Sanford Says “No” To Stimulus Funds? Not Yet …
Making good on his rhetoric of the past few weeks, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has said “thanks but no thanks” to billions of taxpayer dollars slated to come to South Carolina as part of the federal government’s “economic stimulus” plan.
Or has he?
MSNBC reported on national TV this morning that Sanford had sent out a press release saying South Carolina would not be requesting any of the money associated with the $787 billion bureaucratic bailout.
Sanford’s office says that’s not true … at least not yet.
“Honestly? We’re still looking at the bill to see what’s in it and what we could potentially say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to,” said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer. “No decisions have been made yet.”
Whatever position Sanford takes, it’s extremely unlikely that he can actually block any of this money from coming to the Palmetto State, as Democrats in Congress structured the massive boondoggle to be incredibly resistant to, well, him.
Specifically, S.C. Rep. Jim Clyburn inserted a provision in the bill that would enable state legislatures to formally request the bailout money in the event a governor declined to do so.
Known as the “Mark Sanford amendment,” it could very well set up another showdown between Sanford and his GOP antagonists in the legislature.
Sanford has been repeatedly challenged to “put his money where his mouth is” over his highly-visible opposition to the bailout, with former Clinton advisor Paul Begala daring him to decline the money.
“Something tells me Gov. Sanford won’t take that gamble,” Begala wrote in an op-ed for CNN earlier this week. “Because for all his rhetoric about hating federal spending, he can’t wait to get his hands on our money.”
“South Carolina is a ward of the federal government,” Begala continued. “It’s been on welfare for years. If Gov. Sanford is so all-fired opposed to federal spending, let’s start by cutting federal spending in South Carolina. Otherwise, he’s got about as much credibility on fiscal conservatism as A-Rod has on steroids.â€
Personally, we hope Sanford does say “thanks but no thanks” to the bailout money.
Sure, he’s been put into a position where such a decision would be a purely symbolic gesture, but it’s one he should still make.
This bailout is a heaping pile of big government dung, and Sanford should make it clear that fiscal conservatives in South Carolina – and across the country – want nothing to do with it.
Let the onus for accepting these funds fall on our state’s “Republican” lawmakers.
Comments
By Philip Branton on February 18th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
WHAT………..??
“Something tells me Gov. Sanford won’t take that gamble,†Begala wrote in an op-ed for CNN earlier this week. “Because for all his rhetoric about hating federal spending, he can’t wait to get his hands on our money.â€
Alright…Begala-gut !! Its our children’s money you nimrod !!!!!!
Its OUR Children’s Money…not YOURS Begala !!!!
Begala….why would Sanford Gamble at all…..for your information; WE DO NOT have casinos in OUR state…no matter WHAT robert FOrd and Jim CLYBURN tell you !!!!!!!!
By Philip Branton on February 18th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
WHAT………..??
“…Let the onus for accepting these funds fall on our state’s “Republican†lawmakers…”
Well, SIC the issue with that is that EVERY PAPER in the state will lay PRAISE at the feet of everyone accept Sanford..!!!! The three GRINCHES (Harrell, McConnell and FORD) will rob the suckers out of OUR cradles to pacify the un-informed in OUR state !!!!!!!
My BACKSIDE…….!!!!!!!!!
By Mab on February 18th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Something tells me he would take Begala up on that dare in unmitigated defiance!
The Mark Sanford Amendment: Get busy on it.
By Natasha on February 18th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Wow, that was a hard-core op-ed…piercing…
By Jack on February 18th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I say decline the funds, and SC citizens will be free to decline to pay the increased taxes coming down the pike. Likewise, their savings accounts and all future paychecks should be annually increased from the federal treasury to match the coming inflationary increases in the Consumer Price Index. These provisions will also apply to all future generations of South Carolinians. Begala should at least be challenged on the negative impacts of this onerous bill.
By Joshua on February 18th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
something to consider – what the folks in the Gov’s office (in SC and in LA from what I’m hearing today) are trying to figure out is which hoops would we have to jump through to get what streams of money? It’s entirely possible that Sanford and Jindal (and Perry of TX, and others) could decide that it would cost us more as a state to implement some policy changes than the money itself, and turn down those individual provisions while accepting those things we have “no choice” but to accept. Remember – this is the result of a badly worded, hastily written, 1100 page bill that the White House itself doesn’t entirely understand. It’s internally inconsistent, which we should expect from the nincompoops in the House & Senate Dem caucuses.
In short: don’t expect one short answer to this – it’s too complicated for that.
By fitsnews on February 18th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Gross-
Boom. Like that.
What he said.
Nice!
-FITS
By mijeel on February 18th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Were it that we could get rational and thoughtful political analysis and commentary – such as Joshua’s – into the mainstream media…
…oh, and somehow force people to think crticially “beyond the soundbites!”
By the way. Go look at the brand new Obama Administration propoganda site, http://www.recovery.gov, and check out the timeline for the so-called “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.” It scrolls out past the year 2100! Apparently that is how long it will take for our children’s children’s children to pay off the (non) stimulus package.
Side note: Mike Huckabee rightly calls the Stimulus Package the Congressional Relief Action Plan – check out the pithy video at
By mijeel on February 18th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Link to Huckabee clip somehow got lost: http://www.foxnews.com/huckabee/index.html
By Sanford needs to play hard ball now on February 18th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
It is time for Gov. Sanford to put some meat on his ideas.
I recommend he put South Carolina on the gold standard-Let’s quit pretending our U.S. dollar is worth a dam as Begala and buddies print trillions of dollars out of thin air and pretend they are geniuses for doing so.
Let’s make a stand now before it is too late.
Let’s not allow our children to be in debt all their lives to a wasteful out of control bullying, bankrupt federal government.
Let’s legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of it and balance our own books – and pay all state employees in gold and allow all businesses to accept and trade in gold coins.
Let’s scare the hell out of the federal establishment and force them to quit debasing our currency and balance their budget.
If someone has any better ideas let’s hear them.
By me on February 19th, 2009 at 12:42 am
is what clyburn did with the amendment even constitutional? Any chance sanford takes it to the courts? Work your sources o great and mighty fitsnews.com