Watch: Gov. Haley Urges House to Pass Roads Bill With Reform

Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — Governor Nikki Haley is urging the House to agree with the Senate’s Roads Bill that includes a plan to reform the Department of Transportation.

In a press conference Wednesday, the Governor commended the House on approving more than $400 million in funds in the state budget to go towards fixing the state’s roads. Governor Haley encouraged them to also back the portion of the Senate’s roads bill that gives her the power to appoint the DOT commission board.

“The money is great, but the money doesn’t mean anything if we don’t reform the agency at hand and that’s key,” said Governor Haley. “If you concur we can move forward, if you don’t concur we will likely see that the roads bill will die again this year.”

Representative Gary Simrill says he is confident the House can come to an agreement on the Senate’s reform plan but argues the hang-up will be on where the $400 million comes from.

“The Senate version of the dollars locks us in so we have no movement,” said Representative Simrill. “What if we have a downturn in the economy well you may cut law enforcement, you may cut education, you would not be able to cut it. It locks in the $400 million, it’s problematic as far as the future goes.”

The Governor says if the House passes a version of the bill with both funding and DOT reform she will work with leaders of the House and the Senate over the summer to find a more long-term, permanent funding stream.