable list of state employee salaries for workers earning more than $50,000 a year.