SC Senate and House passes $14.7 billion budget

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – South Carolina lawmakers passed a $14.7 billion state budget that covers a wide range of priorities, from roads and disaster relief to pay raises for teachers, state employees, and yes, even lawmakers.

Legislators returned to the State House to review the final version of the budget. It was shaped by a Conference Committee, a small committee of three Senators and three Representatives, who worked through compromises last week. But there’s something different this year: despite having an extra $1 billion, there will be no money going to fund local community projects.

“Putting the brakes on earmarks is not easy… at least every single one of you is concerned about no earmarks but it has to be done… has to be done. It’s gotten out of hand,” said Senator Harvey Peeler (R – Cherokee).

Another topic in the budget are lawmaker pay raises. Governor Henry McMaster said it is justified that lawmakers will be getting a raise because it is used for in-district expense, which means they will receive more money to spend on legislative duties.

“Inflation is there and there are legitimate expenses that they need to have in these offices, and they’ve estimated that’s what they need,” McMaster said.

But not everyone agreed with this. Before the Senate’s vote Senator Wes Climer (R – York) said the way this was brought up was unconstitutional. He asked the chamber to vote against the budget because he believed they needed to discuss this further.

“Regardless of whether you believe it is merited, inflation adjustments, so on and so forth in this session, you cannot possibly believe that this is the right way to do it. ”

Representative Joe White (R – Newberry) agreed and urged the house members to vote no.

“Think about your constituents and think about your taxpayers, and vote this up or down, based on what you believe right now.”

Also, in the House several members of the extremely conservative group called the freedom caucus said the state needs to spend less money on bridges and more on a tax cut.

Governor Henry McMaster will have the chance to veto parts of the new budget, but as of now it is set to go into effect on July 1st.