Two-thirds of the chamber, 109 votes, is required to overturn vetoes. The abortion and concealed weapon overrides passed with 120 and 115 votes, respectively. Wilson and Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, both voted to uphold the vetoes. Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, was absent from voting.
Columbia representatives Vicki Riback Wilson and Chuck Graham were in the minority party for the first time in their seven years as members of the House.
"We are going in the wrong direction for our children," said Columbia Democrat Chuck Graham. "We aren't trying hard enough in the last week and a half of this session to find a way to fully fund education."
"I wish that they would take a look at the impact of the decision to continue cutting," said Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia. "This is not the best idea for the state."
Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, said the formula helps establish equity between poor and wealthy school districts. Changes to the system, he said, could potentially disrupt that balance and get the state in legal trouble.
Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, said that by taking this tactic Republicans --the majority party in the House for the first time in 48 years-- are neglecting the budgeting duties they were elected to perform.
Rep. Chuck Graham of Columbia, a ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said the staff's report validates Democratic Gov. Bob Holden's position that the budget cannot be balanced without raising new revenue.
Columbia Reps. Chuck Graham and Jeff Harris, both Democrats, objected to this cut on the basis that every other state institution of higher education was cut by only 0.25 percent.
But Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, said that while he respects Bearden as a person, he disagrees with some aspects of how he's handling the budget process.
"They (Republicans) gave enough just to look like they are compromising politically," said Rep. Chuck Graham, Columbia, who voted against the bill. "They have not given us enough to stop the cuts from education."
Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, who serves on the House Education Approprations Committee, said this fund is setting up another promise that is "bound to be broken."