South Carolina Senate OKs Transportation Plan That Conflicts With House Version

JUST IN: #SouthCarolina Senate gives key approval to $400M roads plan by a vote of 30-15. https://t.co/fVX6wc9BS8 pic.twitter.com/BpcE6pNP8E — The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) March 9, 2016

After weeks of debate marked by extended filibusters, South Carolina’s Republican-controlled Senate approved a $400 million transportation plan that doesn’t include the fuel-tax increase in the bill passed earlier by the House.

The Senate’s legislation now goes to the House, which isn’t expected to consider it until the chamber has wrapped up its proposed budget.  Since Speaker Jay Lucas, a Republican, strongly criticized the Senate’s version before it passed by a 30-15 vote, it’s unlikely that it will face smooth sailing in the House.

The Senate and House bills both shift control of the state’s Transportation Commission from the Legislature to Gov. Nikki Haley, who supports a fuel-tax increase to fund transportation, as do the state’s Chamber of Commerce and its trucking association.

Senate moved on roads. Reforming so that Improvements are based on safety and traffic not on legislators in power. House, your turn. — Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) March 10, 2016

However, Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman, a key player in this battle, announced March 9 that he will refuse to support a fuel-tax hike even though it has remained the same since 1987.

“I will continue to push for a plan that fixes our crumbling roads and highways without raising taxes and without robbing funds from essential needs like education and law enforcement,” Leatherman said after his amendment that would devote $3 billion to transportation over the next 15 years was tabled.

Today I pledged from the floor of the Senate to fight for fixing our roads WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. I will not... https://t.co/ul3o0sWQri — Hugh Leatherman (@HughKLeatherman) March 9, 2016