(CNN) – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford plans to ask President Obama for permission to use part of his state’s stimulus money to pay down its debt, not on new spending, according to a letter he sent state legislators Tuesday.
A longtime opponent of the president’s nearly $800 billion stimulus package, the Republican governor told his state’s lawmakers that spending approximately $700 million in money coming from the federal government would only make the state’s financial situation worse in the long term.
“[W]hen one is in a hole, the first order of business is to stop digging,” Sanford wrote in the letter obtained by CNN Tuesday.
Instead of spending the $700 million, Sanford plans to ask Obama for a waiver that would allow the state to use the funds to pay down “our very sizable state debt and contingent liabilities,” Stanford wrote Tuesday.
“In the unfortunate case that the President would deny our request, I will not seek the funds, as I believe doing so would not help our current economic problems and would do real harm to our future financial picture.”
Related: Stimulus raises state sovereignty issues
Before passage of the stimulus bill, Sanford told CNN’s John King that the president’s plan to jumpstart the struggling economy would only prolong the pain of bringing the nation’s finances into order.
“We’re going to go through a process of deleveraging,” Sanford said on CNN’s State of the Union in early February. “And it will be painful. The question is: Do we apply a bunch of different band aids that lengthen and prolong this pain or do we take the band aid off? I believe very strongly: let’s get this thing over with, let’s not drag it on.”
Sanford’s plan to seek a waiver from the White House only applies to the $700 million in stimulus funds which Stanford has the discretion to control under the terms of the stimulus bill. The remaining 75 per cent - or roughly $2.1 billion – due to South Carolina will be spent as directed by federal law, Stanford said in his letter.
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
No – how about that?
Let SC pay it's own debt. Use the money to create jobs so the people can work and pay taxes and reduce the debt with WORKERS' TAXES.
If the governor believes that using the money in any way other than paying down debt is a bad idea, he shouldn't do it. But unless we believe that paying down SC's debt is stimulative ( and I don't see how that would be ) then, no, the governor should just forgo the money. NO WAIVER!
For all the people saying that this bill doesn't create jobs and isn't stimulative, how does paying down the debt create jobs?
Sanford, first you didn't want it. Now you're asking to do certain things with it, so that implies you're willing to take it. Then you say if you can't have it your way, you don't want the money anymore.
And when your income-producing tourist centers cry otherwise, you'll turn around.
SC needs to vote for democrats. The republicans can't or won't do anything to help the people.
Nope sorry you said you would not take it and therefore you don't get it. the fact is you should ahve taken what was offered, you do not get to pick and choose what parts you want to follow,, if you take it you need to spend it AS AUTHORIZED otherwise syhut up and let the rest of the country spend the money you need in SC, after all you and MS are #49 and 50 in just about every category already so what do you have to lose?
Finally, sound thinking!
“[W]hen one is in a hole, the first order of business is to stop digging,” Sanford wrote
Yes that's exactly why we threw you right-wing nut-jobs out of office. WE STOPPED DIGGING!
exactly who does the state of south carolina owe hundreds of millions of dollars too?
but i will say, this a major part of our financial problems, people dont pay the debt that they already owe someone else while they go spending their money in other places to help stimulate the economy.. which is not a bad thing, but jobs can be created by paying those that are owed and then they wont have to lay off anyone else.. but then again, who does the state of south carolina owe hundreds of millions of dollars too.. hopefully not china
Paying down current debt will allow room in the future budgets for stimulus. It's not like Obama's stimulus was going to have an immediate effect anyway.
Remember people.. paying debt is goooooood. Creating it is baaaad.
First Sanford criticizes the stimulus plan as a whole. Then he says it won't stimulate the economy, and now he wants to use the stimulus money for the debt that his state has accumulated.
Silly Republican. There is a thing we can use to see if someone is a hypocrite. It's called history and Sanford is on the wrong side of it.
I may agree in principle that debt comes before new spending but his words and actions show that Sanford has no principles at all.
'Core principles' = Party lies.
Wait...first he doesn't want it, then he wants to use it how he sees fit? I don't think so. S. Carolina is screwing it up again. Nullification, Civil War, now this. Wake up
If he already has the discretionary authority from the PRESIDENT on this 25% is not the Governor simply engaging in political grandstanding?
