Lawmakers approve measure to keep government going

Posted: 06.28.2012 at 11:25 AM Updated: 06.28.2012 at 4:10 PM

The South Carolina Senate has approved a resolution to keep government running until a new budget is finished.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has signed a measure that keeps government running until the new budget takes effect.

Her signature Thursday afternoon allows the state's financial officers to meet a payroll deadline, guaranteeing that 43,800 public workers will get paid as scheduled Monday.

The Legislature passed the continuing resolution Thursday, as well as a $6.7 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that starts Sunday.

But the new budget is unlikely to take effect by midnight Saturday. The law gives Haley five days to issue her line-item vetoes. She's said the Legislature's inability to get its work done on time should not shorten her allowed time.

The continuing resolution will fund government at current levels until she acts. Workers' paychecks Monday will not include the new budget's pay increases.