| Sanford's endorsement list stirs up lawmakers AIKEN - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford reignited the anger of legislators in his own party last week with an endorsement list for his tax reform and economic stimulus package that they say was long on Republican partisanship and light on accuracy. As a result, he has tarnished his promise to create a more cooperative atmosphere with legislators, particularly the fellow Republicans who control both houses of the General Assembly, lawmakers said. The governor also has damaged the support he earned during a recent four-day, 14-city tour to promote his recently unveiled plan and reinforced his reputation as a political loner, they said. "They're still marching to a different drummer, going their own way," said state Rep. Robert "Skipper" Perry, R-Aiken, whose name does not appear on the governor's list. "You can be a loner as a congressman or senator, but if you're governor you can't be a loner." Several of the 24 lawmakers named by Mr. Sanford - all of them Republicans - said they haven't endorsed his plan. "My name's on that list in error," said state Sen. Mark Fair, R-Greenville, the chairman of the Senate Corrections and Penology Committee. "The governor's plan is a fine plan. I just don't support it." State Rep. Jim McGee, R-Florence, said he was contacted Wednesday by a member of Mr. Sanford's staff and asked to endorse the proposal, which calls for an increase in cigarette taxes from 7 cents to 68 cents a pack and an end to the five-cent sales tax exemption on lottery ticket sales. The resulting $222 million in revenue would be used to offset a cut in the state income tax, from 7 percent to 5.9 percent, which would make the governor's proposal "revenue neutral." "They asked if I support it in theory and I said, 'Yes, I support it in theory,' " said Mr. McGhee, the chairman of a subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. "Is that an endorsement that I'm going to vote for the thing as it sits? No." State Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, the vice chairman of the House Judiciary committee, was more blunt: "That list is not quite accurate. Although I find it very interesting and could support it, I have not endorsed the plan until I see more details." GUBERNATORIAL spokesman Will Folks defended the endorsement list. "What you've got is a list where you see varying levels of support," he said. "Some folks are battening down the hatches and are totally on board. Some folks are on board but want to see the governor's plan for Medicaid. Still others say the governor is 'moving in the right direction."' However, Mr. McGee said some Republican legislators are angry that the list creates the appearance that Mr. Sanford's plan has their ironclad endorsement. The list also creates the impression that the governor's tax plan is the only option on the legislative table, said state Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, one of the architects of a bill that would eliminate local property taxes as a revenue source for public schools and give the state almost total control of education funds with a two-cent increase in the state sales tax. "The governor needs to accept that other people have plans coming forward, and he needs to include those as well and not be such a Lone Ranger," said Mr. Merrill, who is also on Mr. Sanford's endorsement list. "Nobody wants to reject out of hand any plan, but it's not fair to say everybody's jumping on board this one." Top Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bobby Harrell, say the Legislature has to reform the state's Medicaid system before discussing revenue measures in the session that begins in January. Legislators also say they want to see how Mr. Sanford plans to fund the Medicaid system and are waiting to see his budget plan. Mr. Harrell and Mr. Wilkins also have expressed reservations about the timing of Mr. Sanford's plan, pointing to an expected fourth straight year of fiscal shortfalls. AS OF YET, NO Democrats are on Mr. Sanford's list, and legislators from that party say the governor's plan does nothing to provide new revenue for a budget deficit expected to run between $350 million and $500 million next year, including red ink from Medicaid that could rise as high as $200 million. "To have tunnel vision and not consider more money is just folly," said state Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater, who unsuccessfully proposed a 56-cents-a-pack cigarette tax increase and a 2-cent increase in the state sales tax last year. "This is beyond new math." Though Republican legislators like business-friendly portions of the governor's plan and support Mr. Sanford's contention that a reduction in the state's income tax rate would spur job growth and broaden South Carolina's tax base, they're not as keen on the notion of boosting the cigarette tax to 68 cents a pack, Mr. Harrell said. That would chase smokers to neighboring low-tax states such as Georgia, which has a 38-cents-a-pack tax, and North Carolina, which has a 4-cents-a-pack tax, Mr. Perry said. "We jack the cigarette tax out of sight, it's going to have a big effect," Mr. Perry said. "People cross the river to buy a lottery ticket for a dollar. They'll sure cross over to save $6.80 on a carton of cigarettes." Lawmakers say they also are concerned that Mr. Sanford has dropped his earlier proposal that revenue from the cigarette tax be earmarked for Medicaid, a popular measure among legislators who like the idea of smokers paying for one of the prime causes of health problems. "I believe there's widespread support for reducing the income tax rate, but there's a lot of concern whether the amount of the cigarette tax is too high and concern about the money not being directed to Medicaid," Mr. Harrell said. Economic growth is the key to Medicaid reform, and a reduction in South Carolina's income tax would make the state more competitive, Mr. Folks said. "The best Medicaid reform is job growth and fewer people on the Medicaid rolls," he said. Reach Jim Nesbitt at (803) 648-1395 or jim.nesbitt@augustachronicle.com.
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