The S.C. House sent a $5.1 billion spending bill to the Senate Tuesday.

Legislators gave the state budget bill final approval on a 69-46 vote. It contains spending cuts of more than 17 percent for most state agencies. That's because the House decided to make midyear budget cuts permanent and added on top of those more cuts for most agencies.

The House hasn't taken up another bill dealing with Medicaid and health agency restructuring that also is part of the state's spending plans. Debate on that bill, approved by the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, is expected within a week.

The final approval of bills rarely are debated, but Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said she couldn't let that happen because she said the House's budget bill raids trust accounts, including more than $5 million from the State Housing Authority.

French, German boycott could hurt

A state senator says South Carolinians might end up hurting the state if they decide not to buy French and German products.

Some people want to boycott the products because France and Germany didn't embrace the Bush administration's plans for U.N resolutions allowing an attack on Iraq.

State Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Beaufort, says he's heard people talk about not buying French tires and avoiding German BMWs and buying Cadillacs instead.

Richardson said that kind of sentiment can hurt South Carolina workers at French-owned Michelin and German-owned BMW, two of the state's largest employers.

"If that kind of thought process continues," Richardson said, "it's going to hurt South Carolina."

Senate subcommittee OKs DMV reform

The S.C. Senate Transportation Subcommittee on Tuesday approved a bill that would substantially reform the troubled Division of Motor Vehicles.

The bill would remove the DMV from the Department of Public Safety and make it a stand-alone Cabinet agency, with the director appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Under the bill, drivers could get tag renewal stickers and registration from DMV offices, county treasurers' offices or private entities. Those agencies could charge a service fee more than the standard $24 for the transaction.

Drivers' license expiration dates would be extended to 10 years from five years for most people. The bill also would allow the agency to enter into contracts with public and private entities to administer driving tests.

DMV came under fire last summer when a new computer system designed to streamline operations created longer lines at offices statewide.

The bill already has been approved by the House.

Judiciary Committee approves DUI bill

The S.C. House Judiciary Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would increase fines for DUI offenses.

The fines for first, second and third offenses and those that cause bodily harm would be raised by $100. Fees for administrative hearings also would be increased from $50 to $100 under the bill.

The committee amended the bill Tuesday to put the extra revenue in a fund for the Highway Patrol to use as needed. The bill had called for the revenue to be devoted to highway patrol salary increases.

The bill now heads to the full House floor for debate.

House opens with prayer for troops

The S.C. House opened session Tuesday with a prayer and a moment of silence to remember U.S. troops poised for war with Iraq.

House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, asked lawmakers to stand "in honor of our country and our president and all of the patriotic men and women of the military who stand ready to defend our country on the brink of war."

President Bush told Saddam Hussein to surrender power by Wednesday or face a massive military strike against Iraq. Bush also braced Americans for possible terrorist attacks that could come in retaliation.