South Carolina Overturns Hundreds of Vetoes

by Julie Lays

The South Carolina Legislature adjourned for good this session on June 29, after reconvening to consider the governor's 243 budget vetoes. The legislature overturned 228 of them.

Governor Mark Sanford tried to cut $167 million from the state's $7.4 billion budget, but lawmakers wouldn't have it. They sustained only 15 of the governor's vetoes.

They restored more than $21 million to expand a program that provides health insurance to children from low-income families. The money will open the program to children whose family income is 200 percent of the poverty level. Currently, the cutoff is 150 percent of the poverty level.

But the Legislature sustained the governor's veto of a public school open enrollment bill.

Read more about the session at the South Carolina newspaper The State.

The Legislature’s other main priorities of the session were reforming the Department of Transportation and the workers’ compensation system.

The transportation law creates a new cabinet position, the secretary of transportation, and establishes requirements and a screening process for commissioners who will approve projects based on criteria that take into account congestion, accidents and environmental concerns. Workers’ compensation reform addresses recent steep insurance increases with reforms like stiffer penalties for fraud and stricter requirements for medical expert testimony.

Other highlights of the session, according to the Free-Times (you have to scroll down to read the article) include:

• $221 million in tax cuts, including no sales tax on groceries and an income tax cut of $65.75 for people who earn a minimum of $15,000 a year;
• $19 million for additional college scholarships;
• $15 million to build the state’s hydrogen economy with the Senate overriding the governor's veto;
• $4 million for renewable energy;
• A new law giving law enforcement more authority to prosecute gang activity;
• A measure that will have the state pay for its presidential primaries instead of political parties; and
• A crack down on underage drinking.

Photo of South Carolina dome by Eric Oxendorf.

Comments

[RICH]

How about the other local politicians and well known dignitaries that played in the snow with T-Rav. I noticed that the P&C has very little about this story, jeez I wonder why. Who are they trying to protect. I hear this story hits close to home with them, those in the know, know what I’m talking about. The party in the battery, the hidden cameras, those who flipped and mentioned names. A good investigative reporter could have a field day with this story and probably sell a screenplay. City Paper and The State-keep on top of this story because you own it. The P&C doesn’t want to get dirty with this one.

[MS]

political class, coupled with the distribution charge - not solely possession - suggests that Ravenel was spreading the white wealth around. Governor Mark Sanford seemed apologetic, if not downright hesitant, to expel Ravenel from the South Carolina political administration, saying “These are obviously very serious allegations that we’re constitutionally bound to act upon, and they’ll ultimately be decided by the courts.” So, in other words, had the state constitution not outlined the firing of criminal politicians, he would not necessarily do it. One suggestion I would make is to have the Federal Election Commission look into Mr. Ravenel’s finances because it is not cheap to run for office in a statewide election and the business of selling blow tends to be a profitable one.

[ms]

Mark Sanford promises things, and they never appear. Remember low taxes, efficient government, working with the general assembly, etc. Sanford is out harping about “big box tax cuts”…in July when the session does not begin in earnest till Feb.He talks about spending his campaign money against the RINO’s…and spends a whopping $22,000. uuuuu, ain that something!

Nothing Mark Sanford says ever pans out. This wont either.Sadly, I voted for him twice.