COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A Democratic state senator objected to a new Senate rule requiring a detailed explanation for every item a legislator puts into the state budget.
Sen. Brad Hutto made the objection Wednesday, The State newspaper reported.
The proposal would require each request in the state budget to say exactly what it pays for and which legislator requested it.
Currently, money can be set aside for a state agency which may not find out what specific organization gets it until after the budget is passed.
The objection by Hutto came on the same day the Senate passed a massive education overhaul bill and followed by taking up more than 30 items that had been stuck behind that proposal for weeks.
The Democrat from Orangeburg refused to tell the newspaper why he objected to the rule.
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said there is still time to bring back discussion of the rule. The Republican from Edgefield said discussion this year might be easier than if senators wait until a new session in January because all 46 Senate seats are up for election and a new set of rules must be passed.
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