At the last moment, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford backed off of a threat to forgo requesting nearly $150 million in federal unemployment benefits for an estimated 70,000 unemployed South Carolina workers.
Or did he?
While one threat was effectively rescinded, another was made.
Specifically, Sanford promised to remove the three former legislators who sit atop the S.C. Unemployment Security Commission if they continue refusing to upgrade their data, share it with the state’s economic development agency and submit to a state legislative audit.
Blasting South Carolina’s “Balkanized form of government,” Sanford said his top legal counseler, Swati Patel, has found a way for him to remove the three commissioners (all of whom are appointed by the State Legislature) if they did not agree to his conditions.
Frankly, based on their pathetic record, we’re surprised he doesn’t just sh*t-can all three of them now.
Sanford also defended his brinkmanship on the issue, saying “if you simply sign (the request) and do nothing more … then what you’re saying is let’s raise taxes and move on.”
Indeed, South Carolina workers are staring at a massive increase in the unemployment taxes based on our current untenable situation.
The governor did acknowledge – as we noted earlier – that his battle was a PR loser.
“Anytime you can’t boil it down to a sentance, you’re in trouble,” he said.
But Sanford disputed the fact that he was forcing the crisis, pointing to years of correspondence between his office and the ESC requesting these changes and criticizing its poor performance and abysmal management of taxpayer resources.
He also broke out an extensive list of conservative and liberal organizations joining him in requesting that the ESC get its act together.
Incidentally, five S.C. Senators – Greg Ryberg, Mike Fair, Mike Rose, Kevin Bryant and Larry Grooms – formally requested a legislative audit of the Employment Security Commission this afternoon.
“I will use the LAC audit to examine the agency and make the changes necessary to ensure that not only will it, in the future, conduct itself properly but also that it will never again allow South Carolina citizens to end up in this precarious position,” Ryberg said.
By leon December 31, 2008 at 4:06 pm
South Carolina has reveiled that their way of handling crucial matters is dilapidated compared to the other states. South Carolina will always be a beacon for underachievers and exemplify a “bad” example for running a state. I think that S.C. is coming to reality that its about to catch up with the rest of the world. I am ready to move far away from this antiquated state.
Signing off…Disgruntle South Carolina resident that just lost their job and plans to move out this wrenched state.
By Gen. Longstreet December 31, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Good bye, Leon.
By James the Foot Soldier December 31, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Make no mistake, our legislators do pay attention to this website – I’m glad the Senators ran with my suggestion from last night!
It’s good to see Harrell remained in hiding on this issue – what a limp-wristed bitch he’s become – I can’t wait to aks him a question (and I guarantee it won’t be a softball) on the Kevin Cohen show next week!
By Cooter Brown January 1, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Mista Leon,
Sho’, we needs sum reformashun, but we don’t needs t’ be like dem otha states– Gawd ferbid! At least Mista Sanferd has gots the balls t’ stan up to those scalawags in da state howse and elsewhare ’bout that inefficient machine dat is state gob’mint. I wish he’d a play’d chickin’ with dem a little longer!
Da problem, young feller, is not wit th’ stat or the gob’mint– ‘tho day certainly created a situashun fer us all– It’s a got t’do with dat feller a lookin’ at ye in da mirror an’ how he deals wit th’ fortunes dat plague all men frum Adam on… Life can bee cruel an’ unfair, but yous got to be a man an’ gots to make a stan’!
Good luck in dem otha states… I am sho’ that thare is a utopia out thare for ye somewheres… probabely a lan’ a flowin’ wit milk an’ huney! (Lawrd hav’ mercie!)
So, my scalawag frien, if’n ye don’t understand what Ol’ Cooters tryin’ to tell thee, don’t let da door hit ye whear da good Lawrd split ye– Bye-bye, gud luck, adieu, an all dat!
As fer me an’ mine, we’re a takin’ a stan in Ol’ Caroline, our home!
Cooter Brown
By superbrain1 January 4, 2009 at 3:23 pm
He did not blink. He does not know how unless his wife tells him to. Sanford has good ideas like the unemployment situation. Why did wait until the 11th hour to do something? This goes back to being accountable. Sanford is the governor of a state. He should lead. Instead he waits to the last minute or he lets the House and Senate run him over.
I was a big fan of the governor until I met him twice. Grow a set of balls and lead the state. Somebody need to.
Pingback: Played! «