COLUMBIA - A debate on beach renourishment on the Senate floor Wednesday shows that Horry and Georgetown counties could have a hard time requesting money for such work.

The discussion came as Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, tried to get $5 million to renourish the seriously eroded Hunting Island State Park beach on the south coast.

Richardson asked for the money to be allocated from the expected sale of surplus state property, but his motion was shot down 32-13.

"I think all of us need to look in the mirror and decide whether we're going to protect tourism in this state," Richardson said. The request now is for Hunting Island, but "next year it could be Myrtle Beach."

The state regularly helps pay for beach renourishment, including in Horry and Georgetown counties. The money usually matches a larger federal share. But the federal government cut Hunting Island from consideration because of a lack of funds, and its beach is almost washed away, Richardson said.

The park has thousands of visitors a year, but they will not come if there is no beach, he said. The same will happen to other beach areas if they wash away, Richardson said.

Sen. Warren Giese, R-Columbia, was one of those who objected to spending the money. Local businesses that benefit from the beaches should pay for renourishment, he said.

"The state shouldn't be paying for something they're making money off of," Giese said.

Richardson said tourism is the state's top industry and the economy benefits from beaches.

"It's amazing, every time BMW wants something, we seem to find a way to do it," he said, referring to the Greer auto plant.

Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, said Hunting Island is a passive park and doesn't need renourishment money.

"There's no megamillion-dollar motels and hotels there to protect," Elliott said.

Elliott was among those who voted against the proposal. Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, and Arthur Ravenel, R-Mount Pleasant, also voted against it.

Sen. Yancey McGill, D-Kingstree, voted for it.

"Protection of beaches is too important not to vote for it," McGill said. It's important to stand with renourishment projects because Horry County will be asking for money again soon, he said.

Rankin said he can see McGill's point, but Richardson's request was too late to be granted, and that was not the proper way to fund it.

He did not think the vote means members oppose beach renourishment.

"I don't see it as a precedent-setting vote," Rankin said.