SC Senate overrides veto on rape crisis centers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate has voted overwhelmingly to restore money supporting 15 rape crisis centers.

The 39-2 vote on Wednesday disburses $454,000 to the nonprofits that assist victims at the hospital and through the legal process, provide counseling and educate students on violence prevention. The House overrode the veto unanimously Tuesday.

Legislators say Haley’s veto message and subsequent posting Tuesday on Facebook were callous. She didn’t back down Wednesday. She repeated that the money represents an earmark to a special interest, and legislators shouldn’t give money to nonprofits.

Haley signed off on a slight increase for rape prevention in an agency’s budget. The centers don’t share in that.

The Senate also voted to restore money providing assistance to kidney disease, hemophilia, and sickle cell patients, and funds AIDS prevention programs.