March 13, 2009 4:57 PM

Sanford Criticized For Suggesting He May Refuse Stimulus Funds

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Economy
(AP)
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, seen as a potential Republican presidential contender for 2012, is being accused of "playing politics" for declaring that he may turn down a quarter of the stimulus money designated for his state.

Starting Monday, the Democratic National Committee will begin running an ad in South Carolina in which an announcer says "South Carolina is facing tough times – but Governor Sanford is playing politics instead of doing what's right."

Sanford, the announcer says, is "turning down millions in recovery act funds. Putting politics ahead of health care, jobs and schools…Tell Mark Sanford to stop playing politics with South Carolina's future."



Sanford has been a vocal opponent of the stimulus package, which he alleges is filled with wasteful projects. But with his state's unemployment rate at 10.4 percent – the second highest in the country – he has become a tempting target for Democrats who are casting him as putting his constituents second.

As the Associated Press notes, high-ranking South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn called Sanford's decision "100 percent political posturing." South Carolina State Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman – a Republican – is also knocking the move, calling as "tomfoolery" born of Sanford's desire to make headlines.

Leatherman, the Wall Street Journal reports, "introduced a resolution in the Senate Thursday to request the money if the governor refuses it."

Sanford says his critics are ignoring the fact that his decision matches his record.

"I've got a 15-year pattern of doing exactly this kind of thing," he said.

Like Texas' Rick Perry, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Mississippi's Haley Barbour, Sanford has said that he will reject a portion of the stimulus money that would expand unemployment benefits. He has gone farther than those governors, however, in also signaling he will turn down $700 million meant in large part for education programs if he is not granted a waiver to instead use the money to pay down his state's debts.

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by errolmacajelos March 16, 2009 9:43 PM EDT
First things first. What's next for the people of America? I can see we're moving on recession and if not definitely we fall under communist.

Do you think Stimulus Package will work? Well, I guess the over all impact is much less of what we need. Out of $787B package, around $290B comes in the form of tax cuts, $100B business tax cuts and etch. All of which goes to the top 10% of the income distribution. It is really nothing in the package.

Billions of foreclosures filings and bankruptcy are what dragging down the net worth of the economy. Don't tell me that nationalization of bank will help. Buying all the assets of America to take control of the institution is a kind of retirement security. I think Obama is going down very similar path to the Bush administration. I really disappointed with the 1st month of Obama administration.

I guess keep on aiming to those having unpaid taxes like Scott Murphy will help even a least. A Democrat Politician with outstanding tax cases on court is running for floor representative for 20th Congressional Election. Democrats is putting TAX EVADER in the Congress and eventually in the federal government.. Darn you DEMOCRATS.

<a href="http://www.murphyabovethelaw.com/">Scott Murphy for Congress Tax Liens</a>
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by BarneyLS March 14, 2009 9:48 PM EDT
As a native Californian for almost 77 years if my wife was not in a nursing home I would strongly be tempted to more to South Carolina. Governor Sanford strikes me as being a real constitutional American and not as a socialist out to destroy our nation. Our nation has been a light to the world in the past and socialist hate it because they "love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil".
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by jxknowles March 14, 2009 8:18 PM EDT
You have to credit a person when they stand up for their principles and beliefs, even in the face of adversity. Unfortunately, I don't think Governor Sanford is doing that. On bad advice, he's putting his short-sighted political goals ahead of the people of South Carolina. He has zero chance of a 2012 Presidential run. I repeat, zero.

His state deperately needs financial assistance. South Carolina foreclosures rose 200% in February from a year ago. Columbia, SC has a higher crime rate than New York or Los Angeles. Hire more Police and Firemen. Put your politics aside and man up.
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by diamruby March 14, 2009 4:01 PM EDT
The greatest problem I see is the President allows State Governors to make decisions about the stimulas money. You have a governor who doesn't care about his people because he is living high on the hog, his children do not go to the filthy broken down schools, he has it all & doesn't care about you. The President needs to put into place in each state where & how the money will be used, that way the states will get the work & improvements they need instead of being at the mercy of some big mouth politician.
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by michael19w March 14, 2009 3:35 PM EDT
Sanford President 2012!
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by iam4honesty March 14, 2009 3:04 PM EDT
The humor in this lies in the fact that many of the intellectually challenged residents of SOUTH Carolina will carpool with the neighbor who still has some gas in his car, ride to the polls and vote for the guy who took away their livlihood and drove their state into the ditch.

We should probably use some of the stimulus money to poison the gene pool in SOUTH Carolina.
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by scredneck March 14, 2009 1:11 PM EDT
Gov. Sanford is a hero. As a South Carolinian I am extremely proud of him. He is doing the right thing. I would like to see him tell the Fed where to go and not except any money, whatsoever. Obama and the Democrats are just lying socialist Marxists that work 24 hours a day to destroy our country. I encourage every ready to read the US Constitution and see what the Fed can and cannot do. You will find that almost 90% percent of what they do is illegal and unconstitutional. It is past time to get rid of all of them. Term limits is desperately needed since the voters are basically idiots being schooled in government schools.
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by nutz2u2 March 14, 2009 1:06 PM EDT
If there is a more contemptible organization in America than the DNC, I don't what it is.
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by clancy49 March 14, 2009 12:09 PM EDT
I wish our Governor would not take the ARRA Stimulus. Governor Sanford is not playing politics. He is protecting the people of his State. In the ARRA Stimulus package a line was added that the Executive Office now controlled appropriations to the States! This is the American Workers tax dollar, not the Congress and not the President's money. It is our money. This is another Abe Lincoln play with Federal Rights versus States Rights. Perhaps it is time for Americans to rise again and fight the Federals. I don't want bloodshed, but if Governors like Sanford would pass a law enforcing all IRS taxes be stopped and the equal amount be given directly to the State of the Employee you would see those States would not need any monetary help and they would be the strongest States in the United States. The leeches and blood suckers in Washington would be out of a job and perhaps we could get democracy back with a United States of America and elected Governors would meet and balance budgets. (Note that Governor terms are limited) they have to balance budgets, care for the health and well being of their constituents, and promote industry. The governors could join to form a more solid Union and democracy would live again. Radical? No! Patriotic to my country, democracy, and a fair and just nation. Governors rebel, take back IRS taxes, that is an illegal operation anyway. Keep tax monies for your state and your people. Stop the filth, greed, and corruption in that city called Washington D.C. Fire the bums. Let them go stand in the unemployment lines.
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by truthinjournalism March 14, 2009 10:31 AM EDT
Stanford has done the correct and only honest thing here. If he takes the money he has to dramatically increase taxes next year to try to make up the shortfall when the federal money runs out.
South Carolina has a heavy manufacturing employment base which has lost the most jobs as a sector, thus the 10% unemployment figure. It matters not as the rest of the states will be in line will SC soon.

As to the paid liberal trolls posting here , yes you are in charge and yes you will drag the rest of us with you. however when we arrive at 15% unemployment and tax rates that convince most small businesses to stop making money for the government, I hope the propaganda machine of the Democrat Party we tell America how we got here honestly.
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