COLUMBIA - The state Senate takes up a budget Monday that was stripped of $6.8 million for beach renourishment approved by the House.

Coastal senators are expected to put up a floor fight for the money, and it also could be replaced when the $5.2 billion budget bill is sent to a conference committee of the House and Senate to work out the differences.

Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, put in $5 million for beach renourishment in the Department of Health and Environmental Control budget his subcommittee oversees.

Later, he added $1.8 million from expected growth in accommodations tax money.

Sand-replenishment money is used to match federal and local funds for costly projects to restore beaches affected by erosion. Edisto Beach is said to be in the worst shape this year, and Edge said the funds should have been enough to take care of that problem as well as North Myrtle Beach's sand-renewal project.

"The beach is the foundation of our tourism economy here in our state," Edge said. Without beach visitation, state revenue would fall, he said.

The Senate Finance Committee staff said the money was removed as part of a general reallocation of funds to projects the Senate wanted, not for any particular item.

During the discussion, some committee members said there is no need to keep pouring sand on beaches if it keeps washing away.

Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, was the only one who objected, and he is expected to be among those who will try to put the money back during floor debate.

"We suffered because we don't have anybody from Horry County on the Finance Committee," Edge said.

The Finance Committee left untouched $1 million for Interstate 73-74 planning.

A $5 million allocation for a new Clemson University environmental-research lab at Hobcaw Barony also was left in place.

Presidential visit

When legislators adjourned for the week Wednesday, they still were buzzing over President Bush's visit Monday, when he spoke to a joint assembly about his Social Security plans.

Legislators changed their usual Tuesday through Thursday schedule to Monday through Wednesday to accommodate the president.

Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, was among those who got an autograph from Bush. He said it was "really neat" to see the president of the United States in the Statehouse.

Rep. Vida Miller, D-Pawleys Island, got a surprise hug from Bush after a brief chat.

Miller, who sits on the aisle, had already shaken hands with Bush when he came into the chamber. While he was leaving, she asked him if he would give an autograph to a Democrat.

She said he laughed and replied he would be glad to, then said he could not have gotten all his programs through when he was governor of Texas without Democrats.

Miller said she told him both parties need to work together more in Columbia, too, and Bush replied they also need to do that in Washington and maybe she should be there to help. Then he gave her a quick hug before moving on.

She wasn't the only Democrat Bush hugged. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said she wanted a hug, too, and got one.

Minibottles

The House free-pour bill is expected to be debated Tuesday afternoon, though it could be delayed until Wednesday. The House plans to stay in session and pass as many bills as it can this week to meet the May 1 deadline to hand bills over to the Senate, so few committee meetings are scheduled.

In the Senate, the budget takes precedence, but some members say they think they will finish earlier than usual, as the House did last month, because there is more general agreement on the spending plan than in recent years.

If they finish the budget early, the casino-boat-regulation bill is scheduled for debate.