COLUMBIA - Action on legislation to allow free pouring begins Tuesday with a measure that imposes a 5-cent cocktail tax to replace the minibottle tax of 25 cents a bottle.

The cocktail tax would be in addition to regular sales tax and any local hospitality taxes. A Senate subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing at 1:30 p.m. on the bill sponsored by Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach.

The bill does not address the distribution issue, which has become the subject of dispute between the major distributors and the retail stores that currently are licensed to sell to bars. A distribution proposal could be added to the bill while it is under consideration, however.

The hearing will be in Room 209 of the Gressette Senate Office Building.

Rep. Bill Cotty, R-Columbia, had said he would file a bill last week outlining a distribution proposal, but he did not do so. Cotty was out sick part of the week, and he could not be reached about what his plans are.

With February almost gone, the hospitality industry is beginning to become nervous over whether a bill will pass in time to implement the change this year, though legislators say they are confident there is time.

Veto overridden

Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed a bill allowing Georgetown County's legislative delegation to take county Election Board appointments back from the County Council, but the delegation promptly overrode the veto.

The four-member legislative delegation said its involvement is needed to resolve problems that occurred with the November election. In most counties, the legislative delegations appoint members of the election boards. In 1996, those appointments were given to Georgetown County Council.

Sanford, who vetoes most local bills, said the measure is unconstitutional special legislation for a local issue and that it interferes with home rule. The 1996 law should be left alone, he said.

The only votes needed to override were the county's two House members and two senators. Rep. Carl Anderson, D-Georgetown, and Rep. Vida Miller, D-Pawleys Island, voted to override. In the Senate, the override was presented to all 46 members, who voted unanimously in favor of the override.

The measure was one of several involving county election commission appointment changes Sanford vetoed. The vetoes were overridden in each case.

Miller said when the bill becomes law, the delegation will begin to consider how to proceed. Problems with the November election included vote certification taking place at the improper time and votes not being recounted for a protest.

On TV

State Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, will be part of the panel discussion on Wednesday's monthly "ETV Forum," a one-hour show on S.C. Educational Television about issues of statewide interest.

The topic of the month is education funding and the tax credits for private schools proposal. Viers, who supports the tax-credit plan called Put Parents in Charge, was chosen to represent the House. Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, will represent the Senate.

Other participants include representatives of taxpayer and public school organizations, and state tax policy expert Holley Ulbrich.

Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, selected Viers to represent the Republican Caucus on the program.

"Thad is perfect for the job because of his enthusiasm for the issues and his support of common-sense public education," Merrill said.

Viers had an altercation in the Capitol lobby Thursday with a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People official after the organization held a news conference to condemn Put Parents in Charge.

"This state needs to have a positive, clear-headed debate on the Put Parents in Charge bill, which to this point I don't believe we've had," Viers said.

The bill has not been scheduled for committee consideration in the General Assembly.

The program is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, but check local listings.

As of Friday, the S.C. ETV station in Conway was out of order and under repair.

Park funds

Myrtle Beach State Park will get $100,000 to start on campground improvements. The money was approved Thursday by the Joint Bond Review Committee.

The park will receive $56,594 more for the project after July 1, according to the committee's vote.

Next week

The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee will consider a bill that makes it easier for billboard companies to keep nonconforming signs.

The proposal ends the practice, used by cities including Myrtle Beach, of allowing billboard companies to phase out nonconforming signs over a period of years.

Cities and counties that want to get rid of billboards would have to pay fair market value. The committee meets at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room 403 of the Blatt House Office Building.