The House of Representatives met three days this past week. Before telling you about some of the bills that came up on the floor, let me update you on the state budget. The Ways and Means Committee submits its budget proposal to the full House this week. The House will debate the budget next week starting on March 9. The budget situation is very fluid due to requirements attached to some of the money being offered in South Carolina’s portion of the federal stimulus package. It is important for the public to know that 70 percent of our state general fund budget is money that goes to K-12 education; higher education; and Medicaid. The other 30 percent goes to the rest of the state agencies. If we take the federal stimulus money for education and Medicaid, we still will not have a balanced budget and those areas – education and Medicaid – are not subject to cuts under the rules attached to the stimulus money. Therefore, if we take the stimulus money for education and Medicaid, then we have to find some where in the other 30% to cut to balance the budget. The other alternative is to raise taxes which the majority of the House does not want to do if at all possible. We have a lot of work ahead of us in the House over the next two weeks. Please let me know your thoughts on this issue if you would like by email at TomYoung@schouse.org or phone at 649-0000. [Read more...]