SC House defeats Medicaid expansion - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

By SEANNA ADCOX
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The South Carolina House has approved a $6.3 billion spending plan for state taxes after rejecting Democratic efforts to expand Medicaid eligibility as part of the budget.

The House voted 110-8 late Tuesday on the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The chamber then approved 116-1 a separate measure distributing $113 million from this year's rainy-day fund. That includes $25 million to improve cyber-security across state agencies and extend credit monitoring to taxpayers who sign up for the state-covered service by March 31.

Both bills need another vote before heading to the Senate.

The debate centered on proposals by Democrats to accept Medicaid expansion under the federal health care law to cover hundreds of thousands of additional poor adults.

The House defeated several attempts along party lines.

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