MORNING BUZZ: Senate passes plan to oust S.C. State trustees + Senate scraps healthcare plan

Senate passes bill to oust S.C. State trustees

The state Senate gave key approval to a bill Thursday to oust S.C. State University trustees after years of financial turmoil at the Orangeburg school.

Senators amended a House-approved version of a bill to remove the 10-member board. That means differences will be negotiated in a conference committee once the Senate gives the bill a final perfunctory vote next week.

Senators scrap plan to insure 194,000 working poor in S.C.

Senate budget writers scuttled a proposal Thursday to create a program that would have used federal and state dollars to pay for private health insurance for almost 200,000 South Carolinians.

But the proposal will re-emerge within two weeks as standalone legislation, said state Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland.

Coble required emergency bypass surgery

Former Columbia Mayor Bob Coble remained hospitalized Thursday after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery.

No updates on his condition were provided beyond a mid-morning statement from son Daniel that the family was grateful for doctors at Providence Hospital who had worked to save Coble’s life.

SC birthing center regulations spark debate about competition, safety

A compromise between birthing centers and hospitals on state regulations in South Carolina has failed to settle their disagreements.

Discussion of the legislative compromise drew a standing room-only crowd Thursday to the House Health and Environmental Affairs Subcommittee, where some backers of birthing centers said hospitals are using regulations to try to put them out of business.

Committee approves bill banning abortions for some women

The Senate Medical Affairs Committee Thursday approved a bill banning abortions after a woman is 20 weeks pregnant, with exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother and severe fetal anomalies.

The measure, which already has passed the House in different form, now goes to the Senate floor.

This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 7:06 AM with the headline "MORNING BUZZ: Senate passes plan to oust S.C. State trustees + Senate scraps healthcare plan."