Sanford questions federal stimulus deadline
BY JIM DAVENPORT
COLUMBIA - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford doesn't believe a federal deadline looms for him to seek $700 million in stimulus money for struggling schools, according to his spokesman. His critics said Tuesday they're worried the money will disappear.
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford
Meanwhile, cases that could force the governor to take the money are winding through the legal system. Arguments in one of two state lawsuits, brought by students, are to be heard Thursday in the state Supreme Court. On Tuesday, Sanford pressed to have the other state lawsuit moved to federal court. He has sued there over control of the money.
State lawmakers last week overrode a Sanford veto and required him to seek the stimulus cash he has blocked for months. He has argued it will blow holes in budgets down the line and is bad government policy. School districts forecast teacher layoffs and colleges predict big tuition increases without the money.
Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said the governor does not plan to meet the five-day deadline set by legislators. He also said the governor does not think a July 1 federal deadline to request the stimulus cash is solid.
"We don't believe that is a valid deadline," Sawyer said.
"The deadline is what it is," U.S. Education Department spokesman John White said.
The only exceptions will be for states whose budgets are in such bad shape that they can't bring school funding to the level, of what the state spent in on them in 2006. But there's no exception for not requesting the cash, White said.
"It's a real deadline," said State Education Superintendent Jim Rex. If the issue's tied up in court at the end of next month, Rex said he'd try to find a way to extend the deadline, but there's no path open for keeping the money.
"No one anticipated we'd be the only state out of 50 going through this kind of litigation because of the governor's position," he said.
Senate President Glenn McConnell said the federal court case could leave the state missing the deadline and losing the money.
"That's exactly what he's doing," said McConnell, R-Charleston.
"By taking it up in federal court, he makes sure there is no money."
But Sawyer said that's not the case and notes the governor's lawyers filed Tuesday to have the federal lawsuit expedited.
South Carolina would get $2.8 billion in federal cash for programs and projects during the next two years. Sanford controls about $700 million of that and won't request that unless it can be used to offset state debt. The White House twice rejected that idea.
Sanford, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, has raised his political profile and been mentioned as a possible 2012 presidential candidate since he's started protesting the stimulus money. McConnell contends it's coming at the expense of the state.
"He gets the headlines and we make no headway," McConnell said.
Sanford requested Tuesday to move one lawsuit, filed by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, to federal court because his lawyers argue the issues involve federal law. A federal judge will hear arguments on that next week.
That case would join the one Sanford filed minutes after legislators decided to override the veto requiring the governor to seek $185 million for schools, $100 million for colleges as well as money for police and prisons.
Also Tuesday, Attorney General Henry McMaster said a lawsuit brought by two students that also seeks to force Sanford to request the federal money could weaken the office of the governor.
"I come down with grave concerns that the result of these cases, because there are two of them, may weaken the office of the governor to the point of irrelevancy. That's my opinion," McMaster said in an interview, calling it all "uncharted waters."
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Comments
sardis12 (anonymous) says...
How long is this idiot going to keep this going? I'm sure he loves having his name in the news, but this is ridiculous.
Who is paying for the "governor's lawyers" mentioned in the article? If it isn't taxpayers, it's probably some big Columbia law firm trading legal services for future political favors.
But hey, what can we expect? It is South Carolina...
May 27, 2009 at 2:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillytheKid (anonymous) says...
The only thing that Sanford has given me is lower taxes, but I lost all of that when my house value went down so much.
Sometimes there is coffee in the cup Mark. Smell it.
May 27, 2009 at 2:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanish (anonymous) says...
This CLOWN is what the vast majority of you voted for and Re-elected him. It makes me angry, but then again I say it serves you right. All one has to do in S.C. to get elected to office is be a Republican with an R after his name. All you have to say is I oppose gun restrictions, I support the Confederate Flag, and I'm a defender of the far right causes and you're a virtual shoo in for the office. I can't say I feel sorry for the most part because you got just what you WISHED for! This Clown is a FRAUD with a Capital F. If he is really CONCERNED for the taxpayers, then WHY isn't he paying for HIS lawyers at his expense? He is leaving ALL his legal bills to the taxpayers in S.C. Why isn't he paying fo all the court costs and legal fees that will be acquired from his lawsuits at HIS expense? Proves my very point that he does NOT care about the citizens of S.C., he only cares about Himself! Next year will be challenging also when you elect Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer who will be an exemplary of UPHOLDING the laws, especially SPEEDING, Reckless Driving, and using HIS office as a cushion to NOT be PROSECUTED!
May 27, 2009 at 2:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanish (anonymous) says...
After almost eight years in office, he has accomplished absolutely NOTHING! S.C. ranks at the bottom in just about everything out of the 50 states except Unemployment! We are number 2 at the present but we'll be number 1 very shortly. You can BANK on that.
