Senate Says Road Bill Hurdle Cleared

The leader of South Carolina Senate Republicans says the biggest hurdle to passing their plan to improve state roads appears to have been cleared. Nearly every Republican united Wednesday to reject an amendment by their GOP colleague Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman to set aside $200 million to use to borrow up to $2 billion to improve interstates.

Instead, Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler says Republicans are united behind a bill that takes $400 million for the general fund for roads instead of raising gas taxes. Peeler expects a vote on the bill that has clogged the Senate for two months by the end of Wednesday’s session.

Democrats don’t like the bill. They say it doesn’t do enough to ensure a steady stream of money for roads.