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Article published Jan 14, 2004
House, Senate take up civil lawsuits, budget

JIM DAVENPORT and AMY GEIER EDGAR
Associated Press

COLUMBIA -- Legislators returned to their desks Tuesday to discuss an overhaul of the state's civil lawsuit system, Gov. Mark Sanford's first executive budget and his vetoes remaining from last year.It was the opening day of a session that will end in June with legislators hoping they'll win re-election bids November.The lawsuit legislation brought out quick criticism from House Democrats in a caucus meeting before the gavels came down at noon in both chambers and later as the House Judiciary Committee sent it to the floor.The bill, backed by key Republicans, including House Speaker David Wilkins and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison, earned grousing from some GOP stalwarts."I've never seen so many formerly strong people cave," Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston said before Harrison's committee passed the bill.Two centuries of court policy is "being turned on its head today with very little discussion," said Rep. Doug Jennings, D-Bennetsville.Sanford's budget -- praised by many legislators -- was also finding plenty of critics, particularly from legislators whose districts surround the University of South Carolina's two-year campuses in Allendale and Union. Sanford has proposed closing those two campuses."He'll have a fight on that," said Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union.Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, said Sanford appeared to be picking on the "little kids on the school ground." If he wanted to save the state money, he should try scrapping one of the state's two medical universities, Peeler said. "Let's really do some reform."Sanford is trying to change government too fast, Peeler said. "You turn the ship of state like a battleship, not a Jet Ski," he said.Sanford's standing with legislators will be tested later this week as House members take up budget and other vetoes from the governor.The lawmaking business got off to a jovial start in the House and Senate as members greeted each other with hugs and loud, cheerful conversation as they strolled into the Statehouse.A number of House Republicans wore matching ties with the House insignia that were gifts from Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach.Most of the House's meeting time was spent sending about 100 new bills to committees.Technical problems squelched the Senate's sound system and even kept South Carolina ETV from offering closed-captioning of the day's session as 50 bills prefiled last month were read across the desk.The new bills included one from Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, that adds the name of Essie Mae Washington-Williams to the list of children on the Statehouse monument honoring former U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond.Williams came forward last month and announced she is the illegitimate daughter of the late senator and a black housekeeper who worked in the Thurmond family home. That bill was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee.