(Columbia-AP) May 26, 2004 -- Supporters of Governor Mark Sanford's plan to cut the state's top income tax rate are about to give up. The Senate adjourned Wednesday evening after spending nearly seven hours talking about the bill.

Supporters tried repeatedly to muster enough votes to shut down debate, but they consistently fell three votes short.

Senator David Thomas, who has pushed Sanford's plan to drop the state's top income tax rate to 4.75% from 7% during the next decade, says the bill is pretty much dead. No reduction would be made in years when the state's revenues failed to grow by four percent or more.

Senate Minority Leader John Land took the floor for a second day to speak against the plan Wednesday. Land says it would benefit only the top half of the state's taxpayers. Sanford says the bill will foster economic growth that creates jobs.

The Senate will not start talking Thursday about the income tax break until after they deal with Sanford's 106 budget vetoes. Democrats have promised to draw that process out. See Sanford's vetoes>> The House Wednesday swifty overrode 105 vetoes.

Last week 24 of the Senate's 27 Republicans endorsed Governor Sanford's plan. 

The bill cleared the House on May 19th.

updated 8:45am by BrettWitt