SC Senate approves $6.6B spending plan for 2012-13

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate has approved a $6.6 billion spending plan that gives most state workers a 3 percent raise, distributes more money to public schools and hires more than 100 law enforcement officers.

The Senate gave the budget final approval Thursday evening, sending its plan back to the House.

Approval came after senators defeated attempts to remove roughly $4 million for private nonprofits and local public projects. Items in Sen. Shane Massey’s amendment included $300,000 for a North Myrtle Beach museum, $100,000 for a fire station in tiny Andrews and $200,000 toward preserving Mitchelville, America’s first community of freed slaves on Hilton Head Island.

Democratic senators trumped Massey’s amendment by adding dozens of items, including money for public schools and colleges. The Senate then killed the whole thing.