The $4 Million Verdict
The S.C. Supreme Court has preserved absolutely no suspense whatsoever as to how it will rule on a long-disputed pot of $740 million in federal “stimulus” funds.
In fact, it might has well have gift-wrapped the money – which represents less than one-tenth of the state’s “stimulus” haul – and handed it over to the S.C. General Assembly, which will use the one-time cash to fund recurring expenses against the wishes of S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, who has advocated for debt repayment.
But before the “long, strange trip” of this – the latest, greatest clash between Sanford and “Republican” legislative leaders, reaches a merciful end, there is one final twist.
Specifically, FITS has learned that the S.C. Supreme Court will be getting paid handsomely to rule against Sanford later this week- $4 million, in fact.
Wait … what? How’s that?
Just call it “budgetary bribery.”
By voting against the governor, the court will be in line to receive $4 million in “State Stabilization Funds.”
Anybody think for a minute that S.C. Chief Justice Jean Toal is going to give up that money?
In addition to whining incessantly about how “underfunded” her agency is, Toal pays big bucks to taxpayer-funded lobbyists each year to fight for her annual piece of the taxpayer pie.
In other words, the Chief Justice’s eyes are as wide right now as her former colleagues in the S.C. General Assembly.
Lawmakers accomplished this “budgetary bribery” by cutting money to the court (and dozens of other agencies) in the main section of the budget, but then coming back and plugging “stimulus” funds into those agencies in Part III of the budget, a.k.a. “State Stabilization Fund.”
Rather than target tens of millions in unnecessary spending, lawmakers held their budget knife over each state agency – and obviously, over the Supreme Court as well.
We’ve already chronicled the conflicts that federal Judge Joseph Anderson had in remanding the main “stimulus” lawsuits back to the S.C. Supreme Court yesterday, but those are frankly small potatoes compared to this.
The S.C. General Assembly – which has the exclusive power to appoint and remove Justices – is now effectively purchasing the result it wants.
With $4 million of your money …
Comments
By peter pye on June 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
So much for Sanford’s “states rights” follow through. I think the RNC has had a gut full of this and pulled the plug – it was either this or the Governor’s campaign for 2010.
By tricklovethekids on June 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
It is a sad day when the General Assembly buys the Supreme Court for a lousy $4 million. There is $4 million worth of pork in the state budget that could have been used to pay the employees of the judicial system this year and instead the General Assembly forces the courts to there will by job cuts. Although this probably would have happened anyway since the General Assembly puts the black robes in power…
By BIN News Editorial Staff on June 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Another (yawn) stunning-not allegation by sic(k) willie.
That the Court will be “…getting paid handsomely to rule against Sanfraud.” That smells like a claim of unethical or illegal behavior.
Spell it out willie; are you claiming unethical behavior by the Court?
Can you prove it? Put up or shut up.
No. You just sit on the sidelines and scream hysterically like the losing team’s head cheerleader as your opponent runs up the score.
Want the score? SC: $700 Million Sanfraud: Nothing.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By liz on June 3rd, 2009 at 8:39 am
That money has always belonged to We the People. The question never answered is WHO DID SANFORD want to GIVE IT TO????
By K Trane on July 23rd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Sanford said he’d accept the money if he didn’t have to expand the size of the South Carolina government with expansion of unemployment benefits, etc.
He also said he’s accept the money if he could use it towards reducing our state debt.
But Obama wants to shove it down our throat and stick his hand in municipalities as well as in state governments.