Stimulus Deadline Looms for Skeptical SC Gov. Sanford

As fiscal situation worsens, SC governor's stimulus refusal draws ire

By Clay Dillow, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 2, 2009 8:43 AM CDT

(Newser) – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has until Friday to choose between the philosophical and the fiscal as the deadline to accept $700 million in federal stimulus money approaches, the Wall Street Journal reports. Sanford wants authority over the funds, earmarked for education and public safety, and has pledged to refuse them unless the legislature agrees to pay down debt—an action it says it can’t afford.

Overseeing the nation’s second-highest unemployment rate (11%) and shortfalls across education, Sanford risks alienating even his most strident supporters. The governor has not refused $2.8 billion for roads, but feels much of the stimulus is unwarranted and eventually harmful spending. South Carolina has cut its budget by $1 billion since August and will likely lay off up to 5,000 teachers without the money.

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[Quotes (2)]

In this 2008 file photo, South Carolina's Gov. Mark Sanford gives the State of the State address to the a joint session of the Legislature at the Statehouse in Columbia. (AP Photo)

In a Jan. 14, 2009, file photo, South Carolina Republican Gov. Mark Sanford gestures as he gives his State of the State address. (AP Photo)

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I'm real disappointed in the governor that he's doing what he's doing for political reasons, apparently. We have programs that are being cut, school teachers being cut, jobs being lost by the thousand across the state.
- James Metts, Lexington County Sheriff

Say you win the lottery. A prudent household would not only spend some of the money, they'd pay down the mortgage.
- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

omgchrista

Apr 2, 2009 8:29 AM CDT

"Say you win the lottery. A prudent household would not only spend some of the money, they'd pay down the mortgage." - Sanford. Haha maybe this is true... HOWEVER, if you told the prudent household they had to spend the money in a different and simultaneously helpful way or else they could not have it. They would take it and spend it as directed.

omgchrista

Apr 2, 2009 8:25 AM CDT

I'm in South Carolina, and I can't stand the way Sanford is acting. Just because he won't get to spend the money his way, he whines. The people of South Carolina will have to pay for this regardless of whether or not he accepts. The schools in SC need this money. Just let them have it and figure out another way to pay off your debt. One user commented that the people of South Carolina will remember this on election day. I sure hope you're right--the state is quite red.

nick

Apr 2, 2009 4:04 AM CDT

Let him refuse the stimulus money and just go ahead and cut taxes. Then let the trickle down theory do its thing ... and soon the economy will be robust. That's the Republican way!

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Stimulus Deadline Looms for Skeptical SC Gov. Sanford