Sanford Spokesman: Governor Still Opposing $700 Million
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s spokesman Joel Sawyer made clear Friday morning that his boss is still opposing $700 million worth of federal bureaucratic bailout cash unless it goes toward state debt repayment.
In an exclusive interview granted to FITS this morning, Sawyer said that the governor’s decision to sign a preliminary certificate requesting South Carolina’s share of the federal bailout money was “entirely consistent” with Sanford’s previous statements and did not mean that the governor had committed to accepting the cash to fund recurring expenses.
“We’re still standing firm against using this $700 million unless it goes toward paying down debt at the state level,” Sawyer told FITS.
Sawyer disputed media accounts saying that the governor had backed off of his original position regarding these funds, and reiterated that Sanford’s decision to fill out the initial paperwork requesting the bailout cash did not obligate the state to accept this particular pot of money.
“This is exactly what the governor said he was going to do all along,” Sawyer told us.
Comments
By Gillon on April 3rd, 2009 at 10:05 am
Same of old Sanford, as they said of the Bourbons: “Learned nothing, forgot nothing.”
By Brian on April 3rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
Sanford is nothing but the Boy Who Cried Wolf. How can anyone take anything this guy says seriously? He bloviates from his soap box about this and then he caves at the last moment. Everyone knows he is going to cave because he always does. For all his hype, the man is a gutless wimp. The media, the legislature and the citizens of South Carolina need to isolate this person and treat them just like the the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Ignore Him! Just Ignore Him!
By vic nettles on April 3rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
Impeach him . That is why I had a bumper sticker on my truck Republicans for Tommy Moore
By Dan Tripp on April 3rd, 2009 at 11:19 am
Blah blah blah! The Governor blinked. Shame on him.
By Brandon on April 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
Brian,
I guess people take him seriously due to the fact that he was elected three times to the US House of Representatives (would have been more if he had not stuck to his pledge) and has won two state wide elections at the chief executive officer of the state. But more to the point, people take him seriously because he ACTUALLY PRACTICES FISCAL RESTRAINT!!!! Every one of these yahoos will tell you that they want less govermnent, and, less government spending. But when the slop is in the trough, they come running. This recession is an awesome opportunity to get some reduction in government cost and waste. But that opportunity is squandered if hand wringing, conservative only within 90 days of election, politicians don’t stand up and say let the change start with me.
Sanford has been walkin the walk and making the rest of this piss pot collection look bad, and that is why he is despised by the legislative crowd.
By Reality on April 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
Sanford should stand Strong and keep on with it! i dont think the bailout money is going to do anything for this state! all it does is get us closer to Socialism and as a business guy who actually is out busting his ass to live a good life and helping fund all these ppl who want the hand-out, i dont feel sorry for em. If it means i’ll have to pay taxes on the 700,000,000.00 that we didnt take to shrink Government in this state and get it back to where it should be so be it, bc either way im getting screwed with the bill. may as well make it better for my Grandchildren.
By Toyota Kawaski on April 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Republicans for Tax Hike Tammy Moore hhaaahhahahaha.
By Toyota Kawaski on April 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
man that is so FREAKN cool an exclusive with Joel “yesah boss” Sawyer!
By anonymous on April 4th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
What’s at stake
What the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, the $700 million due to S.C. that Gov. Mark Sanford has refused to tap, would pay for:
K-12, COLLEGES
Roughly 80 percent of the money, or $280 million this year, would be split between public schools and state colleges to help balance their budgets after state revenues dipped sharply in the grip of the recession. S.C. colleges have been cut by 17 percent this year, the largest cut to higher education in the nation. State schools have been cut $112 million. The state Department of Education says the money would save 1,400 jobs.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
About $70 million of the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds due to S.C. could help law enforcement in the budget that will begin paying for government July 1. SLED chief Reggie Lloyd openly lobbied for the funding. The state could use the money for the State Law Enforcement Division, the S.C. Department of Public Safety or the Department of Juvenile Justice, which has laid off 300 employees and is facing another $6 million cut.
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/738033.html