Debate on a strong seat-belt law is expected to resume Tuesday when state senators return to Columbia.

The majority of senators, who favor a stronger law, continued to be held hostage Thursday by a small band of filibustering senators led by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston.

Earlier this week, McConnell said the bill was “dead.” But about 30 of 46 senators favor the stronger law.

As it stands now, McConnell’s forces don’t have enough votes to kill the bill. And pro-seat belt senators don’t have the votes to shut off a filibuster.

Some pro-seat belt senators said Thursday they are upset at a secret deal McConnell made with Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence. Details of the deal aren’t known, but Leatherman — who publicly had declared his support for the seat-belt bill — reversed his position Tuesday and is working to kill it.

Leatherman’s switch stiffened the resolve of pro-seat belt senators, who cite hundreds of needless deaths and injuries resulting the state’s current weak seat-belt law.

Under the proposed bill, police would be able to issue $25 citations to adult motorists who don’t wear seat belts without first seeing them break another law.

Under current law, police must first see a motorist commit a separate traffic offense before issuing a citation for not wearing a seat belt. Motorists 17 and under must be buckled up already.

— John Monk