Sanford saber-rattling over stimulus continues
Most South Carolina political observers had started the clock: when will Gov. Mark Sanford capitulate on the stimulus? He already did his speak loudly and carry no stick strategy with the Employment Security Commission issue, and it appears the same could be happening concerning S.C.’s $700 million in budget stabilization dollars.
Gov. Mark Sanford today will comply with a crucial stimulus deadline and become the last governor in the nation to seek millions of dollars in federal economic-recovery funds for his state, aides said late Thursday.
But Sanford will continue contesting $700 million in education and law enforcement money for South Carolina that he wants to spend on debt. Sanford’s eleventh-hour move to meet today’s midnight deadline buys time for a possible compromise with lawmakers over how to spend the money, as the state’s schools chief warned Thursday of mass teacher layoffs and SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd warned of draconian cuts without the stimulus.
Earlier Thursday, Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell addressed Sanford’s tap dance around the stimulus money.
“We adamantly opposed this so-called stimulus bill when it was proposed,” Harrell said in a statement. “However, we realize –– as do most of our state’s citizens –– that because this plan became law South Carolinians will have to repay this money whether we accept it or not. That is why it is so difficult to understand the Governor’s rationale for requesting millions in energy efficiency money while rejecting money for teachers and law enforcement officers.”
Senate Finance chairman Hugh Leatherman, who has already sat across from Sanford and debated the issue this week, is not happy with the Governor’s actions, either.
“There should be no confusion,” Leatherman said to McClatchy. “Given the current condition of our revenue collections, programs will be slashed, reductions in forces will occur, and services that our citizens have previously enjoyed will no longer be offered.”
Needless to say, Democrats are certainly not going along with Sanford’s plan.
“[Gubernatorial spokesman] Joel Sawyer and Mark Sanford must have checked the latest poll numbers, since everything they do has political reasoning behind it,” Rep. Boyd Brown said. “Once again, Mark Sanford is behind the 8–ball with the people of South Carolina. Given the fact that this will not play well with the Cato Institute and the Club for Growth, he can kiss his presidential hopes goodbye.”
One thing is for certain, though. The battle over S.C.’s stimulus funds is not even close to being over.
