Not even six weeks ago, a group of Republican lawmakers assembled in downtown Spartanburg S.C. (under the statue of Revolutionary War hero Daniel Morgan, no less) to “roll up their sleeves” in support of Gov. Mark Sanford’s plan to use a portion of federal “bureaucratic bailout” money on debt repayment.
Mind you, we’ve never been wild on Sanford’s whole “debt repayment” idea.
As we’ve noted, our approach to this whole thing would have been to force state government to fundamentally reform its operations (including the implementation of a spending cap) before receiving a nickel of “stimulus” cash.
If it refused to do so, we’d have given every dime of that money to the people who are going to have to pay it back one day – the S.C. taxpayers.
But that’s just us …
Senators Lee Bright, Kevin Bryant, Shane Martin, David Thomas (and Rep. Joey Millwood, too) gathered together that sunny Spring day to support Sanford’s plan – which remains infinitely preferable to the legislature’s plan to pump this particular $740 million into the same old broken bureaucracies.
In case you missed it, here are all five of those lawmakers on the front page of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, “rolling up their sleeves.”
So … did they keep their word? Did they really “roll up their sleeves” and try to keep this money from careening into the government abyss?
Senators Bright and Bryant – and Rep. Millwood – clearly did. On dozens of votes, they’ve stood their ideological ground despite enormous pressure from legislative leadership.
But what about Senators Martin and Thomas?
Sadly, no.
Both Martin and Thomas, for example, voted for Sen. Hugh Leatherman’s budget resolution forcing Gov. Sanford to take the stimulus money and use it for the Senate Finance Committee’s version of the state budget.
Additionally, Martin and Thomas have voted with Leatherman (and against the taxpayers’ best interests) on numerous other procedural votes related to criminal prosecution and adequately funding our Department of Corrections.
Rolling up their sleeves? More like rolling over, if you ask us.
Here’s our point – if you’re going to stand in front of a bank of reporters and TV cameras and say you’re going to do something … do it.
Don’t say you’re “rolling up your sleeves” to help the taxpayers, though, and then turn around and vote with Hugh Leatherman. That’s misology.
This state has enough fake Republicans already. We don’t need any more …
By hammerheadSC May 8, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I wish someone would have been there to ask them the exact question. Getting that time of the campaigning that you better look out for lightning strikes from above …..
By X May 8, 2009 at 1:52 pm
What a bunch of goofballs
By Gen. Longstreet May 8, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Yes, more like rolling over. And then taking it up the arse.
By Z May 8, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Please check your facts! Senator Shane Martin voted AGAINST the budget!! Remember there are (2) Senator Martin’s!
By fitsnews May 8, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Z …
Senator LEATHERMAN proposed the following Amendment No. 72 (DAD ACCEPT STIMULUS), which was adopted (#20):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 90, STATEWIDE REVENUE, page 544, proviso 90.15, by striking line 36 and inserting / 90.15. (SR: State Budget Stabilization Fund) It is the intent of the General Assembly to accept all available funds from the State Budget Stabilization Fund contained within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and to authorize expenditure of such funds as delineated in this act. /
Amend the bill further, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 90, STATEWIDE REVENUE, page 545, proviso 90.16, by striking line 1 and inserting / 90.16. (SR: ARRA Fund Authorization) It is the intent of the General Assembly to accept all available funds from the State Budget Stabilization Fund contained within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Office of State Budget is directed to increase agency federal fund authorizations for funds from the State Budget Stabilization Fund allocated by the General Assembly. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend sections, totals and title to conform.
Senator LEATHERMAN explained the amendment.
The “ayes” and “nays” were demanded and taken, resulting as follows:
Ayes 34; Nays 10
AYES
Alexander Anderson Campbell
Cleary Coleman Courson
Cromer Elliott Fair
Ford Hayes Hutto
Jackson Knotts Land
Leatherman Leventis Lourie
Malloy Martin, L. Martin, S.
Massey Matthews McConnell
McGill Nicholson O’Dell
Peeler Rankin Scott
Setzler Sheheen Thomas
Williams
Total–34
NAYS
Bright Bryant Campsen
Davis Grooms Mulvaney
Rose Ryberg Shoopman
Verdin
By fitsnews May 8, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Amendment 72 was a straight up or down vote on the stimulus question.
Simple.
Two sentences.
Shall the governor take the stimulus funds – and shall the money be spent according to the Senate Finance plan.
Senators Shane AND Larry Martin voted with Leatherman on that question.
-FITS
By lou May 9, 2009 at 7:29 am
Which FMR entity is South Carolina giving stimulus money to?
Who is the state paying off the debt to?
I am certain we owe a lot of people a lot of money but where is this money going specifically and why won’t anyone ask , tell, find out???
By BIN News Editorial Staff May 9, 2009 at 8:06 am
“Rolling up their sleeve.” What a meaningless gesture and a stupid photo opp. Look at their embarrassed expressions, and one of them looks like he needs instructions. They know how stupid they look.
And you know the minute the camera was put up, the sleeves came back down.
Meaningless and silly. Typical.
By CNSYD May 9, 2009 at 10:30 am
I have always been turned off by the fake gestures that politicians use. Tie loosened, top shirt button undone, sleeves rolled up, etc. Do they think we are really that dumb? Obviously they do.
IRT the senate bill. In my view, if Sanford is against it then I am for it no matter what it is. Sanford is SC’s number one phony with Ryberg and McMaster a close second.
By Jessica May 9, 2009 at 6:01 pm
That vote is clear as a bell to me! Go get ‘em, Sic!
By SSHM May 9, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Lee Bright has not one shred of fear. during the budget debate, he introduced 5 or 6 amendments knowing he’d lose just to make it painful for the rinos.
By Heroin addicts? May 10, 2009 at 8:26 am
They look like they are all going to shoot up heroin right on camera.
But I suppose they are addicted to spending money we do not have on silly programs we do not need.
Pingback: Who We Like – SC 4th Congressional | The Conservativist
Pingback: Who We Like – SC 4th Congressional | The Political Vise Blog