COLUMBIA, SC (AP) -- South Carolina's Senate is expected to wrap up work on a $6 billion spending plan this week that will cut social safety net programs but saves more teaching jobs than previously expected.
The spending plan up for debate Tuesday also includes a $100 million reduction in unemployment tax collections for businesses.
The proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 locks in reductions in social welfare programs put in place earlier this year. That includes reducing welfare-to-work payments for a mother of two from $270 monthly to $216. It also ends a variety of Medicaid services such as adult vision and dental services.
But the proposal mostly spares public school spending and should reduce teacher layoffs while covering the cost of more public charter schools.
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