If he is grandstanding, shouldn't CNN reporters do the detailed work before reporting this story as though the situation were different?
All Republicans wether you are in the house, senate or a Local elected offical such as a Gov, realize that they have people who voted for them and they represent all the popel of their states and bills and debt need to be paid. They have done what they have done for politicial posturing only, but now they realize the error of their ways.
This guys a piece of work !!! Whatever annoying anti-Obama, Anti-job creation, anti-stimulus horse-puckie these Red State Govenors can stir-up....they are going to do it. I feel sorry for the people of SC ....whom by the way has lost the MOST JOBS of any Southern State !!!! Time ya'll get serious here and let this guy know what it is like in SC without a job and FEW prospects. The elitest Southern Good Ole Boy network REALLY needs to change for that state to become more vibrant. DO I HEAR IMPEACHMENT for obstructing the public will????
Is anyone ever going to call these Govenors to the floor and ask why they're playing political games with the lives of their constiuents. It is pathetic what they'll do to sabotage the efforts of this administration. I think South Carolina should impeach or recall him if he doesn't comply with the federal guidelines of the stimulus.
That is so dumb!!!
It's called a Stimulus Package, idiot!
Why would anyone pay off debt with debt? Where's the return on investment from that? Not to mention it will not put people back to work - which is the whole point.
South Carolina - get smart, vote him out!!!
Let SC eat cake. Send it to MS. Sure our Gov. is just as stupid, but at least our state reps. took it out of his hands. And trust me MS really needs help.
Our federal govt is taking full control of individual States rights. Suits are being filed this very moment to challenge the federal government over stepping their authority per the constitution.
If that 700Million was spilt into $100,000 paying jobs it would richly employ 7000 people!!!! Or 14,000 people at 50K/yr. That money for spending goes to infrastructure. You know, roads and bridges and stuff. And it takes labor to build those things. Those infrastructure things that WILL EVENTUALLY need to get repaired or built sooner or later. If its sooner, then the Gov't will pay the tab. If its later, then S.C. will pay the tab for the work that must inevitably be performed. This Governor is posturing. Call him on his bluff. See if he gets re-elected. I'd never vote for a fool or a Governor that was playing politics with jobs in my State.
The governor should explain how paying down his state's debt will stimulate the economy, which is the purpose of the stimulus bill. He also should have spoken up during the Bush years, when Bush added 5 trillion to the national debt. Just imagine how much better off the economy would have been if the Republicans had acted like the fiscal conservatives they say they are. How about using the state's own money to pay down its own debt? This might create short term pain in his own state, by forcing cuts in the state's budget, but it will bring the state's finances into order.
No matter how you slice it these southern guys are going to stick to their core priciples......They are stuck in the 1800's like their great great grandfathers "We dont want that dadburned money from den there yakees"....This idiot would rather starve his state than take some money from Obama.... Brings back thoughts from world war one....I read that when White southern soldiers were wounded and needed blood, they would rather die of loss of blood than take a transfusion from a Black man.......Its 2009 Southern Govenor's.......Dont bite the hand thats trying to help you because its Black.
I've voted in 6 elections and I've never seen so much resistance and disrepect to the Commander in Cheif of our nation. These narrow minded Republicans sicken me. They are divisive, bitter and offer no solutions. They are so quick to waive the flag of patriotism, but they obviously HATE everything that America stands for. The people have spoken and they voted for change. Now that change has come, the Republicans are behaving like spoiled children. Get over it, America is going in a new direction now, either get on board, or you'll find youself treading water overboard!!! Americans are sick of all of the divisiveness, WE RISE AND FALL AS ONE NATION!!!
GOP HACK...trying to change "stimulus" into "trickledown" economics....Poor people of SC.....
How stupid. That is like paying your credit card with a credit card. DUH!
He's trying to keep SC credit score to a possible 4.2.
My understanding is the debt he wants to pay is to the state's pension fund. Why does the state owe so much to the pension fund?
How stupid. That is like paying your credit card with a credit card. DUH!
flybyshoeing
Its not credit card, its an aid. I guess if Obama gave you some money you would go eat at a restaurant instead of trying to be honorable and pay what you borrowed.
