Now that the S.C. Supreme Court has stripped Gov. Mark Sanford of his right to control $700 million in “bureaucratic bailout” funds and handed that money over to the legislature to spend instead, it seems everybody and their brother is putting out a statement on the issue.
Obviously, our main focus will be on the dollars and cents – which we’ll be bringing you an exhaustive look at later today.
But the politics of this fight has consumed this state’s government for the better part of the last four months, so it goes without saying people are going to want to weigh in now that there’s a resolution.
How did they do? Take a look below … (oh, and check back often as we’ll be adding statements to the list as we go …)
First, we have the statement released by Sanford, whose mismanagement of the fight we’ve chronicled in extensive detail. In this case, Sanford wisely chose to devote the vast majority of his verbiage to the bigger fight, i.e. the structure of state government.
“Some very clear handwriting was on the wall with respect to how the Supreme Court would come down on this issue, and while we’re not surprised by the verdict we’re certainly disappointed,” Gov. Sanford said. “This decision is terrible news for every taxpayer in South Carolina, and even more so for future taxpayers who will ultimately bear the responsibility of paying for this so-called ‘stimulus’ without seeing any benefit from it. The legislature squandered the best chance in a generation to make some much-needed reforms to the antiquated horse-and-buggy form of government that has plagued our state from a cost standpoint and an accountability standpoint for over a century.
“If there’s to be any positive from this, it’s our hope that people across South Carolina will see just how ill-served they are under our current system of government. What the Supreme Court said today is that a governor elected to represent the interest of four million South Carolinians doesn’t matter – the only thing that matters is the will of legislative leadership elected by a few thousand, and the will of the Supreme Court justices elected by and funded by those very same legislators. That’s just one of many tragic oddities in our state government, but it’s emblematic of the legislative dominance keeping our state from competing in the 21st Century. In our final 18 months in office, we’re going to use every tool available to us to highlight some much-needed reforms to our governmental structure, but it’s going to take energy and commitment on the part of every South Carolinian who wants to see those changes to help us push them over the finish line.”
Next we have S.C. Senate “Majority” Leader Harvey Peeler, who chose to channel Billy Ocean with a little “tough get going” talk. Peeler is clearly seeking to frame the issue as a GOP Civil War, which at some point will require an explanation as to why one half of the GOP (his half) is voting in lockstep with the Democrats …
“This brutal fight has ripped our party apart and allowed the Democrats to take unprecedented steps forward. As Republicans stand divided, the Democrats stand united behind a coordinated liberal Washington agenda. I urge the Governor, Senate Republicans, and House Republicans to put this fight behind them and rally around the conservative principles that can lead South Carolina out of these tough economic times. As my high school football coach always said ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going.’”
Our first “surprise” statement (sort of) comes from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who disagreed with Sanford’s “stimulus” position but is hoping for a “make-up call” by backing the governor’s right to exercise executive authority. Either that or he’s just angling for an invitation to Sanford’s “mancampment” down at his farm this weekend (more on that later today, too) …
“While I have great respect for the Court, I am very concerned this decision has caused great damage to separation of powers within our state government. Separation of powers is a concept that has served our state and nation well.
“While I disagreed with the Governor’s decision to not apply for the stimulus funds, I believe it was his decision to make under the federal statute.
“With today’s ruling it appears our courts have substituted the General Assembly’s discretion for that of the Governor. One could easily see it, in a legal sense, as an assault on the highest office in our state. This decision will erode the power of the governor to make discretionary decisions conferred upon him by the federal government.
“If the governor is unable to perform the task set forward in the federal law, I fear that the governorship has, in many ways, been reduced to a ministerial job.
“The office of the Governor is the highest elected position in the state and one in which every eligible voter has the opportunity to have a say on. Long after the $700 million in stimulus funds is exhausted the impact of this ruling will continue to be felt. I fear today’s decision will haunt our state for decades to come.”
Next up is State Representative and gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley, who has been taking heat for some of her votes throughout the “stimulus” debate …
“I continue to believe it is a mistake to spend $700 million that won’t exist in two years on programs and expenses that will, but the Court has ruled and it’s time for South Carolina to move on.
“That said, we cannot keep running our government this way. Before the struggling economy slowed us down, government grew a billion dollars every year I served in the legislature – an astonishing fact that stresses the need to change the way we govern our state.
“We need spending caps that take complete discretion away from a legislative body that has proven unwilling or unable to act responsibly with taxpayer dollars. We need real accountability in the State House, accountability that starts with recording all legislative votes – those votes belong to the people, not to politicians. And we need to continually audit, by law, every agency to rid ourselves of waste.
