SC “Stimulus” So Far
South Carolina state government has received $442 million in federal “stimulus” funds so far this year, a small slice of the estimated $8 billion the state and its local municipalities will receive over the next two years.
According to Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom’s office, the lion’s share of this initial total – $309.5 million – went to the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Here’s Eckstrom’s breakdown of how the “bureaucratic bailout” funds have been disbursed so far:
Governor’s Office, $12,051,772
Lt. Governor’s Office, $222,372
Department of Commerce, $2,689,009
Department of Education, $17,178,039
Department of Health and Environmental Control, $2,319,928
Department of Health and Human Services, $309,522,688
Department of Public Safety $23,154,268
Department of Social Services, $8,611,027
Department of Transportation, $23,782
Employment Security Commission, $66,244,684
This year’s state budget weighed in at $20.7 billion - the second-largest spending plan in state history. A whopping $7.8 billion of that total was federal money, which is the largest amount (and percentage) of federal funding in state budget history.
South Carolina’s unemployment rate has risen considerably since the “stimulus” was passed. Meanwhile, state revenues have continued to tumble as the S.C. economy has basically ground to a halt.
“There are lots of valid concerns that the stimulus spending isn’t being directed toward things that will create jobs, and that the economic downturn was simply used to expand government,” Eckstrom commented in releasing the data.
Precisely. That’s why we’ve been calling it a “bureaucratic bailout” for months.
Comments
By Margarita on July 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Well shouldn’t the Gov have refused the $12k that went to his office out of principal?
By Margarita on July 23rd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
HA! sorry that’s $12 million!
By exteach4 on July 23rd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I think the governor’s office should give that $12 million to the Employment Security Commission to support the unemployed since he is doing nothing to recruit jobs to the state!
By ? on July 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
The gov can’t refuse it, stupid. You must not have been around during the Supreme Court ruling.
By matt on July 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
easy there… The guy will need some money for the 18 months of vacationing he has planned. Note to the editor – leaving the Sanford team turned out to be a pretty damn good idea.
By BC on July 24th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Many states have already started rolling out programs and initiatives in preparation of the new (temporary) funding source. South Carolina lags due to a lack of governmental mechanisms that can push such funds quickly through its system. To include, SC unemployment rate is reported on a lag (just as the rest of the nation) and the data is skewed with a normal percentage of unemployment that is constant. If Gov. Sanford spent less time fighting with the White House, the General Assembly, the Federal and State Judicial system, and South Carolina…and more time prepping agency heads for the influx of cash…they would be better prepared.
While SC ranks 4th in the nation for unemployment and our governor fully supports the free market system, why isn’t he here to work with the State Commerce Department to attract more private sector employment? Why isn’t he working with the Employment Security Commission instead of fussing about what he wants them to do? Why isn’t he working with the Chief Education Officer to reign in reckless educational programs and push those that actually work? We do have a problem and it will take reform but we need a leader that will actually do the work instead of talking about it.
By liz shepherd on July 25th, 2009 at 9:21 am
And I noticed on this page that Social Security in South Carolina got 222 million. Social Security by law is a federal program…. not a state program. It did change… around 1987. I am the first to tell you about that though!!
http://www.stimulus.sc.gov/
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN THAT PLEASE????????????????
I FOUND MY PRIVATIZED SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS BECAUSE PROXY NOTICES STARTED ARRIVING IN THE MAIL THE SAME YEAR I HAVE EVIDENCE OF A FRAUDULENT SSI ACCOUNT BEING PAID IN MY NAME>
I AM DOUBLE ENROLLED IN MEDICARE PART D. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS SUBSIDIZING MY SECOND FRAUDULENT PART D ACCOUNT>>>>> but sadly no elected leaders(?) care???
I AM BEING ABUSED BEYOND ANYONE’S WILDEST DREAMS.
And privatizing Social Security in Argentina, caused their economy to crash…..
http://www.justlanded.com/english/Argentina/Argentina-Guide/Jobs/Social-Security
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2004/11/argentina_and_s.html
By Do What Now? on July 27th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Anyone starting to wonder if a new WPA would probably be a better solution than what we have now?
By political hack on July 28th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
If only South Carolina had their own bank from which they could borrow as much as they pleased so everyone in the state could eat all the costs instead of the entire nation! Yeah no one would ever allow that on the federal level, but who cares about the constitution, I say lets follow the lead of the Federal Guvment