The South Carolina Legislature will adjourn today and return in two weeks to deal with any gubernatorial vetoes and maybe deal with a pending bill or two.

But basically they have gone home hoping that some magic next year will produce solutions for finding funding for the state's Medicaid program and adequately funding education.

Two weeks ago Congress approved a tax cut and along with it aid to the states including money for South Carolina.

Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, told the Associated Press: "Let me tell you, had that manna not have fallen down, I don't know where in the world we would be."

As Leatherman knows that money won't be there next year, but the problems will only be bigger.

Attempts to pass a cigarette tax hike to fund Medicaid failed.

Had that passed we could have used the federal money to more adequately fund education and keep from having to cut other agencies so badly.

Some opposed the cigarette tax increase because it was tied to Gov. Mark Sanford's reduction in state income tax rates.

They felt the state couldn't afford another tax cut. However Sanford's income tax rate cut wouldn't go into affect until revenue collection exceeded that of the 2001 tax year when it was the highest ever.

Meanwhile local governments and school districts will be the ones making the hard choices.

That's where the real tough decisions are being made.

Oh yes, the legislature is making some minor adjustments to help per pupil funding.

Some other adjustments have been made to help some other agencies such as Mental Health.

But a striking example of the affect of the legislature's actions hit home here in Florence last week.

The Francis Marion University Board of Trustees raised their tuition 17.5 percent.

Some of our area legislators worked hard for the cigarette tax increase including Leatherman.

Some were for that but against the Sanford income tax rate cut.

But next year the problems could be worse and the one-time federal money won't be there.

The trouble is the majority of the South Carolina legislators who avoided the tough decisions will be back.