Compromise reached on economic development

COLUMBIA -- Legislators worked out a final compromise Thursday on a bill that will allow the state to borrow up to $500 million for college research and economic development projects.

But the deal ran into trouble on the Senate floor, where legislators questioned plans to spend $7 million on an international tourism conference center in Myrtle Beach. That and other concerns prompted two senators to keep the bill from getting final approval Thursday.

"Not one bit of discussion did we have about this economic development project," Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, said.

The conference committee's agreement "is as good as it's been explained, it will be even better aged," Ryberg said as he argued against immediate approval for a sweeping bill that bill touches most of the state one way or another.

It calls for up to $250 million in borrowing. The state's three research universities: Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina would get $220 million for research projects aimed at creating jobs. The state's other 30 colleges and technical schools would get $30 million for buildings and repairs.

Proponents said it was urgent to pass the bill now so that Greenville will have a better shot at winning a large investment from a pharmaceutical company.

The bill would allow that type of project to qualify for borrowing of $250 million for land, site preparation and worker training. The company would have to invest at least $100 million and create at least 200 jobs.

But the bill has several other aspects as well, including creation of a $50 million venture capital fund to spur investment in new companies; flexibility for colleges to condemn and buy land, avoid state procurement laws and hand out bonuses; expansion of the University of South Carolina's Sumter campus to a four-year program and the creation of four-year culinary arts program at Charleston's Trident Technical College.

House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said it's "the kitchen sink bill we've all been talking about."

The House passed the compromise with a 96-15 vote. But members questioned the wisdom of giving colleges too much freedom. House Education and Public Works Chairman Ronny Townsend, R-Anderson, questioned letting colleges build regardless of cost.

Harrell said he would work on separate legislation to eliminate that.

But most of the dispute came in the Senate.

The bill is "another case of taking good legislation and adding and adding until the thing becomes a Christmas tree," said Sen. Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster, who opposed expanding college programs.

Ryberg questioned why Myrtle Beach should get help in a tourism project. Leatherman countered that tourism and its jobs are a driving force in the economy, but ultimately agreed to wait until next week to take up the bill.

Legislators reached a compromise on a bill aimed at economic development and colleges. Here are some key elements of the bill.

• Up to $250 million in borrowing for colleges and universities -- the bulk of it going to the state's three research universities.

• Expansion of the state's economic development laws to let pharmaceutical companies take advantage of incentives such as borrowing up $250 million for land, site preparation and worker training.

• Tourism projects would qualify for more economic development money.

• A venture capital fund would be created to spur growth in new firms.

• Colleges get more flexibility to condemn and buy land, give bonuses and do other things to reduce reliance on state funding.

• No college could be shut down without the Legislature's approval.

• Expansion of the University of South Carolina's Sumter campus to a four-year program.

• A four-year culinary arts program at Charleston's Trident Technical College to replace Johnson and Wales, which is moving to Charlotte, N.C.

• Students at South University, a private, for-profit college, would be eligible for LIFE Scholarships.

• A study would be conducted

on a potential law school at South Carolina State University.

By AMY GEIER EDGAR

Associated Press

COLUMBIA -- House Speaker David Wilkins on Thursday removed Rep. Jerry Govan from the Judiciary Committee after the Orangeburg Democrat had a heated exchange last week with another representative that nearly came to blows.

Govan, D-Orangeburg, went to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison's office last week after a bill didn't get out of a subcommittee. Govan, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, was pushing a bill intended to help elect more black judges.

Harrison, R-Columbia, has said Govan grabbed him during the exchange and others had to separate them.

Wilkins said Thursday that he gave Govan notification he would be moved from the high-profile Judiciary Committee to the smaller Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee.

"The actions that took place last Thursday were totally inappropriate and cannot be tolerated," said Wilkins, R-Greenville. "I felt I had to act for the integrity of the House and I needed to ensure there is a good and proper work environment in the Judiciary Committee."

Tension nothing new

It's not the first time there has been tension between members in the House. Last May, Rep. Leon Howard, a black Columbia Democrat, charged Rep. John Graham Altman's desk, calling the white Charleston Republican a "racist b-----d" after Altman scuttled a bill Howard was pushing. A crowd formed and Howard challenged Altman to "step outside" before Sergeant-at-Arms Mitch Dorman stepped in.

Wilkins criticized that incident last year, but did not take action against the members.

"The difference in this one is the physical altercation aspect of it," Wilkins said. "Being disrespectful of members, losing your temper, none of that is acceptable behavior. But this certainly went further than actions that I'm aware of in the past."

Govan said he has sought legal counsel, who has advised him to limit his comments on the matter.

However, he said the speaker has the authority to make committee assignments and can reassign members if he so chooses. Govan and other members of the Legislative Black Caucus say the larger issue is that blacks are frustrated by a lack of respect in the body.

Govan and Rep. John Scott, D-Columbia, said many pieces of legislation by black caucus members do not get passed.

In this case, another black caucus member, Howard, sponsored similar legislation that already passed subcommittee, Wilkins said.

"Sometimes there is legislation that the members simply don't support," Wilkins said. "It has, in my opinion, nothing to do with whether the member is a Republican or a Democrat or a member of the Black Caucus or not."

Criticism

Scott, another black caucus member, asked the speaker to allow him to speak on the House floor about the issue, but Wilkins denied his request.

Scott later criticized Wilkins for taking to the House floor on Wednesday and telling members that he'd asked the "offending member a number of times to make a statement of apology and regret."

"We don't know what happened in that room up there. The door was closed," Scott said. "(Govan) was tried by an individual and that was wrong."

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