S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed 21 budget items worth $2.3 million in state spending Wednesday. That’s slightly less than 0.02% of the $14 billion 2024-25 budget that legislators sent to his desk on June 26.
The legislature, which would have to return to Columbia to overturn any vetoes, is not expected to oppose the revisions.
Nine of the vetoes cut actual spending, including about $650,000 for charitable organizations that McMaster said are not registered with the S.C. Secretary of State’s Office. The other 12 killed what are called budget provisos – directives to state agencies that lawmakers use to make policy changes without passing standalone legislation.
Among the now-defunct provisos were a pair of directives that would have weakened the state’s prohibition on private beach seawalls, and a provision creating a health care study committee to assess potential reforms in the state’s medical system, including the possibility of Medicaid expansion.
“I remain unconvinced that the expansion of Medicaid benefits – which this legislative study committee is tasked with considering – is necessary, nor do I believe it is fiscally responsible,” McMaster said in his veto message.
Overall, the governor said he was pleased with the budget, particularly its investments in roads and bridges, income tax cuts and higher teacher pay. He also went out of his way to note improvements in the earmarks process, which legislators use to fund pet projects in their districts.
“I applaud the General Assembly for their remarkable evolution and strides made with the disclosure of earmarked appropriations, which were previously shielded from public scrutiny or debate,” McMaster said.
- To read McMaster’s full budget statement and see a complete list of vetoes, visit governor.sc.gov.
In other recent news:
Churches, small nonprofits in line for $90M in S.C. budget. The S.C. General Assembly’s budget plan for the fiscal year that started July 1 allocates more than $435 million in one-time spending on projects sponsored by legislators. About $90 million of that is slated for nonprofit organizations with little track records and churches.
S.C. ready to begin search for origin of $1.8B of missing funds. South Carolina is ready to start its search for the origins of $1.8 billion in taxpayer funding that sat unidentified and untouched in a bank account for more than five years.
Bill banning race-based curriculum fails. A bill banning the teaching of certain racial concepts in S.C. public schools died during the state legislature’s June special session, when the House and Senate were unable to agree on final language.
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New state agency unveils logo, pledges efficiency and pollution prevention. The new S.C. Department of Environmental Services pledged Monday to focus on protecting the state’s water, air and landscape from pollution, while improving service as the new agency takes over from the former Department of Health and Environmental Control.
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