Education, lots of cash big topics as SC Legislature opens

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina legislators are returning to the Statehouse on Tuesday as the 2020 session begins.

The opening day of the Legislature is typically like the first day of school — not much work gets done as everyone catches up with what they have been doing.

And more than a few lawmakers might be extra tired or not there at all as Clemson University played in Monday night's national championship football game in New Orleans.

Lawmakers from both parties say their priorities for 2020 are similar to their 2019 goals. They want to overhaul public education and study whether to sell state-owned utility Santee Cooper.

The state is flush with money. Economists estimate South Carolina will have an about $1.8 billion in additional money to spend in next year's budget, pushing the total amount of money lawmakers have control over to more than $10 billion. That is double the state budget around 2008 when the Great Recession began.

Republicans will likely discuss tax cuts and rebates. Democrats said that money should be spent on salaries for state workers or such infrastructure items as fixing deteriorating roads and school buildings.

The House and Senate were scheduled to gavel in at noon Tuesday and their sessions can be viewed on the Statehouse website.