SC Democrat: “This Isn’t Over”
Just when you thought the clock was about to strike midnight on the never-ending “stimulus” debate, it turns out the fight could be starting all over again.
A Democratic State Senator who happens to be a lawyer (we know, we know – doesn’t exactly narrow things down, does it?) hinted last night that Gov. Mark Sanford’s refusal to request the funds for recurring expenses wasn’t the end – but rather the beginning of another “long, strange” trip.
Oh, and he seemed pretty sure that this “fantastic voyage” will end with the disputed $700 million winding up in South Carolina – or at least winding up in South Carolina’s inefficient, duplicative and totally ineffective government agencies.
“I suspect we’ll find a way to get those dollars to South Carolina,” the Senator said. “I think you’ll see the courts get involved. I don’t think this will be the end of it.”
Despite stern warnings from the administration of President Barack Obama to “take it or leave it,” S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is standing firm in his refusal to request the funds – which represent less than 10% of the $8 billion in federal bailout dollars coming to South Carolina.
The money also represents an even smaller slice of the state’s $20.4 billion budget.
Nonetheless, we figured the left’s plan at this point was to start laying off teachers for political show – which is all that it would amount to when you consider that South Carolina’s public schools have nearly $800 million in carry-forward reserve funds in addition to the billions they’re already receiving from a bailout-aided total state budget.
So what the hell are the Democrats up to?
The Senator – whose name we won’t mention – knows the real “plan,” but he obviously wasn’t about to get into the specifics of it with us.
After all, the goal for now is to let Sanford continue twisting in the wind and not offer any indication that a real effort will be made to claim these funds.
Stay tuned … the long, strange trip could be just beginning.
Comments
By Dan on April 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 am
Way to go, legislature! Hugh Leatherman really showed Sanford by crafting a budget to fire teachers, and Bobby Harrell’s boys stuck it to him good by refusing to reform their legislative cronies’ ESC (a.k.a. legislative retirement benefit). So glad you guys are more worried about being big shots and showing off your power. Give yourselves a round of high-fives while your constituents have to close their businesses and lose their jobs. That report from the Policy Council that says we could lose something like 30,000 more jobs. This is all an effed-up mess, and we gotta do something to stop it. Problem is, we don’t know what. Those guys are determined to win, no matter what. And they will, and we’ll all pay for it.
By calhoun fawls on April 2nd, 2009 at 1:02 am
I do not see what the Democratic Senator sees. The refusal by Sanford to accept the $700 million will be a loser politically on the national stage. I believe that is why the Obama Administration has said that it is up to Governors alone to take or leave the money. Like them or not, the political team around Obama is about the best we have seen in a while in national politics. No SC legislator will find a friend in them to get the money and thus take away whatever political point the Obama folks seek against Sanford in 2012. The Obama folks will take that refusal by Sanford and hang every failure in SC upon it. Some of us might cry foul, but it will play to the rest of the nation. There is no way they are going to allow a backdoor way to take pressure off Sanford if they see him as a contender in 2012. While Sanford is thinking about the GOP nomination, Obama’s folks are thinking about Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio in 2012. And, there, Sanford’s refusal will play to their advantage. I just don’t see Obama’s folks giving Sanford a way out, even working with SC Democrats.
By anonymous on April 2nd, 2009 at 5:32 am
Students, lawmakers, citizens defy party lines, unite at State House
More than 28,000 signatures have been added to a petition in opposition to Sanford’s decision, and still others are calling and e-mailing until Friday.
Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, told the crowd that he believes the governor is apathetic and joked that the governor would not die of a brain disease or heart attack.
“You’ve got to have a heart to have a heart attack, and a brain to have a brain disease,” he said.
http://media.www.dailygamecock.com/media/storage/paper247/news/2009/04/02/News/Hundreds.Rally.For.Stimulus-3693274.shtml
By UpYers on April 2nd, 2009 at 6:07 am
So, there is a symbolic analogy between a political party and the donkey in Shrek. Interesting…
By lou on April 2nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
There is one party, the party of Greed and it’s out to close your business, make your kids cry, and steal everything you ever thought you had.
Remember that and go on about your business.
Everything is fine
Everything is fine
Everything is fine
By Toyota Kawaski on April 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 am
“what a long strange trip it’s been” RIP JERRY GARCIA
By Crush on April 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 am
FITS, Would this Democratic Senator be one that is running for govenor?
By Eric on April 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 am
Calhoun your great plan falls apart when 2 years down the road states wish they hadn’t taken the money and are greater in debt because of the “stimulus.” The country may still be in a depression because they are printing money and only the states with a good financial standing will be able to withstand the true problems of a depression. It’s like the war in Iraq and only the people with principles stood against it – those same people that were right in the long run.
By Mab on April 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 am
This money only represents 10% of SC’s total mess — but Gov. Sanford is TRYING to IMPLEMENT the thing called STEWARDSHIP.
President Obama is a reckless, unfaithful steward!!!
Further insights @ Luke 16:10-12
;)
By Tim on April 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 am
I like how you Sanfordites are now trying to shift the debate to the “it’s only an itty bitty slice” of the federal stimulus coming to South Carolina. Just as he’s had with every other grandstanding political stunt he’s ever taken, Mark Sanford figured he could reject the money with impunity because the legislature could request it anyway. Now his figleaf is gone, and the idiot is gonna be left standing that with his package exposed and no one to blame.
