By FITSNews || The S.C. House Ways and Means committee will not release its version of the FY 2010-11 state budget until February 22 – a week later than expected.
That means the full S.C. House of Representatives won’t begin debating the budget until March 16 – although the floor debate in the House typically involves a lot more in the way of political posturing than it does substantive alteration of the state spending plan.
It’s unclear what prompted the decision to postpone the budget’s release at this point.
After the budget passes the House (whenever that is), it heads across the lobby to the State Senate – at which point the real horse-trading begins.
The Senate Finance Committee – led by diminutive socialist Hugh Leatherman – drafts its own version of the budget, which then has to be reconciled with the House spending plan.
There are always differences, and a “conference committee” comprised of Senators and Representatives hashes those out until a final version has been approved by both chambers. That budget then goes to the governor, who
Bottom line?
South Carolina is looking at another $20 billion budget (at least) for the coming year – one that will be heavily reliant on federal funds.
The current FY 2009-10 budget – initially $20.7 billion – has been pruned back to around $20.2 billion. That’s still the second-largest spending plan in state history, though.
For the coming year, lawmakers are “short” at least half a billion in general fund revenues, although a host of federal “stimulus” dollars and a host of proposed tax, fee and fine increases to make up the “gap.”
During the four years leading up to the recession, lawmakers grew government by more than 41%.
By Liberty For Me February 11, 2010 at 2:43 pm
“During the four years leading up to the recession, lawmakers grew government by more than 41%”…Yeah so?? Your kids are 41% smarter and your life is 41% better,right?Government is always efficent!
By Weighing In February 11, 2010 at 4:04 pm
The funny thing is that the state of SC budget is about 5-6 billion, but you like to throw that # to $20 billion and count federal matching dollars etc, that MUST be spent a certain way. So how much do they REALLY have control over? Surely our state revenues aren’t ginning 20 billion are they FITS?
By Cancerman February 11, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Better raise the cancer stick tax and bring back video poker or they are going to loose votes when little Timmy school shuts down and momee has to drive heim to another 50 miles away.
By Another Opinion February 11, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Why even bother with a debate? They’ll just screw it up like they do everything else.
Matter of fact, why not just turn the state capitol and the white house completely over to the SOBs and let them do with it what they want, which is to turn both into frat houses.