South Carolina Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Have Created Medicaid Legislative Committee

South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges (D) last week vetoed a measure that would have established a joint Legislative committee to study the state's Medicaid program, the AP/Charleston Post and Courier reports. Hodges said he vetoed the bill because the committee would have "encroached on the executive branch's power and could [have] violate[d] federal regulations." The state's Medicaid program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, has had budget problems for years, leading lawmakers this year to tap $100 million in tobacco settlement funds and prompting cuts in "most other state agencies" to keep the program fully funded. House Majority Leader Rick Quinn (R) said he was "disappointed" about Hodges' veto, adding that "most experts agreed the health program needs a serious overhaul." He said, "We are trying to figure out how to solve this [budget] crisis in Medicaid. [Hodges] can either lead, follow, or get out of the way" (AP/Charleston Post and Courier, 5/30).