MORNING BUZZ: S.C. Senate could return to filibuster with 4 days left in session

State Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, could continue his filibuster Thursday on an $85 million spending proposal. That could run out the clock on the session before the Senate can send a roads plan back to the House, which passed a proposal in April.

Davis’s three-day filibuster took a detour Wednesday, when Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, maneuvered so senators could pass a proposal to ban abortions at 20 weeks and begin the roads debate.

Lawmakers may return next month

Lawmakers indicated Wednesday they will return to Columbia next month to handle unfinished business.

The session is scheduled to end June 4. But lawmakers have yet to pass a state budget.

The S.C. House voted Wednesday for lawmakers to return to Columbia June 16-18.

During that three-day period, lawmakers would be able to take up the budget, budget-related bills and bills that have passed both the House and Senate. Lawmakers also could take up budget vetoes by Gov. Nikki Haley.

The House proposal also leaves the door open in case legislators do not pass a budget by July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. If that happens, lawmakers could pass a resolution to fund state government at current levels until a budget passes.

The proposal for legislators to return to Columbia requires approval by the Senate.

This story was originally published May 28, 2015 at 7:18 AM with the headline "MORNING BUZZ: S.C. Senate could return to filibuster with 4 days left in session."