COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH, AP) -- Tea Party activists say that South Carolina lawmakers who have resumed debate on a $6 billion state general fund spending plan could lose their jobs if they vote to spend too much.
Lexington tea party activist Talbert Black said during a State House news conference Tuesday that lawmakers need to cut spending the same way families have cut back during the recession.
Black said if legislators don't spend less than last year, they should expect to see opposition at election time.
The president of the South Carolina Policy Council said if legislators have extra money they should be giving it back to taxpayers.
State senators resumed debate on the budget after the activists spoke.
Tuesday's debate marks the beginning of an unusually long four weeks talking about a budget that normally takes no longer than a week.
The debate has dragged on Democrats tried to block consideration of other legislation, including new limits on lawsuit payouts. But new rules are also requiring roll call votes on every section of the budget.
The spending plan locks in reductions to social welfare programs put in place earlier this year. And it includes reducing welfare-to-work payments for a mother of two from $270 monthly to $216. It also ends a variety of Medicaid services such as adult vision and dental services.
The state Board of Economic Advisors met last week and said the economy is growing enough that the current budget year will end with a $105 million surplus. And they said at least that amount should be added to the revenue projection for the budget year that begins July 1.
About half of that cash already has been spoken for.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH