House overrides vetoes closing SC Arts Commission
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House has voted overwhelmingly to override Gov. Nikki Haley’s vetoes that wiped out the state Arts Commission.
The 110-5 vote on Tuesday would restore $1.9 million for the agency’s operations. It was the first vote of the day. A later vote of 89-25 restores $500,000 for the commission’s grant money.
The other agency eliminated by Haley’s vetoes was the Sea Grant Consortium. The House voted 102-10 to restore that agency’s $428,000.
Overrides require two-thirds majority votes in both the House and Senate. The Senate meets Wednesday.
Hundreds of art supporters turned out Monday at the Statehouse to protest. Organizer Natalie Brown says she wanted the rally to focus on the arts, not speakers. Protestors included drummers, while others played guitar and violin on the Statehouse steps.
