South Carolina House members have voted to allow the Taxation Realignment Commission to consider all of the state's tax structure, including Act 388. The group had been told originally that it was not to consider that major part of the state's tax revenues.

Act 388 added a penny sales tax and took all the school operating tax off of owner-occupied homes, putting more pressure on the business community to support state revenue.

Anderson County Republican Dan Cooper says TRAC was originally supposed to look at other tax issues first, including exemptions, but that they're now free to examine taxes as a whole.

“The Speaker and I introduced a resolution that would extend the date for them to work on their review,” says Cooper.  “They had a deadline of March 15th and this allows them to work until November.  And it specifies that they're not restricted.  Now they can look at the entire comprehensive tax structure.”