South Carolina Senate Approves Funds for Road Construction

The South Carolina Senate has approved a budget amendment that allows for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of road and bridge construction, reports the Associated Press. The vote came on the seventh day of floor debate on the Senate’s $6.3 billion plan for state taxes. Proposals for funding road and bridge work have repeatedly bogged down the Senate over the last two weeks. The amendment approved with bi-partisan support transfers $50 million to the State Infrastructure Bank, to be leveraged through borrowing. The Senate Finance Committee had advanced a bill funding infrastructure through redirecting taxes, borrowing money and raising fees. But many Republicans oppose the package as raising taxes. The Department of Transportation says it needs $1.5 billion yearly over 20 years just to get roads to good condition. Read More.