Haley’s first budget vetoes become a guessing game

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina legislators are waiting to see what Gov. Nikki Haley vetoes in the $6 billion spending plan that cuts Medicaid reimbursements and gives businesses an unemployment tax break.

Some are hoping for vetoes of big ticket items. Republican Sen. Tom Davis of Beaufort said Friday he hopes the Republican governor vetoes up to $500 million, mostly from increased spending on the state’s Medicaid program.

Haley will begin reviewing vetoes with her staff this weekend and so far hasn’t provided much in the way of hints of what she will veto by midnight Tuesday.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell says Haley’s staff has promised she won’t veto the entire budget like former Gov. Mark Sanford did in 2006.