May 27, 2009 at 2:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Creeker01 (anonymous) says...
Go Mark, Go.
It seems that McConnell closed up his History shop, then forgot where he came from.
Ever heard of a "Constitution"? Ya'll might want to read it.
Where do we plan on getting the money for the budget next year? Planning on another "stimulous" plan?
There is no free lunch, you idiots.
Don't Tread on US!!
May 27, 2009 at 2:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
Hey Creeker01, if you were from Texas I might understand why you keep putting "Don't tread on us" in your comments as "Don't tread on me" is the Texas state motto.
Can't you come up with something a little more original than that? Since you appear to be a Sanford supporter I must assume you only have the intelligence to parrot what others say and to copy their slogans.
The state will be required to pay the money back whether Sanford requests it or not. Why this is so hard for those like you to understand is worrying. You need to try and think for yourself for a change instead of being a tool for republican chumps only out for themselves. It truly is sad that you people would put children at risk for no reason other than Sanfords ignorant ideology.
If you have to pay the bill anyway why shouldn't we decide how it is spent rather than it going to other states?
May 27, 2009 at 4:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Yeah sardis, politics doesn't go on in any other state does it? You must be from up north or Chicago even??
I agree though Gov Mark will ride this out till the deadline and take the money. He'll try to get maximum exposure in the mean time. YADAYADAYADA...
May 27, 2009 at 6:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
"He gets the headlines and we make no headway," McConnell said.
Mr McConnell you could have worked with the Govenor to come up with something that would do the most good for us but once again it is more important to show the Govenor who is boss in this state. But why not, the comments continually show that "Free" money overrides everything.
"If you have to pay the bill anyway why shouldn't we decide how it is spent rather than it going to other states?"
We can't decide, directly, the Feds are Telling Us where we will use it today and indirectly where We will then have Future ongoing obligations. The legislature could have worked with the Govenor to at least reduce the future downside but the people are in a feeding frenzy over "Free" money and participating in that and putting the Govenor in his place is more important. BTW the costs of the law suit could also have been avoided by the legislature, not just the Govenor.
May 27, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
School budgets across the state for next year can't be finalized because this issue drags on. Teachers have to be hired this summer, classes have to be scheduled.
If the Governor gets what he wants and 49 other states divide up SC's stimulus money for education, the Governor may find out that getting impeached is even less fun than having your vetoes overridden.
The budget is law. The Governor has the power to veto it. He did and the legislature overrode his veto by a 2/3rds. vote. Now the budget is law and the law must be followed. Governors who violate the law get impeached.
May 27, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
"The budget is law. The Governor has the power to veto it. He did and the legislature overrode his veto by a 2/3rds. vote. Now the budget is law and the law must be followed. Governors who violate the law get impeached."
Normally yes.
If I understand this situation though the feds put this under the Govenors perogative and therefore Not under control of the legislature. The legislature has chosen to budget money they Do Not control and that is still their perogative but it doesn't make the money exist.
If somehow the legislature wins this and is able to tell the excutive branch what to do on something they have no legal standing in then seriously it is time to finally eliminate the excutive branch. I maintain that it is barley more then a figurhead now anyway and this makes it truly a waste of money and time.
I and other responsible Taxpayers plan and finalize our budgets on worst case scenarios and hope for the best. The government and Non taxpayers have to start doing the same. The goose that lays the golden eggs is very sick right now.
May 27, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodforyou (anonymous) says...
I agree with tc1. If the state doesn't get the money it's because of the legislature. The Governor was ready to take the money. Why did the federal government give the Governor control of requesting the funds in the first place if he has to take orders from the legislature?
May 27, 2009 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scnative59 (anonymous) says...
Go,Sanford,Go I Support Mark Sanford 100% have any of you thought about where we will be in 2 years when this money is gone and there is'nt any more . WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BUDGET THEN????? Are we to grovel to the Feds again? The sheeple will be crying HELP ME! HELP ME! WHERE IS THE GOVERMENT??? NO THANK YOU SOUTH CAROLINA HAS ITS SOUTHERN PRIDE OF HANDLING OUR OWN AFFAIRS....You outsiders need to keep out of our politics, or we can show you the door, and hold it open ,so it won't hit you where the sun don't shine on your way out. We were under the socialist liberial democratic thumb for 30 yrs. where all they can think about is TAX! TAX! TAX! They tax everything!!! Gov. Mark Sanford has be trying to lower our tax and spend mentallity sense he took office, but everytime he turns around he's haveing to butt heads with tax and spend democrats who is seduced by big goverment and want nothing more than a welfare state... NO THANK YOU! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GOV. SANFORD
May 27, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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