Mark Sanford is in his last full year and part year as governor. He is being forced out by term limits. He is not getting ready to run for governor. He is polishing his image with the ultra conservative members of the Republican party. He wants to run for president but first he must get the nomination of the party.
Sanford has been the worst governor of my state that I can remember. He is nothing but a tax cuts that benefit the wealthy, bean-counting governor. He knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Before he became governor, we had a Superintendent of Education that was making notable progress in improving our schools. She was recognized in other states for what she had accomplished. She was forced out by term limits. I hope I am not spelling her name wrong – Tennunbaum.
The tax evaluation on the upper crust homes went up, along with homes in the resort and lake areas of the state. They complained and he fought and won to have school taxes used for the school systems to be removed from property taxes and added a sales tax to pay for schools. School budgets are now in chaos. Some in the legislature tried to warn this would happen and be especially bad in an economic downturn.
The University of South Carolina has four regional campuses. They are two-year schools that credits can be transferred to USC for the final years. They not only help many students that could not attend USC for the whole four years get a college education. They also help the local area and attracts industry to the area. Sanford wants to close them.
As mentioned earlier he wants to be president. If you think Bush was bad, Sanford would make him look like a superhero!
Gov Sanford does not seem to be concerned for that school in his state where teaching has to stop when a train comes by because the whole building shakes – since he did not even put it on his list to repair when he first became governor. Nor any of the other schools that need repairing, nor is he concerned about his bridges, etc. His prior debt, he, must get out of – if he made debt, he should have had a plan to get out of it. Maybe a citizens' council needs to be put in place to oversee the stimulus money because I am not sure if the esteemed governor would know what to do or make the right decisions.
Well, at least he's asking. Not like those banks that took the first stimulus from Bush, and spent it on paying off creditors, and STILL didn't lend out any money to the public.
Sir, the answer is NO. Give the money to another state... one that'll use it to stimulate the country, not to shore themselves up.
just give the money bac. I mean the whole 2.1 billion!
So now this Republican hillbilly wants the money, huh? Did he ask Rush, et al. if it's okay to take that dirty stimulus money? I thought the Republican govenors were going to refuse to take it. Hahahahaha. I knew they'd come around. On a more serious note, it probably wouldn't be a bad thing for him to use a combination of debt clearing and job creating. But go ahead and ask the boss if it's okay. I love it!
Obama's response to this request should be "No". The State is to spend the money to stimulate its economy, improve its infrastructure, or how about fixing the run down school the little girl wrote the President about. Republicans would rather bail themselves out than see the working folk get ahead!
If this narrow minded governor doesn't want to take the money, then so be it. Nearly every state has huge debts. If SC is allowed to use the money in ways other than what the plan intends, the other states will want the same thing.
The Republicans know that if the states are allowed to use the money in the way SC wants to, the stimulus plan won't stimulate anything. Then they'll be ready to scream to the world that the President's plan didn't work.....blah blah blah.
Mr. President: Tell this governor no.
South Carolina should not get a penny! They already receive more than they pay in and Lindsey Grahm and Stanford have been the biggest whiners against the president.
I live in South Carolina and even if he doesn't take the money we will still have to pay for it Sanford is being stupid and he plans on running for President in 2012 but I guess they will loose again, these republicans think they know everything where were all these helping hands when Bush was in the chair I haven't seen so many ungrateful people in my life...........
With all due respect Governor, I believe if we level the playingfield for everyone, work together and steer individuals in the right direction to reduce crime, the citizens of South Carolina may be well on our way in becoming "debt free" and avoid the liability of building another state prison and increase our state budget. This act of cowardness should not be brushed under the rug.
With Best Regards,
The Citizens of South Carolina
Darko March 10th, 2009 6:08 pm ET - Our federal govt is taking full control of individual States rights. Suits are being filed this very moment to challenge the federal government over stepping their authority per the constitution.
_____________________________________________________
Darko, you dummy, do you have any proof of what you have stated or are you just flapping your gums like all of your ilk? No one wants to take away individual States rights, unless you have a problem with employment in your state. Or are you referring to the old States rights arguments that sought to keep Black people down? Please, please Darko. I have seen your posts before and you really need to let the sun shine in on your brain.
