“They ought to follow the law. Republicans have had a tradition of deciding things in the caucus and bringing that to the House.”

— Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, discussing a measure GOP leaders are advancing in the House and Senate that would formally close party caucus meetings to the public

PARTY TO A TEA

The original 1773 tea party in Boston may have been a violent protest against British taxation, but the organizers of last week’s taxpayer tea party at the State House focused on a more genteel, Southern affair.

Be friendly, organizer Lanneau H. Siegling urged the crowd of about 150 people, but make sure legislators get the message: Failure to pass property tax reform will not be forgotten at the polls.

“It’s just the first day. It’s a marathon not a sprint,” Siegling said. “You’re going to get very frustrated over the next five months.”

“Today it’s a group hug,” cut in Don Bowen, another event organizer. “Tomorrow it might be a group choke.”

BETTING ON ROADS

Rep. Doug Jennings, D-Marlboro, was a two-time winner Thursday.

Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, had bet Jennings that the Senate would adopt legislation before the House calling for the proposed I-73 through the Pee Dee to be a toll road. But since the House met an hour earlier than the Senate on Thursday, Jennings already had a head start.

Jennings also had a side bet going with DOT director Elizabeth Mabry.

“Betty Mabry bet me a Diet Coke the Senate would beat the House on this,” Jennings said.

DIVIDED WE STAND

The four S.C. Republican U.S. House members are divided over who should be their majority leader for the remainder of this Congress.

Will it be U.S. Rep. John Boehner of Ohio or U.S Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri?

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett of Westminster says he will vote for Boehner. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson of Lexington will cast his ballot for Blunt.

The other two members, U.S Rep. Henry Brown of Charleston and U.S Rep. Bob Inglis of Greenville, are undecided.

The vote is scheduled to take place Feb. 2.

YOU’RE OK, I’M BETTER

State Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler and Minority Leader John Land are two “silver tongues” of the august body, Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston said last week.

And in a televised news conference, Peeler and Land did not disappoint. After Land explained the Dems’ plan for property tax relief, Peeler, the Republican leader, said he understood but didn’t necessarily agree.

“It’s not that your ideas are bad,” Peeler said, “It’s just that my ideas are better.”

McConnell warned viewers that Peeler, a dairy man, likes to come across as “just some farmer, but he is tenacious.”

SEEKING HIGHER HELP

Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, was eager to begin his first day as speaker of the House on the right foot — with a prayer.

He knew he’d always get the chance in the House Republican Caucus meeting Tuesday morning, his first session day holding the gavel. So when caucus chaplain Rep. Bob Leach, R-Greenville, asked if there were any special prayer requests, Harrell’s hand shot in the air like a second-grader trying to win taffy in a spelling bee.

“I’m excited and a little bit nervous,” Harrell said.

• AT THE STATE HOUSE

Some ways to influence lawmakers this week:

TUESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at noon. Several Ways and Means subcommittees will meet about 1 ½ hours after the House adjourns to discuss budget requests. The meetings include presentations by the State Library and Commission on Higher Education at 321 Blatt Building.

• THE SENATE convenes at noon. A Judiciary subcommittee will discuss property tax assessment (105 Gressette Building, 2:30 p.m.).

WEDNESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 10 a.m. A Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs subcommittee takes up a bill covering what procedures licensed chiropractors can perform (426 Blatt Building, 3 p.m.).

• THE SENATE convenes at 2 p.m. A Banking and Insurance subcommittee will discuss consumer identity theft (407 Gressette Building, 10 a.m.).

THURSDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 10 a.m. A Ways and Means subcommittee hears budget requests from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Social Services and others (108 Blatt Building, right after House adjourns).

• THE SENATE convenes at 11 a.m.

MORE MEETINGS

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

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

A quick spin through action at the State House last week:

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION — Sanford made stops in Greenville and Charleston to build support for changes in the workers’ compensation system as House and Senate members introduced legislation to accomplish that.

CLOSED MEETINGS — Republican caucus leaders in the House and Senate say the state’s open meeting laws need to change so they can meet in private to discuss politics, public policy and legislative priorities away from the media and the public. The changes should affect all public bodies, House Majority Leader Jim Merrill of Charleston said.

EARLY CHILDHOOD FUNDING — Lawmakers asked officials with First Steps whether the agency could absorb additional funding for early childhood education to comply with Circuit Judge Thomas W. Cooper Jr.’s recent ruling in the school funding lawsuit.

COMPUTERIZED TESTING — A bill that would get scores to students sooner, reduce science and social studies testing and study computerized exams advanced to the House Education and Public Works Committee.

MORE ONLINE

• YGA Today, a midday look inside the State House, will be posted on http://www.thestate.com/ early afternoon each legislative day.