House approves its version of SC’s $9B budget

COLUMBIA, SC (AP) – The South Carolina House has given its final approval to its version of the state’s $9 billion spending plan.

Representatives voted 100-2 on Wednesday morning to send the budget to the Senate.

Wednesday’s vote was a formality. The House debated the budget for more than 14 hours Tuesday into the early hours Wednesday before giving it key approval in a 112-1 vote.

The budget includes $159 million to raise teacher salaries by 4 percent, $44 million to freeze college tuition for in-state students, $41 million to provide state workers earning less than $100,000 with a 2 percent pay raise and $40 million for new voting machines.

It also included fierce debates over class sizes and abortion.

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