A is for airplane. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer was seriously injured after he
crashed his small plane at an Upstate airport May 23.
B is for billboards. The General Assembly approved a bill that forces local
governments to compensate billboard owners if they remove the signs.
C is for choice. The hot topic of school choice roiled the House once again
this year, but as in previous years, the legislation to provide tax breaks for
private school tuition failed.
D is for Department of Commerce. The state agency charged with recruiting
industry to the state was the big winner in the state budget process, as
lawmakers took steps to reduce the state's high unemployment rate.
E is for ethics reform. Broad-sweeping ethics reforms and a companion measure
to reign in lawmakers' controversial leadership political action committee
wallowed in the House.
F is for Friedman. Gov. Mark Sanford's hero, it seems, is New York Times
foreign affairs columnist Thomas L. Friedman. The Pulitzer Prize winner and
economic thinker was mentioned numerous times by the governor in his speeches
this year.
G is for gas prices. The high price at the pump prompted the House to approve
a temporary moratorium on gas taxes, but it later died in the Senate.
H is for hundred and one. This is the speed Bauer was traveling on I-77 when
he was stopped by the state Highway Patrol but not ticketed.
I is for illegal immigrants. A number of bills to address the pressing
national issue of immigration didn't get far in the Legislature.
J is for James Island. Lawmakers approved a bill that allowed the
twice-and-future town of James Island to launch another bid for
incorporation.
K is for Kelo. This U.S. Supreme Court decision caused lawmakers to restrict
local government's ability to use eminent domain powers.
L is for Lovelace. Sanford's GOP primary challenger, Oscar Lovelace, received
a roaring applause from House members when he was introduced as the Doctor of
the Day.
M is for marriage. A bill to drop the recognition of common law marriage
passed the House and died in the Senate.
N is for NoHomeTax.org. This Charleston-based taxpayer group pressed
lawmakers this session to abolish property taxes altogether.
O is for open meetings. The attorney general issued an opinion stating that
House Republican Caucus meetings should be open to the public.
P is for property taxes. After nearly a year of consideration, the
Legislature approved a compromise plan that will reduce home taxes by increasing
the state sales tax one penny.
Q is for quarrel. House GOP leaders and the Republican governor fought
constantly this session about state spending priorities.
R is for re-election. Lawmakers' desire to get re-elected in November
injected politics into nearly every legislative issue.
S is for start date. In 2007, public schools statewide will be barred from
starting classes before the third Monday in August under a bill approved by the
Legislature.
T is for tax cuts. The House and Senate agreed to legislative action that
gives tax breaks on groceries and hybrid cars
U is for ultimatum. Sanford told lawmakers he'd forced them to come back to
deal with vetoes before the June 13 primary.
V is for vetoes. The Legislature overrode the majority of the governor's
vetoes this year without much trouble.
W is for workers' compensation. Despite a big push from the business
community, major reforms to the workers' compensation system failed.
X is for XXX. An Upstate lawmaker introduced a bill that would have made
possessing or selling sex toys illegal.
Y is for Yankees. Lawmakers blamed out-of-towners for the rising property
rates that led to the call for tax relief on homes.
Z is for zero. No tax relief was included in the actual budget bill, much to
Sanford's chagrin.
