Senate passes $113 million capital spending bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina senators have approved a bill designating $113 million from this year’s rainy day fund.

The Senate approved the capital reserve bill 33-10 on Thursday, nearly bringing to a close three weeks of budget debate. The separate bill requires another vote to return to the House.

The largest chunk designated pays off a $20 million loan to the Department of Revenue to cover contracts negotiated by Gov. Nikki Haley following last fall’s cyber-theft of millions of taxpayers’ personal data. The bill also includes $10 million to extend credit monitoring services to taxpayers affected by the hacking.

Some senators argued money that’s meant for capital projects should not cover such expenses.

The vote comes a week after the Senate passed its $6.3 billion spending proposal for state taxes in 2013-14.