South Carolina House nears passage of budget as Republicans argue what government should do

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republicans in the South Carolina House moved closer on Tuesday to passing the state’s $13.2 billion spending plan, including raises for teachers and state employees, $500 million in property tax relief, $200 million for bridges and $100 million to continue long-term income tax cuts.

Support for the 2024-25 fiscal year budget came despite GOP members arguing among themselves about what kinds of things state government should pay for.

“Core government function” was the phrased used often by the the Freedom Caucus, a segment of the House comprised of its most conservative members. They offered proposals that ultimately failed but included taking money away from tuition freezes for universities, the South Carolina Commission for the Arts or consolidating health agencies and instead putting the cash toward roads, the foster care program and other items.

Tuesday continued a long-running debate that’s seen the Freedom Caucus claim it is the true version of the Republican party, while other GOP House members said the breakaway group is more concerned with scoring points on social media than governing.

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Unlike other debates dominated by the Freedom Caucus during this year’s House session, the discussion remained mostly civil and the Speaker rarely had to intervene.

“This is the one chance for every single member in here, who represents over 40,000 people, to discuss, amend and watch over billions of dollars of taxpayer money. This is the people’s House,” said Rep. Adam Morgan, a Republican from Taylors who leads the Freedom Caucus and is running for U.S. House this year.

Fellow Republicans asked Freedom Caucus members pointed questions but did not get clear answers. That led some to suggest the place to start asking and making changes to the budget was in committee.

“I want to make sure this money is spent well. It’s not our money. It’s the taxpayer money. At the same time I have a hard time voting against a budget today that has been strongly vetted,” said Republican Rep. Kathy Landing from Mount Pleasant.

Unlike other debates dominated by the Freedom Caucus during this year’s House session, the discussion remained mostly civil and the Speaker rarely had to intervene.

One proposed Freedom Caucus amendment would have asked the Department of Social Services to start a program to give $30,000 grants to “churches and qualifying nonprofit organizations” to assist the foster care system.

Rep. Brandon Guffey said there are more than 30,000 nonprofits in the state which, if they all apply, would cost the program $900 million. “If you make a budget you have to know what money is there. We can’t make a $900 million variance,” the Republican from Rock Hill said.

Rep. Micah Caskey asked which groups could get grants.

“In a country where we have a constitutionally recognized right to practice religion we wouldn’t necessarily exclude practitioners of other faiths so I was surprised to see you use the word ‘churches’ here,” the West Columbia Republican said.

The amendment was rejected without a recorded vote.

Another failed Freedom Caucus amendment would have required the state to refuse about $31 million in federal funding that the supporters said goes toward Planned Parenthood. The proposal was dismissed on a 72-24 vote after other Republicans said rejecting that money would cost the state $5 billion in lost Medicaid money because of federal rules.

The House is passing a tighter spending plan than this fiscal year’s budget. The current budget is $13.8 billion, while the House is debating a $13.2 billion spending plan for next year.