Isn't the same state w/ substandard schools?????? Someone in South Carolina needs to stand up and stop letting this idiot run things. Are you really saying your state doesn't have huge needs you will deliberately choose to ignore for no reason other than your partisan politics? You are failing your state and should be impeached.
Oh no, he doesn't deserve a dime, the hypocrit. He thought the stimulus package was a bad idea and said he would keep the money from his people.
The lying snake oil salesperson is a low down dirty dog and needs to climb back under the rock he slithered from. He's a spoiled greedy, selfish swine that is not fit to be in office.
sssssssssssssssssssssnake.
I think his white sheets are in the cleaners. No worries, he'll get them out for the next KKK meeting. The snake.
He should not be allowed to re-direct the money. In fact, he should have the courage to back up his words with action by refusing the stimulus money he is so adamantly opposed to. More importantly, paying down SC debt does absolutely nothing to create jobs!
South Carolina, don't fall for this joker that you elected as your governor! It is CLEAR that he is NOT giving a cents care about YOU! He wants it to LOOK like President Obama's plan failed to all those who do NOT have internet access!
No way, no how, NO waiver Gov. Sanford! South Carolina isn't stupid like YOU are hoping they would be! THAT doesn't even give you credit for trying!
While I respect Gov. Sanford's effort to show integrity, I can't seem to think that he is requesting the ability to pay off the SC debt. Excuse me, but is he in fact asking for some bailout money? HMMMM.
If the Governor has discretion over 25% of the funds being directed to SC, and if the Gov. really wants to reduce the state debt, then why wouldn't he accept the monies enveloped in that 25% to help pay for any "stimulus action" the state would have been proposing before the ARRA. Thus, the stimulus monies would still be used as a stimulus. SC could then use the money not used to cover those expenses and pay off whatever state debt they could. The stimulus monies should not be given as bailout monies!
If then, Gov. Sanford still had hesitation about receiving federal help, he could decline whatever monies would fall within the 25%, and explain that to his constituents.
REPUBLICANS –mismanage this country for 8 years and this REPUBLICAN governor mismanage his state for how long? Now they want to to act like they fiscal responsible. HA HA YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!! They need to just shut-up and let the DEMOCRATS dig them out of this hole they created.
To Lucy Johnson, You say you have never seen so much disrespect to the Commander and Chief of our nation? Narrow minded repubs are bitter? What do you call all of the Bush bashing and disrespect? I have read these post long enough to well know that the Dems have had more of their share of hateful and disrespectful remarks. You can not be too mature to say what you said.
And just how is that going to help get jobs?
Smart move. Send that money to California, they need it more.
"Using this Lowe's gift card to renovate my home would make my financial picture much worse off in the long term."
NONSENSICAL
He won't be happy until every black child in his state is 'learning' in 1800s era crumbling schoolhouses.
CRAVEN
No, No, No, and NO!!! Use the money for the purpose for which it is intended. You repubs are fighting this recovery at every step of the way.
Remember, because of YOU we are in this mess. This happen on your watch! You all so called "Fiscal Conservatives" had your chance to correct this course but you chose not to. Now, move over,
follow or get out of the way. The economy will be fixed whether you
people help or not...Just don't end up on the wrong side of history
like your boy Geo Wallace!!
Don't let him do it Barack. He will do anything to make the stimulus fail including not spending so that he can point to you and say you failed. Either use it or lose it.
Sanford and his cohorts got themselves into the debt of South Carolian and if they do not have brains enough to get themselves out, then they should submit their resignations.
I am throughly against him using money that would go to the unemployed to paying off HIS AND HIS COHORTS DEBT.
The money should be used for what it was intended to be used for. If it used for unemployment payment it will be spent and keep jobs or create jobs. If is used to pay off Sandord's debt then it will just keep him and his cohorts on Mount Pleasant Island, Hilton, Beaufort, Rock Hill, Myrtle Beach, Greenville, and Anderson from paying their share of taxes. Those are the richer sections, I forgot to mention Columbia.
Say YES WE CAN to trickle-up poverty!
F-E-D-E-R-A-L-I-S-M...Anyone of you lefties ever heard of it? If SC isn't entitled to spend this money the way it wants, the Gov. should not take it. Paying down the debt of your credit card, with another credit card with a lower interst rate, IS sound. THis would allow SC to spend its tax revenue in a wiser way. Who better to spend money in SC than people in SC, not DC. By the way, are you lefty lemmings, have you ever had an original idea?
