SC Senate makes little progress on 3rd day of budget talks

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Senators have made little progress on South Carolina’s $7 billion spending plan for state taxes.

Sen. Lee Bright threatened Wednesday to filibuster unless the Senate puts all its extra money toward roads. Senators sidestepped the issue by bypassing the part of the budget the Republican from Roebuck was going to talk about, while allowing him to speak when it comes back up.

Bright estimates there will be hundreds of millions of extra dollars between reserve funds, surplus revenue from this year and additional money next budget year.

Sen. Joel Lourie says putting some extra money toward roads is fine. But the Columbia Democrat says the state has other needs, too, like a bonus for employees and must do something like raise the gas tax to get extra money each year.