COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate approved its budget Wednesday after debating items like requiring school children use the bathrooms of their sex assigned at birth and whether universities can spend state money to move to another athletic conference.
The $15.4 billion budget for next fiscal year raises salaries for state employees and teachers, sets aside more money to improve and repair roads and bridges and doubles a planned income tax cut to 0.2%.
It also sets up a showdown with the House over the next month or beyond as the House’s $500 million property tax rebate is not in the Senate plan.
A group of three House members and three senators — likely including the leaders of each chamber’s budget committee — is going to have to sort out the differences. Last year, there was a monthlong showdown over how much money should be given to a new veterinary school at Clemson University.
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
Violence rages in New Caledonia as France rushes emergency reinforcements to its Pacific territory
Timbers rally to beat San Jose 4
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
Pictured: Woman, 81, killed in 'axe attack' at her sister
Mbappé farewells the French league when PSG visits Metz in final round
Belgian soccer pauses ticket sales for Israel game amid security fears
I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400
Rose Zhang withdraws from LPGA tournament due to illness
Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed
Russell Wilson and Ciara 'close sale of Seattle mansion, raking in $31M for six