(Columbia-AP) May 15, 2003 - Two proposals to raise the state's sales tax to cure budget ills have been killed, and the Senate is no closer to finishing work on the $5.1 billion spending plan.

Aiken Senator Tommy Moore, a Democrat, Wednesday proposed raising state sales tax to seven cents from five cents on the dollar and increasing the cigarette tax to raise slightly more than $1 billion.

But, the proposal was killed by Senate rules that say permanent change in law can not be made as an amendment to the annual budget bill. 

Senators voted down the proposal, 30-to-15. Voting "yes" to increase were 15 Democrats and 0 Republicans. Voting "no" to keep the current sales tax level were 5 Democrats and 25 Republicans. Not voting was 1 Democrat.

Another plan to raise the sales tax was struck down Tuesday because of Senate rules.

Greer Senator Verne Smith was bothered by the procedural challenges. Smith says he's never known the Senate to get so tangled up in its own rules that it can't function.

updated 7:46am by Chris Rees