S.C. veterans' benefits cut from budget

SOUTH CAROLINA: Some states cut veterans' benefits

South Carolina plans to cut aid to the VFW, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans in the next budget. Michigan, Illionois and Ohio are also cutting services.

Funding for veterans' service organizations, or VSOs, is a fraction of multibillion-dollar state budgets that support schools, prisons and health care for the poor. And with layoffs and loss of health insurance, more veterans will be seeking VA services for the first time.

As one 23-year old veteran said, ''Why would you take away from the guys who are willing to put their life on the line? The veterans deserve to get their wounds healed.''

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Senate Democrats lay out agenda for 2010 legislative session

ARKANSAS: Top employer in state may soon be government

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist signs $66.5 billion state budget

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue to pay unemployed Georgians who get Work Ready certificates

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear reverses decision, says driver's license tests can be offered in foreign languages

LOUISIANA: Legislature to consider health-care cuts, guns on campus today

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour urges end to impasse on state spending plan

NORTH CAROLINA: Budget battle lines clearly drawn in General Assembly

TENNESSEE: State Ethics Commission likely to fold into elections commission

VIRGINIA: State DMV bans smiles on driver's licenses

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