COLUMBIA--The controversy surrounding the massive "kitchen sink" bill just won't die.

Members of the S.C. House of Representatives say they were blindsided by Gov. Mark Sanford's actions last week after the General Assembly's override of his veto of the Life Sciences Act. They worry Sanford is working against the General Assembly instead of working with it.

The governor held a news conference March 18 and announced he would continue efforts to kill the bill.

The act, originally created to provide research opportunities and economic development in biotechnology and related fields, grew to include more than 20 pieces of loosely connected legislation.

Sanford opposed the measure over what he termed "politically driven, pork-barrel spending" and said he was considering challenging the bill in court over constitutional violations.

Sanford's news conference came just hours after House members passed his income tax reduction plan and, according to several House GOP leaders, just a day after the governor's co-chief of staff Tom Davis gave members the impression the governor was OK with the General Assembly overriding his veto.

"I don't know the exact words he used, but that was the clear message to members," said House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston. "And the next day they had a press conference saying we did a terrible thing."

Davis said the controversy stems from a misunderstanding. The Legislature moved quickly to override the governor's veto, leaving Davis with only a few minutes on the House floor to speak to members. He was able to speak to only about four before they voted.

"I told them the governor had made his feelings clear on the matter and the best thing they could do was vote their conscience," he said.

House members took this to mean the governor would hold no grudge about an override.

"We got the feeling that the governor didn't care and maybe even invited the override," said John Graham Altman III, R-Charleston.

Davis, who had several angry House members approach him this week, said the governor issued a five-page explanation of why he vetoed the bill and it was "ludicrous" to think the governor wouldn't care about the override.

"I told them that if that was their impression from what I said, then that was my mistake," he said.

Speaker of the House David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said he has heard from several members regarding the incident. He said the misunderstanding stems not only from Davis' words but also from the fact that Sanford's office did not lobby for support for sustaining his veto.

"When a governor wants a certain vote, his people usually come around and say, 'Can you help us on this?' or 'We need your vote.' They don't usually say, 'Vote your conscience.' "

Wilkins and several other House members said they had no problem with Davis. What they are bothered by is a move that seems to confirm their worst fears.

"This is about the governor and the House," Wilkins said. "Within four hours of our passing his income tax plan, he holds a press conference and says we trampled on the taxpayers."

Wilkins said the controversy didn't signal the end of the House and governor's office working together but did leave a lot of members feeling distrustful of the governor.

When the session started this year, House and Senate GOP leaders promised that the Republican-led legislative and executive branches would work together. But from the beginning, party solidarity seemed somewhat fragile.

In December, Sanford floated a poll that seemed to pit the governor against the General Assembly, angering many legislators.

Throughout his first two years in office, Sanford has struggled to get any meaningful legislation passed. With his income tax proposal close to the finish line, he took legislators to task over a disagreement.

To many in the public, this proves the popular governor is a maverick who sticks to his guns no matter what. To others, it confirms the suspicion that he can't work well with others.

"He has no idea what it takes to run state government," said Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter. "And to tell you the truth, he has no respect for those who do. He would rather operate in theory than to accomplish anything in the practical world, and his record of success proves that."

But Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, sees it another way. He said the governor has spent two years trying to get his agenda through with little success. This year, legislators have tanked all but one of his proposals, the income tax plan.

"I don't see where he was gaining ground using his old strategy," McConnell said. "Maybe he's tried the nice way and now he's decided to try another way. I felt all along that if his agenda didn't move, he would start taking on the General Assembly. And really, who can blame him?"

Clay Barbour covers the Statehouse. Contact him at (803) 799-9051.