While ongoing investigations and soap opera speculation surrounding S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s bad behavior continue to dominate headlines in the Palmetto State, the big government blowhards who actually run South Carolina (into the ground) are back to their bad fiscal behavior … and this time we’re not just talking about misappropriating a couple thousand dollars to “hike the Appalachian Trail.”
Faced with a $200 million hole in the state budget (which went into effect just six weeks ago), the five-headed legislatively-dominated monster that runs the executive branch of government in South Carolina decided yesterday to postpone any action on agency budget cuts – potentially setting up a much bigger budget “hole” when the board meets again in early September.
As justification for this decision, Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman said yesterday that he believes federal stimulus money being spent in South Carolina is going to produce a dramatic spike in state income tax revenue – apparently quite soon – which he says will improve the state’s fiscal outlook.
Of course in the very next breath, Leatherman told state agencies to prepare for “cuts” (i.e. reductions in excess) this year – the second straight year that lawmakers have appropriated substantially more revenue than already-drained state taxpayers were capable of providing.
Siding with Leatherman to delay the inevitable cuts were House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Danny Cooper and State Treasurer Converse Chellis – two of the biggest Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) in all of state government.
Arguing in favor of making cuts were Gov. Sanford and Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom.
South Carolina’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) meets again on August 21, at which point the latest state revenue estimates will be available.
By 1+1=3 August 14, 2009 at 9:53 am
until sanford goes no one will pay any attention to the important things because he is such a train wreck
By Ron August 14, 2009 at 10:00 am
Could it be that Leatherman is hoping for a Sanford resignation, and then the pliable (morally flexible) Bauer as Governor will allow the boys in the General Assembly to run wild with all that stimulus money?
Billions of dollars loosely earmarked for programs that can be…hmm, diverted to fancy sounding projects with high paid consultants and contractors. Oh man…just think of the payday.
Big money people. Just think of the big money!
Leatherman is one crafty dude.
By Huhhh??? August 14, 2009 at 11:02 am
There’s nothing wrong with waiting 3 weeks to get solid numbers.
It actually demonstrates some common sense.
By southernmapart August 14, 2009 at 11:12 am
If you can’t add, except by reproducing, what makes one think that taking Sanford out of the equation will cause improvements in the state budget? Sanford is going, when it it time.
In the meantime, get on with the state’s budget business, which means that if we don’t have the money, don’t spend it.
By Humpy August 14, 2009 at 2:13 pm
How do I upload my avatar ?