Earmarks Highlight Governor McMaster's State Budget Vetoes
The vetoes trim 14 items while preserving funding for tax cuts, teacher raises, school safety and $377 million for roads and bridges.
- On Monday, Governor Henry McMaster announced 14 line-item vetoes on South Carolina's $15 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027, rejecting provisions he deemed repetitive with new state laws.
- McMaster rejected a school bathroom proviso deemed redundant after the state passed the South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act, and vetoed a measure delaying Scout Motors project payments, citing contractual obligations to contractors.
- Additional vetoes include an $800,000 appropriation for the South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy, which closed after its final class graduated in June, and a $350,000 grant for Pacolet that McMaster said involved misappropriated funds.
- Despite the vetoes, the final budget fulfills major priorities: raising starting teacher pay to $50,500, lowering the top individual income tax rate to 5.21%, and adopting 92% of McMaster's executive budget recommendations.
- The General Assembly may override McMaster's vetoes if each chamber secures a two-thirds majority vote; the budget becomes final upon the governor's signature.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Earmarks highlight Governor McMaster's state budget vetoes
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) — Governor Henry McMaster announced his vetoes in the state budget Monday. McMaster did not veto much, but he said was strongly against earmarks. The governor said South Carolina is a “handshake state,” meaning if a deal is agreed upon, it must be done. McMaster spoke about the $150 million Scout Motors [...]
SC governor vetoes delay on paying agency overruns at Scout Motors site
Gov. Henry McMaster talks to reporters about his budget vetoes at the Statehouse in Columbia, S.C., on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)COLUMBIA — State agencies can go ahead and pay contractors for their work at the Scout Motors site in Blythewood after Gov. Henry McMaster nixed legislators’ requirement that they wait for a full review of taxpayer dollars spent. The budget clause was among just 14 vetoes McMaster i…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
