House approves budget plan

The House today approved the $5.1 billion state budget by a one-vote margin, sending the measure on to the South Carolina Senate.

A coalition of Republican of House members flipped their vote against the budget bill from Wednesday, ahead of a possible deal on a 24-hour abortion bill.

A House-Senate conference committee on the abortion bill is expected to seek free conference powers this afternoon to alter language in abortion legislation dealing with use of public funds for abortions in cases of rape and incest.

House Democrats refused to support the House budget because of differences over health care funding, education cuts and few provisions for new revenue.