COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina lawmakers have rejected a proposal from Gov. Nikki Haley that would have called on state employees to pick up more of the tab for their health insurance.

Debate on the $5 billion state general fund budget began Monday and Haley told legislators that workers should put $16 million into premiums.

The House didn't adopt the proposal as they approved that section of the budget.

State Employees Association executive director Joe Benton said state workers would have to pay about $28 more each payday for insurance. He said that's a bad idea.

House members also rejected a Haley proposal asking them to drop plans to put $1 million into the 2012 presidential primary. She said the state's political parties should be able to raise the money for the first-in-the-South contests.

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