House Democrats ripped the state budget under consideration by House Republicans today and promised they would not go easily into the night on other legislation set for debate this week on the House floor.
"We will have a (budget) plan ready by March 10," said Rep. Harry Ott, D-Calhoun, the Democrats' leader.
The plan being proposed by the House raises taxes on local governments by $122 million in unfunded mandates, Ott said, which county and municipal governments are not aware of yet.
"They're saying we won't raise taxes, but we will send a bill to local governments so they will have to raise taxes," Ott said.
Others agreed.
"This bill sucks," said Rep. Ted Vick, D-Chesterfield. "If you haven't heard from your local leaders yet, you will."
Ott said Republicans are casting the budget provisions as filling an emergency in state government, while ignoring that they caused the emergency by overspending.
On the House floor this week, lawmakers are expected to debate an abortion bill and a new voter ID bill, requiring a state-issued photo identification.
Democrats say they are stoked for a fight on voter identification, which they said is an attempt at voter suppression, targeted mainly at Democrats.
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said she is pushing House Speaker Bobby Harrell to consider infusing a standing education infrastructure bill with federal stimulus money to assist underfunded S.C. Schools such as the J.V. Martin Junior High in Dillon, which is more than 100 years old and and crumbling physically.
A student from the school, Ty'Sheoma Bethea, will be in Washington, D.C., tonight as a guest of President Barack Obama when he addresses the nation before a joint session of Congress.
In other developments, the House is mourning the deaths of family members of two of its members, Rep. Herb Kirsch, whose wife, Suzanne S. Kirsch, will be eulogized Wednesday in Clover, and the sister of Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg.
The House will adjourn early Wednesday to allow members to attend the Kirsch funeral, Harrell said.