Legislative Digest: The week in review

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State budget: The state Senate stumbled through three days of budget debate that became mired in amendments and partisan wrangling. It's not unusual for the budget to bring lengthy debate, but this year is different because the $5.2 billion spending plan hit the floor lacking support for key elements, including tax increases and education spending. The proposals deal with about $400 million in shortfalls through a combination of cuts and fee increases. But most of the fee increases were ruled out of order earlier this week, throwing the budget about $30 million out of balance. That doesn't include $151.3 million schools will lose from raising the sales tax cap on cars and eliminating two other sales tax breaks, which were ruled out of order. And the state's Medicaid programs for the poor will go without $171 million from the cigarette tax increase, also ruled out of order.

Senate e-mail: Senate sessions may be carried live on the Internet, but forget about sending senators e-mail while they're on the Senate floor. For at least six years, the Senate's e-mail system has been set up to block all incoming e-mail for senators while they're on the floor, Senate Clerk Jeff Gossett said. That apparently went unnoticed until Wednesday during the state budget debate as Sen. Brad Hutto waited for an e-mail that never arrived. Gossett said the Senate's e-mail system captures all messages sent to senators when they go into session, then sends it to them when they finish for the day. "There's nothing sinister about it," he said.

Sanford agenda: The General Assembly enters its final weeks of this year's term with Gov. Mark Sanford's legislative agenda not even close to reaching his desk. On Wednesday, Sanford asked legislators to focus on his proposals to reform education funding, to restructure state government and to cut income taxes while increasing the state's cigarette tax. Sanford pushed income tax relief as key to renewed economic prosperity in the state. A proposal to tie that to a cigarette tax increase was dumped from the Senate's version of the budget on Tuesday. Sanford's Streamlined Management and Accountable Resources for Teaching bill gives school districts flexibility to spend funds as they see fit and was introduced on March 26. Sanford also called on lawmakers to work on his proposal to restructure state government. His South Carolina Government Restructuring Act was introduced April 16.

Fast lane: Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer spends his day presiding over the Senate. But he was late Tuesday, and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, took over. It turned out that Bauer was delayed because he'd been stopped after running two red lights and driving 60 mph in a 35 mph zone on his way to the Statehouse. Bauer apologized the next day. He has other worries. He said Thursday he'll have to furlough his staff next month because his budget is running out of money to meet payroll.

Straw bill: A bill requiring wrapped straws in restaurants died Thursday in the House, provoking the bill's sponsor to call a colleague a "racist bastard." Rep. Leon Howard's bill had won second reading, but Rep. John Graham Altman worked to defeat the bill on third reading — a tactic seldom employed in the House. As the bill died, Howard, a black Columbia Democrat, charged the white Charleston Republican's desk, calling him a "racist bastard" among other things. A crowd formed, and Howard challenged Altman to "step outside." House Sergeant at Arms Mitch Dorman broke it up. Altman said Howard's legislation "was a silly, frivolous bill."

Clemson board: Former Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler has a new job. Legislators elected him Wednesday to the Clemson Board of Trustees. He'll serve on the board until June 2004 and fill out the unexpired term of Florence's Allen Wood. Peeler has been running a consulting business since leaving office.