AP: House Overrides Some Haley Vetoes
Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 8:46PM The South Carolina House on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Nikki Haley's vetoes that wiped out the state Arts Commission and pay raises for teachers.
The House voted 113-1 on Tuesday to override a veto that removed the $10 million to help districts pay for mandated 2 percent salary increases.
House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham said local property taxes might go up if the state doesn't provide money for the raises legislators are requiring.
The chamber then voted 109-3 to override a $1.2 million veto to expand the Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. The money would hire more teachers so the school can enroll 300 students, bringing them to capacity.
A 110-5 vote on Tuesday restored $1.9 million for the state Arts Commission's operations. It was the first vote of the day. A later vote of 89-25 restores $500,000 for the commission's grant money.
The other agency eliminated by Haley's vetoes was the Sea Grant Consortium. The House voted 102-10 to restore that agency's $428,000.
Hundreds of art supporters turned out Monday at the Statehouse to protest. Organizer Natalie Brown said she wanted the rally to focus on the arts, not speakers. Protestors included drummers, while others played guitar and violin on the Statehouse steps.
An override requires two-thirds majority. The Senate plans to take up the vetoes Wednesday.
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