S.C. Lawmakers Send Bill to Governor

The South Carolina Legislature sent the governor a budget Thursday that gives public workers a pay raise, fully funds a crucial port-deepening project and provides tax relief to businesses.

The House voted 89-10 for the budget compromise and the Senate, 26-8.

But the $6.7 billion spending plan for state taxes won't take effect when the fiscal year starts Sunday. By law, Gov. Nikki Haley has five days to issue her line-item vetoes, and she's said she shouldn't have to shorten her allowed time just because the Legislature couldn't get its work done on time. The regular session ended June 7.

The budget includes $1.3 billion in additional one-time and recurring revenue but remains below pre-recession spending levels.

Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, called it a "sound, conservative budget that addresses the state's needs and ensures out ability to compete globally for jobs in the future."

The weeks-long stalemate on the budget broke within days of a state government shutdown. Legislators in office for more than 30 years can't remember ever starting a fiscal year without a budget in place.

To keep government running, the Legislature also gave final approval Thursday morning to a continuing resolution that bridges the gap. The Senate first amended the resolution with the details of a tax cut for small business owners — the source of the stalemate — which budget negotiators agreed to late Tuesday.

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