“What has happened this budget year can never happen again. As a state we need to take advantage of the good times so we are prepared for the bad. We need to protect the wallets of the taxpayer and the bottom lines of businesses. For these things to materialize we have to bring common sense and good government to Columbia – the potential exists in South Carolina, it’s up to us to act on it.”
And here’s one of Haley’s opponents in the GOP gubernatorial primary, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, who after voting for the original bailout is now professing his undying love for the private sector …
“I believe it is unwise to rely on short-term federal funds to solve what are clearly long-term problems. But, the Court has made its decision and the process has run its course. I think it is critical for the future of South Carolina that we break this cycle of increased dependence on government and focus on what really creates jobs – the private sector. We need to encourage entrepreneurship, empower employers and enable individuals by reducing spending and by restructuring our tax and regulatory systems.”
Oh, and last but not least, here’s our own founding editor, Sic Willie ..
“Lawmakers have turned the S.C. Supreme Court into nothing but a two dollar whore. Seriously, there are prostitutes working on Two Notch Road right now that have more integrity than South Carolina lawmakers and their bought-and-paid for judges. We have one branch of government in this state – a corrupt RINOcrat cabal – and it’s only concern is expanding its power at your expense. Sadly, our fiscally-conservative governor dropped the ball in this fight because he was listening to his D.C. consultants instead of the people of this state. Also, South Carolina’s so-called Fourth Estate deserves a huge share of the blame for utterly and completely failing in its role as public watchdog. It’s a clusterfuck all around, and every South Carolina taxpayer is going to suffer as a result of it.”
Whoa …
Check back for more statements later, and politicos feel free to email yours to news@fitsnews.com …
By Tim June 5, 2009 at 10:40 am
What 6th grade social studies student wrote that statement from Harvey Peeler?
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' June 5, 2009 at 10:53 am
He never had power over the money under our Constitution or the “Stimulus” Act, thanks to Clyburn’s change to that legislation. In fact, under our Constitution, no governor of this state has ever had the power to do much, and certainly nothing over the appropriation of funds other than veto power, which he exercised. Sanford is too dense to understand or accept this simple reality. He’s also destroyed the cause of “reforming” our system of government by demonstrating through his conduct a primary reason why our Constitution’s drafters limited executive power.
I think the “Stimulus” Act, like much of Obama’s recovery plan, is a huge mistake, but we’re on the hook for paying back regardless of whether we accept this miniscule portion of the funds that this Act sent to South Carolina, so to refuse the money makes no business sense. You would think an MBA would get that, but Sanford is too absorbed with philosophy to grapple with reality. He and his fellow RINOs (he’s a libertarian, not a Republican) have gridlocked this State for years, but at least the non-libertarian RINOs have the clarity of thought to accept money from the loans that we must eventually repay.
By Doug Ross June 5, 2009 at 12:30 pm
South Carolina receives $1.38 in federal money for every $1.00 paid into the U.S. Treasury.
As one of the country’s welfare states, when will we get off the dole and start paying our way?
Paying $300 million back to other states would be a drop in the bucket compared to all the excess money that all those Yankee states have been sending our way for years.
By Liberty for me June 5, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Are we to believe that the president and most of the politicians are so stupid that they do all of this irrational spending,totally destroying our economy and doing things unconstitutionally in belief that they are doing the right thing.??…or is this designed intentionally to destroy capitalism to bring on Fascism?? It is so blatantly ridiculous and obvious its laughable… and yet no one does anything.They have done such a great job of dumbing down the people and controlling the media,that no one will realize we are socialists until we have bread lines and are one of the lowest economies in the world…Its a shame,But we deserve it for not standing up
By liz June 6, 2009 at 6:51 am
Tell Lindsey Graham to try to manage the federal government or get out of it and come home where the SC taxpayers can eat him for breakfast.
And Republicans, come on, you know, a house divided falls.
Your house is falling INnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
By Frank June 6, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Once again Jean Troll and the Trolletts have shown us that they will trade favors with our legislators regardless of the impact it has on us citizens. I know Jean Troll is not an ethical individual but I expected at least one of the other Justices to say no to this ruling.
By For real June 7, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Actually the SCSC acted just as they should have. They upheld the constitution of this state, no matter how FITS or anyone tries to spin it and the Governor of this state did not follow the law because he didn’t get his way….he has had more power than any Governor before him, and has squandered it seeking the national limelight for 6.5 years rather than doing what is best for this state.