The S.C. House rejected a controversial tuition tax credit bill in a sometimes heated debate Wednesday, defeating such a plan for the second year in a row.

The measure, based on last year’s so-called Put Parents In Charge effort, had stalled in the Ways and Means Committee this session. But supporters were able to move the measure to the House floor as an amendment to a massive tax bill designed to make technical alterations to a myriad of previously passed tax bills.

After more than two hours of debate, lawmakers defeated the amendment by a 59-52 vote.

“Our side wanted a vote, and we got that,” said Rep. Tracy Edge, R-Horry, who sponsored the amendment. “It was healthy debate, good points on both sides, but the plight of kids trapped in failing schools — the argument to help these kids — will pass one day.”

Ultimately, that tax bill passed the House 111- 1, but the two most contested add-ons, the tuition tax credits and a revived attempt to raise the cigarette tax, failed.

In addition to $4,500 scholarships for children who live at 200 percent of poverty to escape failing schools, the proposal offered $1,000 for nonscholarship students to move to private schools that might be outside their current districts.

Last year’s plan, which lawmakers defeated 60-53, offered larger tax credits and included private donations.

The cigarette tax amendment, offered by Rep. Rex Rice, R-Greenville, would have raised the state tax by 30 cents a pack in its first year and 10 cents more over the next two years.

House members easily defeated Rice’s amendment, 72 to 40.

Public school money and cigarette taxes long have been flash points in the House.

Lawmakers have been confounded over how to protect public schools and still raise student performance. Cigarette taxes have bipartisan opposition, though opinion polls show public support for an increase above the state’s 7-cent tax, the lowest in the nation.

Lawmakers took dead aim Wednesday at both proposals. On tax credits, some railed in favor of children, then poor children, then African-American children.

“We are mandated to try to help the children of South Carolina,” said Rep. Wallace Scarborough, R-Charleston.

“I am so happy to see all these people now who are interested in doing something about education in South Carolina,” said Rep. Ken Kennedy, D-Williamsburg, decidedly sarcastic. Kennedy said the proposal represented a hidden agenda — to destroy public schools.

“I found one reference in this bill to at-risk students,” said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg. “Do you suppose that’s an oversight?”

Rep. Lewis Vaughn, R-Greenville, a longtime supporter of school choice, said, “There’s been no improvement in education in this state.” While students come from across the United States come to the Palmetto State to go to college, “I don’t know of anyone who comes here to go to high school,” Vaughn said.

Edge said school choice likely is dead in the House for the year, because no other bills appear close enough to have rider amendments successfully attached.