Legislative committee meet on government overhaul

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A legislative panel will try to compromise on separate House and Senate versions of a bill representing the largest overhaul of state government in decades.

The conference committee meets Thursday afternoon to get a head start on the debate before the Legislature returns next month.

Both Gov. Nikki Haley and her chief Democratic opponent are pushing the bill. Haley has made the bill to modernize government and make it more accountable a signature issue. State Sen. Vincent Sheheen has sponsored the proposal for years, even as it died repeatedly throughout former Gov. Mark Sanford’s tenure.

The proposal would create a Cabinet-level Department of Administration to oversee much of the state’s bureaucracy, such as fleet and property management. Other Budget and Control Board responsibilities would be split among other agencies.