Sorry, sounds like a good idea, but what responsible government body would want to pay down debt. Notice how the liberals are blasting the idea of fiscal responsibilty on this board. At least we all know there are still a few fiscal conservatives out there.
I will send an email to the Obama's administration. No to the Governor of SC/ I watched him making the rounds son TV trying to be in the limelight for the Republican party then now he wants to ask permission to pay down debt. NO! NO! NO! I had it with those Republican governors, house members & senators.
Just give the stimulus money directly to the people. We will spend it more wisely and create more long term jobs !
@KP March 10th, 2009 6:21 pm ET
This idiot would rather starve his state than take some money from Obama…. Brings back thoughts from world war one….I read that *when White southern soldiers were wounded and needed blood, they would rather die of loss of blood than take a transfusion from a Black man…….Its 2009 Southern Govenor's…….Dont bite the hand thats trying to help you because its Black. ***I Agree!!!
More political posturing from the right... Take it or leave it Gov.
Some people are so stupid. Stimulating the economy puts more money into the economy than it takes out. Paying off debt with stimulus money tells me that he doesn't give a crap about education, jobs, the poor, the uninsured, or anyone who deserves a little break.
I think that most politicians in Washington take Pres. Obama's kindness for weakness, but while they hope for his failure, he is getting the job done. I wonder if the man ever sleeps. Meanwhile, Bush spent 1/3 of his first year in office on vacation, yet no one complained, but Obama works his tail off, and people are saying he's doing too much. These are the same people who complain that he's partying too much when he hosts an event at the White House.
Truth is, some people will never respect him, regardless of what he does. I say to the President, do what we voted you in there to do, and forget about the spin. Results are all that matter.
President Obama should approve the request, for $1 !!!
Governor Sanford is lunatic!! He would rather starve his own offspring than accept that a black man might be doing a good job as President.
What an unAmerican jerk! Last I heard, South Carolina needed help as much as any other state. Perhaps Mr. Sanford will put up his own money, since the stimulus is "tainted."
Good idea.
Wouldn't that be reinforcing bad behavior? If the SC government made bad decisions, they shouldn't get federal money to pay down debt so they can create more debt in the future. Why should the rest of the US population pay for the bad decisions of the governor of one state? Is the SC government full of lazy bums who free-load off the US tax payer? Or doesn't that argument work when we are talking about a Republican governor????
Gov. Sandford are you crazy??? No you cannot use stimulus money to pay your debt. Find other ways to pay your bills, like raising taxes!. The nerve, you hypocrite. If you are against the stimulus, do not take it. So what is South Carolinians are mad at you and vote you out next election. You know that hungry people will become angry voters!
Is this the state where the girl from the dilapidated school wrote a letter to President Obama asking for help to repair the school?
How many other rundown schools in South Carolina are like this?
How is using the money to pay down the state's debt going to fix that school?
The voters of South Carolina should recall this governorn!
@ Darko
Unfortunately, the previous administration trashed the constitution.
we might have been able to keep from going into debt if we didnt have to pay for free medical care. food stamps, baby day care, housing etc for all of the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS that are here, we spent over 186 MILLION dollars on people who WILL NOT contribute and are not productive in the sense that they DO NOT pay taxes. money thrown away.
What a freaking hypocrit. What about your schools that are almost last in the country. So instead, you Obama to pay down your debt and you look like a tough guy. Creep!
@ Lucy Johnson...I totally agree.
The Republicans are a disgrace. Something is either bad or good. I think you can't complain about something, then want it.
They are so disrespectful. Has anyone noticed they don't wear the American Flag on their lapels like before?
Wake up people, this money comes with strings attached. As far as people working it will only pay them for 1 year what happens after that. Thats like Obama going to ohio and giving a speech about 24 police officers in Adron getting a job because of his money. Big deal, next year the people have to pay for this out of higher taxes which they do not have so 25 officers will be let go. The federal government has no idea what they are doing. They can't employ the whole country and want to tax the people and companies that can. It's no wonder they all move the jobs out and more will go.
Won't vote for him "again"!