Sanford Says “No” To Stimulus Funds? Not Yet …

[maddezmom]

Making good on his rhetoric of the past few weeks, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has said “thanks but no thanks” to billions of taxpayer dollars slated to come to South Carolina as part of the federal government’s “economic stimulus” plan.

Or has he?

MSNBC reported on national TV this morning that Sanford had sent out a press release saying South Carolina would not be requesting any of the money associated with the $787 billion bureaucratic bailout.

Sanford’s office says that’s not true … at least not yet.

“Honestly? We’re still looking at the bill to see what’s in it and what we could potentially say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to,” said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer. “No decisions have been made yet.”

Whatever position Sanford takes, it’s extremely unlikely that he can actually block any of this money from coming to the Palmetto State, as Democrats in Congress structured the massive boondoggle to be incredibly resistant to, well, him.

Specifically, S.C. Rep. Jim Clyburn inserted a provision in the bill that would enable state legislatures to formally request the bailout money in the event a governor declined to do so.

more:http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/02/18/sanford-says-no-to-stimulus-funds-not-yet/

[liberal N proud]

1. What do the people of South Carolina think of being cut out of the Recovery

[AndyA]

4. Exactly, It would seem the Governor does not have the citizenry's best interests at heart.

Perhaps there's no job loss or home foreclosure issues in South Carolina? :shrug:

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. I'm just waiting to see what the idiot does.

People here vote against their interests too much. They only hear one side. However, when they get fed up, they tend to act quickly. Remember Fort Sumter.
They followed Gen. Robert E. Lee, but following Hoover-Sanford too far as the economy sinks may be a stretch. This is one Lost Cause they may not want to try.

[aquart]

2. What's that about?

The Republicans WANT the money for SC?

[TwilightGardener]

3. Hmm, using the term "massive boondoggle" to describe the stimulus sounds a little...RW to me.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

6. It's a moot point.

From the article:

Whatever position Sanford takes, it’s extremely unlikely that he can actually block any of this money from coming to the Palmetto State, as Democrats in Congress structured the massive boondoggle to be incredibly resistant to, well, him.

Specifically, S.C. Rep. Jim Clyburn inserted a provision in the bill that would enable state legislatures to formally request the bailout money in the event a governor declined to do so.

Known as the “Mark Sanford amendment,” it could very well set up another showdown between Sanford and his GOP antagonists in the legislature.

[Dawgs]

7. Their goal is to claim that they didn't need the stimulus when their state economy recovers.

Seems like a HUGE risk.