Senate votes means 2 SC agencies can re-open

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Two state agencies can re-open their doors, two weeks after Gov. Nikki Haley’s vetoes eliminated all of their state and federal money.

The Senate voted 29-10 on Wednesday to override Haley’s veto of $1.9 million in state taxes for the Arts Commission’s operations and local grants. That veto also struck federal funding. The Senate later voted 29-12 to overturn a separate veto of an additional $500,000 for grants.

The Senate also voted 34-7 to restore $428,000 for the agency that works with the state’s universities to conduct coastal research.

Both agencies had to close after Haley released her vetoes July 6, putting about 40 employees in limbo.

The comptroller general’s office says they can return to work as early as Thursday. Employees can’t get paid for the interim.