Political rallies are being held across South Carolina today demanding that Gov. Mark Sanford “put aside his national ambitions and instead address the jobs crisis the state is currently in.”
“South Carolina’s unemployment rate is at a record high and teachers are being fired throughout the state,” the press release from these protesters claims.
Really?
In one of the worst economic years in history, South Carolina’s state budget emerged unscathed at $20.7 billion – i.e. a half-billion dollars larger than it was just two years ago and almost $6 billion larger than it was when Sanford first took office.
If teachers are being fired anywhere, that means state government can’t manage its money … or that school districts can’t manage the nearly $800 million they are carrying-forward in reserve accounts, a reserve balance that is twice what it was five years ago.
Is any of that Sanford’s fault?
Of course not – lawmakers have extended their control over how South Carolina spends its money this year to an unprecedented degree, even stripping Sanford of his authority to appropriate (or not appropriate) federal funds that were explicitly left at his discretion.
They’ve also intentionally gone after Sanford’s Commerce Department, dramatically reducing its funding as House Speaker Bobby Harrell and others have sought to take a lead role in government-sponsored economic development.
How has that worked out for South Carolina?
Yeah, hundreds of millions of dollars later … not so well.
On the macro level, Sanford’s plans to cut the state income tax (i.e. the tax most closely linked to job creation) have also been blocked by lawmakers for the past six years, as have his efforts to cap spending and put more money into the state’s economy.
In other words?
These protesters need to get on the phone with the people who really run South Carolina, Speaker Harrell, Senate President Glenn McConnell, Senate Finance President Hugh Leatherman and House Ways & Means Chairman Dan Cooper.
Ironically, five state lawmakers are participating in today’s “demonstrations,” which as far as we’re concerned is an exercise in misapplied self-loathing.
By lou June 9, 2009 at 8:09 am
If you listen out in the community, it’s no stretch to understand people are angry, upset and mad at the people making the decisions. The people making the decisions are making the decisions without all the information because some of those people are actually responsible for the crisis. The structure of our pitiful government here in this state makes it impossible to address crimes.
Law enforcement is not addressing crimes, won’t take reports. People can’t even tell the truth anymore….
so you think we should try talking more?
I don’t.
By Gene E. Nowak June 9, 2009 at 10:06 am
What authority does the governor possess to create jobs? None what so ever. He is a figurehead leader stripped of all executive powers and subservient to both the courts and legislative branches of SC state government.
With the constant stream of venom spewed by the RHINOS, democrats and MSM he has no platform to even influence let alone create an environment conducive for the expansion of the job market.