Senate votes for cigarette tax increase
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Legislators attempting to shake automatic raises from proposal
The Senate voted 28-16 Tuesday for a 50-cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes, but that does not seal the proposal’s fate.
Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, was among those who voted against the proposal because it includes automatic per-pack tax increases each year based on the inflation rate of medical care.
Horry and Georgetown counties’ other three senators voted in favor.
Attempts will be made today to strip that automatic tax increase out of the bill. Rankin said he is not sure how he will vote if that effort fails. Read more
S.C. Senate OKs budget; McConnell gets $5 million more for Lowcountry schools
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The state Senate approved a $7 billion spending plan Wednesday after a 12-hour session that had coastal lawmakers sparring for cash and ended with promising state workers a 1 percent raise.
Final deals were reached just after 10 p.m. after Charleston and other Lowcountry legislators were promised millions to shore up spending for their schools, as well as more tourism promotion cash as soon as the economy turns around.
That cleared the way for the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to head back to the House. A joint conference committee will work out final deals in the next few weeks amid fears a weak economy could prompt more spending reductions. Read more
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