Bringing home the bacon, or not?

“Bringing home the bacon, or not?”

In a previous edition, we noted its election season with a primary scheduled for June 11th. Filing closed on April 1stat noon. The SC House adopted its initial recommended budget for July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 on 3-14-24 and forwarded to the SC Senate. Note that this was adopted before filing closed. For reference, the past 2 years the state budget has had unprecedent surpluses in annual recurring revenues, one-time non-recurring funds and capital reserve which is the same as this year for a combined amount of $1.6 billion. Last year’s budget was riddled with local special investment projects (which some refer to as that dirty word earmarks or pork) scattered throughout the state totaling $2 billion. House and Senate members went home after the session promoting these local special investment projects reminding the voters they brought “home the bacon”. In the initial budget passed by the SC House, no local special projects, i.e., earmarks / pork were identified. In contrast, the Senate Finance budget passed on 4-10-24, after filing closed, had over 200 local special investment projects appropriating most of the $1.6 billion surplus. Now why is that? Your guess is as good as mine. In a non-election year, House members highlighted the amount of bacon they brough home and in an election year with a similar surplus, they don’t recommend bringing any bacon home, at least before filing closes. Is it necessary special investment projects or is it pork in the budget that may create competition for the incumbent. Anyway, I can’t wait to see the SC House’s 2nd budget recommendation.

Until next week,

Jimmy Crack Corn: “I don’t care”

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