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Gov. Mark Sanford Ping! |
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Posted on 04/04/2009 6:12:30 AM PDT by Livin_large
Gov. Mark Sanford secured South Carolina’s $2.8 billion share of federal aid Friday but warned teachers, school districts and others not to plan on $700 million for classrooms, colleges and public safety.
In a letter to the White House budget office, Sanford reiterated that he will not apply for the $700 million portion of funds. He is asking state lawmakers to use an equivalent amount to pay off debt.
“They’re not going to get that money,” Sanford said Friday of school districts. Sanford was the nation’s final governor to request the money.
“The $700 million doesn’t come unless we accept it. What we’ve said is, ‘Unless we get some kind of very meaningful debt relief, we’re not going to accept it.’ ”
The stimulus bill requires the federal money go to schools, colleges, public safety and — if any is left over — to pay for other government costs. Sanford twice has asked the White House for permission to spend the money on debt and been rejected twice.
Sanford’s request extends the state’s deadline to act — originally midnight Friday — but leaves in doubt whether lawmakers will be able to include the money in the state budget by the time school districts must sign contracts with teachers in mid-May. The governor has until September 2010 to apply for the money, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
Sanford, a Republican, insists the money to pay off debt is there. The GOP-controlled Legislature says it isn’t, arguing that rejecting the federal aid will mean South Carolinians will lose their jobs. The continuation of an already weeks-long debate, state leaders said, will provide little benefit to the state.
“Everybody ... makes mistakes,” said former Gov. Jim Hodges, a Democrat. “There are times when things don’t work out, and you move on to talk about other things. I don’t think it’s healthy for the state to spend another month talking about this issue.”
Lawmakers informally were discussing their options Friday, exploring the possibility of breaking the impasse by law. Options under discussion included requiring the governor to apply for the $700 million or allowing another state official to do so.
“It is all kind of new ground every day,” said House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, R-Lexington, of the frequent legal updates about the money. “We’re just trying to write a budget ... this thing is serious. We’re just trying to figure out what we have to work with.”
State Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, said lawmakers have floated using income from a higher tobacco tax — approved by the House this week and now headed to the Senate for consideration — to pay off debt for a few years.
While federal deadlines no longer loom, school districts are running out of time to figure out how many teachers they can afford. A bill, awaiting Sanford’s signature, would require districts to sign teacher contracts by May 15.
Personnel costs make up about 90 percent of most districts’ budgets.
Officials in Greenville County, the state’s largest district and the county’s largest employer, said they would have to write a budget without the money if it has not arrived by mid-May. The district said 450 to 500 positions could be eliminated.
Many lawmakers are committed to using the federal money to bolster the state budget.
“When you request money you said you weren’t going to request,” Martin said, “you can’t turn around and try to direct it in a way you’ve already been told no, you can’t do.
“He’s done it (certified the money), and now I think he ought to follow the federal law.”
Please read the freakin’ article before you post any negative comments!
I really like Mark Sanford, and have confidence he will act responsibly for his state. Even if he leaves himself open for criticism from the lefties, of course that will happen.
Good for him.
Federal aid is like the old saying: “Come into my parlor,” said the spider to the fly. Or, as another example, a pusher giving free heroin to a non-user. Once you take it they own you.
Why would anyone post negative replies? Sandford is doing precisely the right thing.
The Socialist Stimulus Package is designed to do three things: Kill capitalism, advance socialism and pay back the groups who helped execute The Marxist Onada”s coup. ection.
All done with nary a whimper from McCain, Bush or the RINO-led GOP.
Gee, isn’t it lucky South Carolina has a “republican” legislature! Otherwise, Sanford might be unjustly criticized by a bunch of power seeking political hacks!
ping!
Nope, they won't lift a finger to defend Sanford nor to stop the pork-hungry South Carolina Republican legislators from savaging him repeatedly.
It seems to me Sanford is holding his own pretty well. It is important that he be able and willing to stand up and articulate his position. He is doing both and the media cannot ignore him because he’s getting right in the face of The Marxist Onada, other leftist demrats and the RINOs.
He is providing South Carolinians a clear political choice.
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