SC Senate Refuses Healthcare Cuts
The South Carolina Senate voted against the healthcare cuts that passed the House last week. Because of the Senate’s refusal to cut HIV/AIDS funding and cancer screenings, the budget moves to a conference committee, where representatives from both the House and Senate will work together to find a compromise.
The major issue at hand is finding $50.2 million in funding for the South Carolina courts and Department of Public Safety. Originally, the Senate proposed raising and initiating fees and fines for court servies in order to account for $21 million.
But Gov. Sanford vetoed that provision, and the House failed to secure the votes required to overturn the decision. Instead, they proposed ending all HIV/AIDS prevention and drug assistance funding, limiting perscriptions for Medicaid patients and cap the eligability of the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Conference Committee members have been selected and will meet soon to discuss compromises and how to get the budget passed before the legislature adjourns on June 3.
