COLUMBIA - South
Carolina's new governor goes before the Legislature and a
statewide audience tonight to deliver his first State of the
State address.
Key lawmakers say they want Gov. Mark Sanford to hit on a
limited number of items from his gubernatorial campaign and
tell them what he wants them to do to accomplish those goals.
Mr. Sanford wouldn't discuss the speech Tuesday.
Still, there are a few sure bets: the reality of the
state's budget crisis and the promises Mr. Sanford made in his
successful campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges in
the Nov. 5 election. Those promises include restructuring
state government, improving education and narrowing racial and
economic inequities.
Mr.
Sanford's speech will make history as the first from a
Republican governor to a Republican-controlled Legislature
since Reconstruction. On top of that, "this is the first,
major, substantive speech that he's giving," said Bill Moore,
a College of Charleston political science professor.
Revenue for the budget year that begins July 1 could fall
more than $500 million short of projected spending needs. The
budget is "obviously the most important issue," Mr. Moore
said.
"It's the 600-pound gorilla in the room, and it must be
addressed," said Winthrop University political science
professor Scott Huffmon.
Dealing with the budget could fit well with Mr. Sanford's
government restructuring and streamlining pitch. Mr. Sanford
provoked an ovation for former Gov. Carroll Campbell during
last week's inaugural address, lauding Mr. Campbell for the
restructuring effort he led more than a decade ago.
With the restructuring push, Mr. Sanford "needs to spend
time outlining why we need to change," said Sen. John Courson,
R-Columbia. "That should be a very compelling part of his
presentation."
Mr. Sanford might have found fodder for that in a report
released by his government restructuring task force Tuesday
that calls for the Legislature to put most state agencies
under the governor's control while eliminating several
statewide elected offices.
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