By RedBank Bar on April 2nd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Marshall’s a fool and he’s showing it to a national audience. As a Democrat, I like it. As a South Carolinian, I’m certainly ashamed to have him as our governor.
I certainly want all of the Repugnants out there on the record. Whose side are you on? The people or the Governor.
By Statue of Liberty on April 2nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Eric hit it on the head. In two years, the states that took the money are going to have blown a huge hole in their budgets and they’ll go crying for more federal dollars. And there’s a good chance taxpayers aren’t going to stomach yet another Congressional bailout using their money. Then what are they gonna do? First, cry. Second, raise taxes.
By Sanford is Not Relevant Anymore! on April 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
In my opinion, this debate has moved beyond Mark Sanford. He is completely irrelevant at this point in the process. He has dug himself in and there is no way out of this one. He is on the political wrong side of a tsunami. The Democratic Senator you are talking about is actually correct. Everyone who looks at this and actually knows the law, can play the long term game and see how this plays right into the hands of the Democrats. The D’s knew Sanford could not resist this chance to try and elevate his stature and he played right into their hands.
Whether you are for the stimulus or not, it does not matter politically. $700 million of SC taxpayer money is going to be spent. Nobody diputes that. Some members of the legislature think this money should be spent in SC. Mark Sanford wants it spent in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida to help his run in 2012. We are financing his political charity to other states by allowing him to screw the citizens of South Carolina. Lindsay Graham knows what this Democratic Senator knows, trust me, he was the one that said the Congress will not change any part of the ARRA to help South Carolina because the 49 other states actually stand to benefit from South Carolina refusing the funds.
Has anyone noticed the silly little bill floating around the Capitol reaffirming South Carolina’s 10th amendment rights? Who started talking about the 10th amendment at first when all this came up? Lindsay Graham. If the US Congress takes the $700 million and gives it to other states and does so in a very, very public way it will embaress the Republican Party of South Carolina and Mark Sanford to no end. They will have no choice but to file or support another group filing suit against the federal government (remember Henry helped Mark out with the opinion) trying to recoup this money for South Carolina’s taxpayers.
This leads to a long drawn out public battle pitting the State of South Carolina against the United States Government over the 10th amendment. This is just the kind of thing that gets Republicans all ginned up and excited and also makes the voters pissed as hell. This will drive people towards the Democratic Party and victory in 2010 and beyond.
By anonymous on April 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Reggie Lloyd, Director of SLED said: “I am scared of where we are and what we are facing.”
Lloyd urges Sanford to accept federal stimulus aid
“If Gov. Mark Sanford doesn’t accept $700 million in federal stimulus aid, the consequences could be dire for law enforcement in the state, SLED director Reggie Lloyd said today.”
http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/736441.html
By anonymous on April 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
SLED director: ‘We’re at a very dire point in time’
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – Strong words Thursday from SLED Director Reggie Lloyd as he says if $700 million in stimulus money is not accepted, criminals could be released into neighborhoods.
“We’re at a very dire point in time,” said Lloyd. “Do i think this is over the top? No sir.”
Lloyd says South Carolina’s law enforcement community has not gotten the financial attention it deserves in good times.
“This is bad as it gets, folks,” said Lloyd. “It doesn’t get any worse than this.”
With that said, Lloyd laid out what would happen if the state cuts even more from law enforcement.
“We’re takling about 3,000 prioners being put back on the street early,” said Lloyd.
Lloyd’s tough talk is aimed at lawmakers to support law enforcement, whether it’s using stimulus money, or anything else to prevent proposed cuts.
“SLED, $2 million, Department of Public Safety, over $5 million, Department of Corrections, almost $22 million,” said Lloyd.
Earlier, State Education Superintendent Jim Rex said the vast majority of the $700 million in stimulus money still up in the air was slated for education.
In other words, even if the governor accepts this $700 million, very little would go to law enforcement.
But Reggie Lloyd says law enforcement is already scraping by, any cut would in his words be devistating.
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10121046
By Don't F with me! on April 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 pm
If I was Obama, Commander in Chief, Mark Sanfraud’s sorry butt would have been activated weeks ago and stationed in Afghanistan!! After all, he is in the USAFR.
Don’t F with me!!!
By Dan on April 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 pm
If I were Reggie Lloyd, I would demand that the legislature cut every dime of their Innovistaengunitylaunchnewcarolinapalmettoreserachauthority-o-rama. There is money for law enforcement. Period. There just isn’t money for the Harrell-Leatherman-McConnell-Cooper plan to “grow the economy” with Darla Moore and Larry Wilson. Redbank, etc., answer one question: how will we pay for all this in two years when the money dries up? From now on, anyone who gets on and trashes Sanford for refusing to put another two years on the credit card needs to answer that question.
By BILLHILLY on April 3rd, 2009 at 3:16 am
Yadda,yadda,yadda…..I hear a lot of tough talk about this bum of a govenor,but once again the people in power are turning out to be a pile of gutless wonders. It is a perfect time to impeach this character. Why doesn’t somebody stand up for working people in South Carolina? The best way to insure this shiester doesn’t waste GOP time and funds in 2012 is to impeach him now. I have never seen one person act so selfish and get away without loosing one hair on his head. This guy tried to dump on everybody in the state for his own personal gain. How can we just sit idle and flap our jaws? Kick his sorry butt out of the Statehouse now!!!