Gov. Haley vetoes 87 SC budget items tallying $30 million

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has vetoed 87 items worth about $30 million from the Legislature’s budget package.

Haley said Tuesday she did not veto more because legislators did as she asked. She says legislators deserve credit for putting more than $300 million of surplus toward roads. Haley also thanked them for not borrowing money for college projects.

But she criticized earmarks for museums, parks, and other local projects.

Haley issued her line-item vetoes shortly before midnight Monday. They include items she’s previously tried to eliminate, such as $250,000 for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston.

It’s the highest number of budget vetoes Haley has issued in her five years as governor, but the $30 million struck from the more than $7 billion budget is the second-lowest dollar amount.