Don't extend session

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It would be particularly outrageous if state lawmakers did not finish their work on time this year and had to return for an extended session at a cost of $25,000 a day. In fact, state taxpayers should expect — no, make that demand — that lawmakers forgo their supplemental pay if they have to return to Columbia after June 5 to take care of unfinished business.

Everyone knew what kind of year this would be when lawmakers returned to Columbia in January. The economy remains in the cellar, with some evidence that South Carolina is suffering even more than most states. For example, according to Gov. Mark Sanford, our state is one of only three that had negative revenue growth last year.

The House-passed version of the budget leaves much to be desired, in part because it did not include the much-debated cigarette tax increase needed to shore up Medicaid funding and create some breathing room in the budget for other critical services. But the Senate apparently has decided to start the budget from scratch, including time-consuming discussion about all sorts of tax increase schemes.

It's not expecting too much to ask the Legislature to get its work done on time. The severe budget crunch has taken no one by surprise. Other major pieces of legislation have been under consideration for more than a year. Lawmakers should get down to business, do the people's work and adjourn by June 5.