SC Senate likely to be on the budget next week too

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The budget debate in the South Carolina Senate is almost certain to stretch into a second week.

Senators made little headway Wednesday in arguing proposed changes to a $6.3 billion spending plan for state taxes in 2013-14. Debate will resume Thursday.

Senators have yet to tackle on the floor whether to expand Medicaid eligibility as called for in the federal health care law. Republicans have repeatedly opposed the expansion, but Democrats promise to try again.

The third day of floor debate again got bogged down over road and bridge construction. Senators are expected to debate in the coming weeks a bill funding the Department of Transportation through a combination of redirecting taxes, borrowing money and raising fees. Opponents of that plan keep trying to insert their ideas into the budget.