(Columbia) Jan. 27, 2005 - Governor Mark Sanford got an opportunity to talk about his accomplishments and what he wants to do in the next two years when he gave his third State of the State address on Wednesday night.

The governor talked about the same basic themes that were discussed in his past two speeches: government accountability, the economy, education, and quality of life, "We're a hardy lot, and we'll survive these challenges I just outlined, but the question of the night is not can we survive, but how do we thrive?"

The 44-year-old Republican says he's most proud of provoking a different sense of thinking to make state government run more efficiently, "Reforms, versus the way things have always been. Spend whatever comes in, or limit our spending so that we can first pay back money borrowed in rough times."

Sanford called for reducing the state's income tax and restructuring government, "I believe if pieces of the former Soviet Union can be competitive on taxes, we can in South Carolina as well." The governor also urged lawmakers to let voters decide in a referendum whether to eliminate elections for the state's constitutional officers, part of his plan for government restructuring.

He says his plan to reduce the state's income tax from seven percent to just under five percent would help small businesses thrive and create jobs and wealth in the state, "The bottom line is we want to see more little businesses make it. The entrepreneur with a dream, the lady who puts a second mortgage on the house to start the business that had to wait until after the kids finished school, the fellow covered in grease still repairing lawn mowers at half past seven on Friday – these are all economic heroes and they deserve our help."

The governor is also a strong proponent of school choice, "If we keep on doing what we've been doing, were going to keep on getting what we've been getting." The governor has proposed a tax credit for parents who send their children to private schools. Sanford says a school choice program in Milwaukee helped improve public schools.

Democratic State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum says Sanford should be working to build cooperation to improve public schools. Tenenbaum says Sanford's tax credit plan lacks accountability.

Governor Sanford also says the Palmetto State legal system is neither fair or efficient, "Those small business folks I was talking about just a little while ago tell me they can't be competitive and create new jobs unless changes are made. Folks at the hospital where Jenny had all four of our boys tell me the same thing. I believe it is time to follow the other twenty-six states that have modified their legal systems over the last few years, or get ready for a lot of U-Haul trailers headed down I-85 or I-95 with jobs and investment bound for some other state that would have come here if we had changed things."

He also reiterated his Family Fitness Challenge, "I'll go as many places as time permits to join South Carolinians willing to invest the energy into making a difference in their health." Last year, he rode his bike across the state.

House Minority Leader, Harry Ott, Junior, (D-Calhoun) gave the governor the grade of "a C at best." Ott wanted to hear more about property tax relief, "Before we start spending up to a billion dollars when this is fully implemented we need to discuss the commitments that we made to the citizens of South Carolina on property tax."

Sanford has one political victory this year. He successfully convinced lawmakers this year to change the rules in the Senate, where much of the governor's favored legislation has died the past two years.

He told WIS News 10 this is his chance to bring his ideas to the public and now it's up to the legislature to decide what to do with them, "I think we've done our part. I hope these ideas will generate steam. I'm guardedly optimistic about some of these proposals."

Before the address, Governor Sanford joined the South Carolina Medical Association for a reform rally. The rally focused on whether the state should put a cap on the amount of money a jury can award in a medical lawsuit.

Updated 7:36am by BrettWitt with AP