“I think the people of South Carolina would rather trust the General Assembly with their taxes than their local government.”

— Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, during Senate debate on property tax reform.

HOLLYWOOD STYLE

South Carolina Republicans suffered a double setback last week: Their presidential candidate lost the state to a Democrat, and the GOP lost control of the State House.

Missed those major events? You must not watch “The West Wing.”

NBC’s lame duck White House drama hosted its final presidential election April 9, and the race between fictional Matt Santos, D-Texas, and Arnie Vinnick, R-Calif., was down to the wire.

But only in Hollywood would Santos win South Carolina, a state that hasn’t voted Democrat for president since 1976. To top it off, the show’s writers also included the nugget that the Republicans lost the S.C. State House.

The real S.C. Democratic Party, however, was not ready to celebrate.

“I think we can gain seats in the House, but unless (President) George Bush runs for re-election again, I don’t see us winning the House,” said party executive director Lachlan McIntosh.

House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Charleston, said the show’s storyline is not surprising.

“Now we know exactly why ‘The West Wing’ is going off the air,” Merrill said, laughing. “It’s ratings and credibility have plummeted.”

FAST FRIENDS

Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, has frequently said that a negative story in The State newspaper equals more votes for him, so the Buzz was a little surprised when “the people’s senator” stood up for state newspapers during property tax debate this week. It seems the Senator was concerned about the cost of the people’s paper.

During floor debate, Knotts noted an amendment proposed by Grooms would remove a sales tax exemption on newsprint.

“What’s going to happen to the price of newspapers?” Knotts asked.

When questioned afterward, Knotts admitted he stood up for all his constituents, even The State. Besides, he said, someone had to keep our editorial writers employed.

POWER GRAB

Debate got a little heated in the Senate Finance Committee over changing rules regarding how the State Budget and Control Board spends money.

Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, who is running for treasurer and a vote on the board, questioned the need to micromanage board decisions.

Why not micromanage all state agencies? Ryberg asked.

But Sen. Kay Patterson, D-Richland, raised an issue with Ryberg.

“Is Sen. Ryberg speaking as a senator now, or as the treasurer?” Patterson asked. “It is a conflict of interest.”

Ryberg defended his stance on the merits, but The Buzz was a little amused — but not surprised — that no one raised the same issue of Sen. Hugh Leatherman, who sits on the board and chaired the committee that was approving rules limiting its power.

SENATE SUPERIOR

If it’s good enough for the Gamecock football squad, it’s good enough for the state Senate.

During budget debate, one of the first changes the committee made was to drop the cap on tuition increases put in place by the House. During discussion, Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, proposed a minor change. Why not just cap in-state tuition, and keep no cap on out-of-state tuition increases?

“That sounds like a good idea,” said

Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee. “Instead of a cap, give them a visor.”

NO NEW PLANS

You’ll have to excuse Senate Democrats if they seemed a little testy during budget debate. They felt Senate Republicans were now praising a property tax plan Sens. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, and Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, had floated back in February.

The plan would raise a handful of state taxes and fees, such as the sales tax and liquor and cigarette taxes, in exchange for stripping school operating taxes from all property.

At least one Democrat had a little fun with the situation, noting a certain promise not to raise taxes signed by many in the Senate.

“It just seems to me,” said Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, “that it might be a violation of our tax pledge. I just want us to think about that over the weekend.”

• AT THE STATE HOUSE

Some ways to influence lawmakers this week:

TUESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at noon. At 2:30 p.m., 410 Blatt Building, the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee will consider reducing the catch limit for flounder.

• THE SENATE convenes at noon. At 3 p.m., 308 Gressette Building, Judiciary Committee will discuss price gouging.

WEDNESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 10 a.m. At 9 a.m., 511 Blatt Building, a Judiciary subcommittee will review voter registration rules.

• THE SENATE convenes at 2 p.m. At 11 a.m., 308 Gressette Building, the Education Committee will discuss 4-year-old kindergarten.

THURSDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 10 a.m. At 9 a.m., 511 Blatt Building, a Judiciary subcommittee will discuss the “ Unborn Vicitms of Violence Act.”

• • THE SENATE convenes at 11 a.m.

MORE MEETINGS

• Go to http://www.scstatehouse.net/ for a list of meetings.LAST WEEK

PROPERTY TAXES: The Senate ended debate on changing the state property tax system exactly where it started the week: with no consensus and little momentum. The Senate has one week to wrap up tax discussion before the budget hits the floor. If that happens, the chances of passing statewide reform diminish.

PROPERTY RIGHTS: A bill limiting governments’ ability to take private property was advanced by a Senate subcommittee without the broader restrictions on local zoning contained in a House-passed plan. The measure limits eminent domain, the authority that allows property to be taken for public use.

PRICE GOUGING: A bill increasing law enforcement’s ability to criminally prosecute cases of price gouging gained approval in a Senate subcommittee. The legislation, which cleared the House in February, allows the attorney general to use state price-gouging laws when the president issues a disaster declaration.

HEIRS’ PROPERTY: A bill meant to help the descendants of slaves preserve their family land gained approval in a Senate subcommittee. Heirs’ property is land granted to or bought by former slaves after emancipation. It passed through generations, often without a will, leaving it held by as many as a hundred heirs with no clear title and vulnerable to sale. The proposal would give owners of heirs’ property the right of first refusal to buy the land at fair market value before it is divided.

STATE BUDGET: Money to better respond to a major hurricane and dollars to expand 4-year-old kindergarten were among additions made by the Senate Finance Committee to the working state budget. The full Senate will take up the spending plan the week of April 24. After the Senate approves a plan, differences with the House version will need to be worked out.

FUNERAL PROTESTS: South Carolina became one of the latest states to discuss limiting funeral protests after a Senate subcommittee approved a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to picket within 1,000 feet of a service. The panel set penalties for the crime at $500, up from $100 in the original bill, and extended the ban to 30 minutes before and after a service.

TO LEARN MORE

• YGA Today, midday news from inside the State House, is updated several times each legislative day at http://www.thestate.com/.

WHAT THEY MAKE

• Go to http://www.thestate.com/ for an updated, searchable list of salaries for state employees earning more than $50,000 a year.