Competing Roads Bills Discussion Continues

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The Senate Majority Leader says he needs to see progress on legislation to reform how the Department of Transportation is run before he can back a proposal that could borrow up to $2 billion for road projects in South Carolina.

Sen. Shane Massey says he and some other Republicans have always felt reform for DOT should go hand and hand with extra money for the agency.

A conference committee of House and Senate members meets Wednesday to discuss their competing bills that change the structure of the board that runs DOT.

Massey said Tuesday he will watch what that committee does before deciding if he backs the funding bill that uses $200 million in fees and other revenue to borrow $2 billion.  That money would fix bridges and widen interstates.