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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP, WACH) -- A panel looking at ways to overhaul South Carolina's finances held a meeting Wednesday to discuss ways to tighten the state's belt.

The Senate Judiciary Fiscally Fit Subcommittee discussed zero-based budgeting. They also talked about stopping a practice that lets agencies have flexibility in how they spend their money. Budget writers have given them that flexibility for years as a way of dealing with budget cuts.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell says preventing agencies from overspending protects taxpayers. "We've got a great a opportunity here, these issues in fairness to the public needs to be handled and it's an opportunity to put the state on a strong fiscal basis," said McConnell.

McConnell is a Charleston Republican. He set up a committee that will look at state spending caps, fiscal reform and ways to prevent deficits and raids on trust funds.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)