(Columbia-AP) May 20, 2004 - Legislators are waiting
to see what Governor Mark Sanford will veto in the
state's budget after both the Senate and the House gave
the spending plan final approval.
Sanford has five days to make up his mind on items in
the $5.5 billion budget that he doesn't like, then the
House and Senate would have to muster two-thirds votes
to override. The General Assembly adjourns June 3rd.
Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence)
says it's a good budget that includes pay raises for
state workers and teachers and more money for public
schools and Medicaid.
Leatherman says the pay increase is possible thanks
to an improving economy that brought in an estimated
$253 million more in state revenue this year, "It's been
three years of bad economic news. Cut, cut, cut. This
year, we were able to do some restoring." Leatherman
says he'll defend the budget against any vetoes.
Charleston Senator Robert Ford, a Democrat, says
Sanford should veto nothing. Senate Minority Leader John
Land said Sanford probably should veto a plan to move
the State Accident Fund under control of the state
Department of Insurance.
The spending plan includes a three percent raise for
state employees, $40 million to help eliminate the
marriage penalty in taxes, and $13 million to help
reduce the impact of higher health insurance premiums
for state workers.
The budget also keeps the school for troubled youth
Sanford wanted eliminated. The governor is also worried
that not enough money would go to restore the state's
reserve funds or trust funds that have been raided to
balance the budget for the past three years.
Sanford also says the General Assembly should not be
counting on $90 million from increased tax collection
enforcement. He is concerned because much of that money
is being set aside to pay for several of his Cabinet
agencies.
Sanford says if the spending plan doesn't address the
concerns, he may have no choice but to veto all or parts
of the budgets. Lawmakers said the some of the concerns
come too late to address.
Reported by Jennifer
Miskewicz
updated 7:32am by BrettWitt with
AP
