Posted on Thu, Jan. 04, 2007

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Sanford, legislators appear to headed to early squabbles

JIM DAVENPORT

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Legislators aren't expecting a smooth, backslapping session this year with Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

That much was clear at a South Carolina Press Association media workshop Thursday. State Sen. Harvey Peeler, a fellow Republican, said Sanford seems to be at a crossroads. He can create a record of greatness in second term or be remembered as the "little-toe, little piggy, the one that just says wah, wah, wah all the way home."

Legislators chuckled when asked about the chances of getting along this year with the governor who during his first term toted squirming pigs to the House chamber's door to protest budget veto overrides, riled them with a lawsuit threat and once vetoed the entire budget.

"It's been a challenge for the last four years dealing with our governor," Peeler said.

Sanford begins his second term Wednesday when he is sworn in again at 11 a.m. on the Statehouse steps.

Peeler said he felt optimistic about working with Sanford after meeting with the governor this past Wednesday, only to read Thursday about a new dustup in The (Columbia) State.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, has been downplaying differences with Sanford. But he didn't like a line in the budget Sanford released this week that said "many House Republicans decided to ignore their pledge" to return money to taxpayers last year.

After reading it, Harrell told the newspaper the governor has no intention of working with the Legislature.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the budget only points out the fact "the House said it was going to live within a spending limit and it chose not to do so."

The criticism isn't personal. "We just don't do that. We talk about ideas on their merits," Sawyer said.

The disagreement shows there is tension in Tara, Peeler says.

"If you think the relationship with the General Assembly and the governor is any better this year and you think we're getting along better this year, then you probably can watch 'Gone with the Wind' and think that Rhett and Scarlet had a pretty good marriage," the Gaffney senator said.

Harrell told reporters Thursday that the House adopts nearly all of Sanford's agenda, but nonetheless faces criticism.

"My only frustration has been and - as of yesterday - continues to be, frustration over the rhetoric and the tone coming out of the governor's office. I don't think it's healthy. I don't think it helps to try to move these issues forward," Harrell said.

Harrell, Peeler and other legislators said they'll continue to try to move Sanford's agenda items forward. However, Sanford also has to do more to get his priorities through the Legislature, including a new version of a plan to provide vouchers that allow some parents to send their children to private schools.

Harrell voted for that last year. "He didn't have the votes last year. I haven't seen him do anything to try to get the votes this year at all," Harrell said. "I haven't heard of the first conversation he's had with folks" so "he has a different result than he did last year."

Sawyer said the governor has been and will continue to have one-on-one meetings with legislators. "We're going to continue to take our case directly to folks in South Carolina," Sawyer said.