We spent from 9am Wednesday morning to 1am Thursday morning debating Gov. Sanford’s 107 vetoes of the state budget. A complete list of his vetoes can be found at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/appropriations2010/gmbvto10.pdf
A complete voting record can be found in the House Journal at http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/hj10/20100616.htm
The South Carolina Policy Council published an analysis of the veto vote at http://www.scpolicycouncil.com/research-and-publications-/fact-sheets/939-making-sense-of-the-governors-budget-vetoes
Since I voted to sustain the majority of the vetoes, I will only list below the 24 ones that I voted to override and an explanation for doing so.
Veto 3 – Greenville Higher Education Center – $67,967
This is the rent that the university center pays to Greenville Tech for the old McAlister Square. If this amount is cut, then Greenville Tech students would end up paying higher fees. The House sustained the veto.
Veto 19 – State Technical College System – Administration – $3,012,760
Veto 20 – State Technical College System – HR Services – $624,717
Veto 21 – State Technical College System – System Wide Programs – $367,724
These amounts represent services that the state technical education board provides for each technical college. By eliminating these amounts, then Greenville Tech students would end up paying higher fees. The House overrode the vetoes.
Veto 25 – Vocational Rehabilitation Programs – $58,479
This small amount allows the state to draw down a much larger Federal grant to provide employment training to those with disabilities. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 29 – Dept. of Archives and History – $635,445
As a cultural conservative, I believe that we must protect and know about our past in order to see our future. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 31 – Aid to County Libraries – $4,653,933
The county libraries are a valuable resource for the unemployed especially in rural areas. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 33 – State Museum – $1,643,893
As a cultural conservative, I believe that we must protect and know about our past in order to see our future. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 34 – Forestry Commission – $1,086,210
Included in these funds are monies that aid in the prevention and protection from forest fires. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 35 – Dept. of Agriculture – $376,500
These funds are used to test the accuracy of gas pumps. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 36 – Dept. of Agriculture – $562,905
These funds are used to market the “Grown in SC” effort to encourage South Carolinians to buy local. The House overrode this veto.
Veto 37 – Clemson PSA – Public Services – $478,736
Veto 38 – Clemson PSA – Livestock/Poultry Inspection – $1,598,679
Since agriculture remains our number one industry, I did not support cutting services available to farmers. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 56 – Rural Hospital Funding Flexibility Provisions 39-45 – No Dollar Amount
Veto 57 – Rural Hospital Funding Flexibility Provisions 1-2 – No Dollar Amount
Veto 58 – Rural Hospital Funding Flexibility Provisions 14-15 – No Dollar Amount
The flexibility provisions allow rural hospitals to redirect Federal funds to make up for cuts in various areas. The House overrode these vetoes.
Veto 64 – Dept. of Tourism – Motion Picture Rebate – No Dollar Amount
This provision allows localities to attract film producers by offering incentives. It is currently being used to attract the Disney produced Army Wives. The House voted to override the veto.
Veto 65 – Urban Search and Rescue – No Dollar Amount
This provision allows funds to be used from the Dept. of Labor to aid in search and rescue operations. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 73 – Senate Budget for Reapportionment – $1,000,000
Veto 74 – House Budget for Reapportionment – $1,000,000
After the Census, we are required by law to redraw all of the voting districts for both the House and the Senate. The House overrode Veto 73 and sustained Veto 74.
Veto 78 – Dept. of Education – $900,000
This is the funding to pay for school bus fuel. The House overrode the veto.
Veto 79 – Governor’s School for the Arts – $500,000
Veto 80 – Governor’s School for Math/Science – $500,000
These cuts would have shut down both schools. The House overrode both vetoes.
Veto 87 – Statewide Accounting System – $1,000,000
Veto 88 – Statewide Accounting System – $1,158,284
Several agencies have faced embezzlement problems over the past several years and the installation of a new accounting system is well underway. It seemed more cost effective to continue funding the project. The House sustained both vetoes.