SC House Approves Cancer Screening, Treatment Bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The South Carolina House has approved a bill directing $2.5 million in state cigarette tax collections toward cancer screening. The House voted Wednesday to send the measure to the Senate, following a 98-0 vote on Tuesday. It would split the $5 million from cigarette taxes that now goes to the Department of Health and Environmental Control for smoking prevention and cessation. The agency must use half of it for the screening and treatment of breast and colorectal cancers. House Ways and Means Chairman Brian White is the chief sponsor. The Anderson Republican is critical of anti-smoking TV commercials funded by the agency and believes the money would be better spent on detecting cancers. DHEC discontinued its colorectal screening program amid state budget cuts. Its breast cancer program is federally funded.