May 28, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Health care programs for children in the
state's lowest income families take the biggest hit in $72 million
worth of budget vetoes by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

Sanford said Wednesday it didn't make sense to put $21.3 million
into the federal-state children's health insurance program while
the Legislature had tapped more than $100 million from state
Medicaid surpluses.

Sanford says he's vetoing 69 items in the $7 billion budget. He
also says the spending plan that goes into effect July 1 has an
unconstitutional deficit because legislators know enough money
won't come into support key programs like operating the state's
fleet of school buses.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)