Sanford's stimulus battle comes to likely end
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/11/art.sanfordpt0311.gi.jpg caption="South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford had resisted taking the federal stimulus money."](CNN) - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's prolonged campaign to reject $700 million in federal stimulus funds - an effort that earned him praise from some national conservatives but also angered many in his own state - appears to have come to an end.
The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the governor must accept the federal cash designated for education funding.
Sanford, who might run for president in 2012, had resisted taking the money even when the Republican-controlled state legislature passed a budget that included the funds.
The court on Thursday stated that "under South Carolina law, the General Assembly has the sole authority to direct the appropriation of funds and, therefore, is the entity which decides whether the State desires to receive the funds."
Students and education officials in the state filed lawsuits last month demanding that the governor take the money, and Sanford tried to have the lawsuits merged and heard in federal court. On Monday, however, a federal judge rejected that attempt, and said that the South Carolina Supreme Court must decide what to do.
Sanford has scheduled a press conference on the decision this afternoon. He said earlier this week that he will not appeal the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision.
It is incredible that people like Palin, Sandford, Barbour, and Jindal acutlly believe that they are knowledgable enough to lead this country. Will someone please tell me what it is these buffons are basing their reasoning on. More than that, I would like to know why the media even bother with printing anything they have to say.
It it was for military spending he would have taken it but a republican doesn't care about little things like education. This is one reason i will never vote republican again!
Kelby In Houston, TX
I believe we did vote Dem, it's the vote counters who told us we didn't.
With a nearly 50% Black population it's hard to understand how we didn't. You can't tell me all the White Folk voted Rep, I know I didn't.
We don't need to even vote here. With Grahm and Sanford running the place all our decisions are already made.
They treat us like we're stupid, there time is coming.
I hope this chooch does run for President, I need a good laugh.
It's about time for Sanford to just shut up and put up....go away Governor! Nobody needs you and your outdated ideas!
Don't knock South Carolina unless your state and your governor is perfect. I don't know of any that are. Get a life you idiot liberals and fix your own problems.
Barry June 4th, 2009 5:45 pm ET
Gov Sanford Thanks for standing up for what you believe in, unlike our current President…. God Help us all in the coming years.
...except he doesn't belive in anything worth standing up for. He only believes in his own political ambition, and is using someone else's decisive action as an excuse to keep doing nothing.
I could believe I'm made entirely of linguini alfredo, but it doesn't make it valid, true, or useful.
I actually must praise Palin on one account. I never would have suspected her to be in support of same-sex marriage, but here she is complaining about the government trying to control the people. She's preaching to the choir when it comes to equal rights, and our stance that the government has no right to control who we can and cannot marry. For her not to support gay rights, well, that would be hypocritical, right?
He is a hyposcrite too. He is still accpeting $2 billion more in stimulus money that he never once criticized. He is just a pretend fiscal-conservative, full of lies, knowing fully well his own hypocrisy!
what is that old southern saying, "a pig is a pig is a pig"
I guess they were describing Republican politicians
Democrats are only "a pig is a pig" still, but on their way to earning that 3rd one.
Who on the left would like to bet Obammma wont last a year....people are starting to wise up.......NO MORE FREE GIFTS FOR PEOPLE WHO DONT WORK
@ Moderate Democrat:
Before you taking the standard liberal line about how bloated our budget is because of "wasteful: defense spending, keep in mind that defense counts for only 20% of our budget, while the overwhelming majority (nearly 70%) of our budget is due to medicaid, medicare, and social security, two of which (medicaid and medicare) are NOT BEING FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS! Of course, "His Highness", Lord Obama, won't touch these with a 10 foot pool, cuz he knows he'll lose his cherished popularity by taking on these tough problems. You liberals crucified Bush for trying to take on Social Security in '05, and God forbid if the poll-obsessed Obama adminstration does something that isn't popular!
Even if you liberals succeeded in eliminating the entire defense budget, we'd STILL BE overbudget, and printing money out of thin air only to pay for it later thru crippling inflation will not solve our problems.
To MACK DADDY. That's essentially what I said in my comment. However, you don't get that...do you? Go back to grade school. Reading is fundamental.
So Gov Sanford, head of a state with 15% unemployment and 3rd bottom of all the states in education (graduation from high school rate is an abysmal 56.6%), wanted to make sure the state couldn't use the 700 million dollars for – education, to keep more than 1500 techers on the job. No words to describe that.
TeleVision... The way we keep idiots in control....
He's so fiscally responsible that his state was in debt before the economic meltdown.
But yea, I'd take advice from him! I also take driving tips from Lindsey Lohan.
@ Jon in CA.......... ITS spelled "Lacrosse" ......... What up with you? I am not attacking Christians, sir. When I mention that the GOP claims to be Christian but actually does not act like Christians is the TRUTH!
And Jon, last I heard we are all free to write as we please, or are you now the "writing" or "thought" police?
PS. Psychotic? Who's attacking whom now? Peace man.
@I can see Canada from my house! June 4th, 2009 4:22 pm ET
As predicted…..Sanford caved after the appropriate display of conservative idiocy.
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Explain how a SC Supreme Court order is caving? Your post is dishonest!
What most of you don't relize is Stanford wanted to use stimulus funds to pay own state debt. Anybody with any financial common sense wil tell you the greatest way forward to wealth is to piad down your debt! As usual the Washington Iron Fist said no! Common Sense was in SC and NOT in DC!
Correction
What most of you don't realize is Stanford wanted to use stimulus funds to pay down state debt. Anybody with any financial common sense will tell you the greatest way forward to wealth is to pay down your debt! As usual the Washington Iron Fist said no! Common Sense was in SC and NOT in DC!
It is not idiot repub or idiot dems it is idiots that get $700 billion and the feds will start dictating what you can and cannot do in school. Then you will be paying more than the state can afford to get out of debt.
Considering the money is for EDUCATION and also noting that the United States is ranked 18th in the world out of 36 countries that were considered, it begs the question, why wouldn't this ignorant bastard take it? I answer it by saying this: He made a decision like because we are ranked 18 out of 36 in the world. Sad I know... but its true...as a whole us Americans are just plain dumb and that my friends is a fact.
Considering the money is for EDUCATION and also noting that the United States is ranked 18th in the world out of 36 countries that were considered, it begs the question, why wouldn't this ignorant bastard take it? I answer it by saying this: He made a decision like THAT because we are ranked 18 out of 36 in the world. Sad I know… but its true…as a whole us Americans are just plain dumb and that my friends is a fact.
right-wing = terrorists June 4th, 2009 4:27 pm ET
Standing up for one's beliefs????!!!!! You MORON! He was elected and his SALARY is paid by the people of South Carolina! HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE STANDING UP FOR THEM!!!
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Most of you liberals keep making my point! You can't debate and have great difficulty putting 2 thoughts together yet you excel at name calling...nice!
This is a vile man. If he runs for president, I will use every ounce of my strenghth to fight against him, and the other GOP losers.
He is so jealous of President Obama and wishes he could be in his shoes.
This lipless, beady-eyed miser would be horrible in Washington. Stay in South Carolina with the good ole boys, Governor. We hate you.
No thanks South Carolina, we've had enough the Strom Thurmans and Sanfords. We'd like to move forward into the twenty first century.