LEGISLATION

COLUMBIA - Gov. Mark Sanford's school choice bill was effectively killed by the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. The full committee agreed to adjourn debate on the bill, postponing discussion until a later date. That means the bill is unlikely to be passed by the House before the May 1 deadline so the Senate can consider it.The bill would give parents education tax credits on property or income taxes to use toward private education, home schooling or the cost of transferring a child to another school district.

House Minority Leader James Smith applauded the move.

"This bill would have drained money from public schools and lowered educational standards all over South Carolina," Smith said in a news release.

Supporters said the bill would make it easier for students to leave low-performing schools. -- ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prepayment plan might close doors

TUITION

COLUMBIA -- A state tuition prepayment program whose funding has fallen far behind the cost of a college education would be closed to newcomers under a bill that cleared the Senate on Thursday.

The bill lets current participants continue to make contributions and guarantees future payouts will cover tuition.

However, no new participants could enroll after Jan. 1, 2005.

Contributions to the program have not kept pace with soaring tuition as colleges dealt with budget cuts the past three years. -- ASSOCIATED PRESS