House Approves $7 Billion Spending Plan

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House has approved a $7 billion spending plan for state taxes after killing a proposal to borrow $500 million for building projects statewide. The House voted 110-1 late Thursday on its budget proposal for the fiscal year starting July 1. Vocal opposition from Gov. Nikki Haley contributed to the borrowing package’s demise. But GOP leaders say what ultimately killed it was an additional $30 million that became available Tuesday, which added to $16.5 million legislators learned about last week. Another lawsuit winning could provide more than $100 million later in the budget process. House leaders scrambled over the past two days to rewrite their budget plan without a bonding package. Parts of that package were cut and shifted to the budget, while others items were eliminated.