GOP Takes Over S.C. Legislature

Friday, January 5th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) â€” A Democratic state senator decided to become a Republican, giving the GOP control of both houses of the South Carolina Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction.

Sen. Verne Smith's switch, announced Thursday, handed Republicans a 24-22 advantage in the Senate, their first majority since 1876. Republicans already control the House.

Democrats were not pleased with the news that they would lose their 23-23 tie in the Senate, one of the last places in the increasingly Republican state where they still had some control.

The Republican majority could pose problems for Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges, who must work with the Legislature to correct a $513 million budget shortfall and create lottery legislation.

``Our goal is to cut taxes and improve education, and we're going to do that with the support of Republicans, Democrats and independents,'' Hodges' spokesman Morton Brilliant said.

Republicans could now scrap a Senate seniority system that lets members of both parties head committees. Republican State Sen. Hugh Leatherman said changes should be expected but declined to discuss them until the legislative session opens next week.

Smith said he decided to switch because he can better serve his constituents, many of whom usually vote Republican, as a member of the majority party.

``I think my constituents will shake my hand and pat me on the back,'' said Smith. ``A lot of them say 'I've been voting for you for years, but it's been very hard because I've been voting Republican for everything else.'''

Smith sparred last year with Democratic Senate President Pro Tem John Drummond during debates about flying the Confederate flag above the Statehouse. Drummond said many consider the flag an offensive symbol of slavery, but Smith called it a reminder of the state's heritage.

Democrats said Smith should have changed his registration before the November election, in which he easily defeated Stacey B. Schaller of the Constitution Party. He had no Republican opponent.

``Voters of Smith's district have been misled â€” Smith filed as a Democrat,'' State Democratic Chairman Dick Harpootlian said in a statement. ``To switch after the voters have voted is a dishonorable way to get elected.''

South Carolina politicians are not always hurt by switching parties, Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen said. He noted that Senate Majority Leader Hugh Leatherman switched to the GOP in 1995.

The state's senior politician, 98-year-old Sen. Strom Thurmond, switched to the Republican Party in 1964.