Courting Disaster in South Carolina

[Benny B]

March 30, 2009
Editorial
Courting Disaster in South Carolina

Now that Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina has polished his credentials with the Republican right by recklessly rejecting $700 million in federal education stimulus money, we keep hoping he will change his mind and put the needs of his recession-ravaged state ahead of his political ambitions.

It will be up to more responsible political leaders to act if Mr. Sanford sticks by his disastrous choice, which would drive an already depressed state economy deeper into a hole and place even more South Carolinians at risk of losing their homes.

In the State Legislature, it was encouraging to see influential Republicans’ distancing themselves from what State Senator Hugh Leatherman, the Finance Committee chairman, rightly describes as an irresponsible policy. In a letter sent to Mr. Sanford last week, Mr. Leatherman pleaded with him to change his mind, writing that rejecting the funds would “create absolute chaos in governmental agencies that perform core missions for the people, and will hurt tens of thousands of South Carolina families at a time when uncertainty and fear over the economy already pervade almost every household.”

The federal stimulus money is meant to shield schools from layoffs and reignite a national reform effort that still has a long way to go in places like South Carolina. Without the federal money, state lawmakers say, tuition at state-supported universities could increase dramatically and thousands of teachers could be laid off.

With South Carolina’s unemployment rate already one of the highest in the nation, state lawmakers seem poised to invoke a provision of the federal stimulus law that allows them to override the governor’s decision. They worry, however, that a legal challenge might tie up the issue in the courts beyond the beginning of the state’s next fiscal year.

It would be best, therefore, for Mr. Sanford to find a face-saving way to reverse himself. If he does not, voters should remember that their governor placed politics ahead of schoolchildren and the schools that are struggling to save them.

[Soul Crusher]

March 30, 2009
Editorial
Courting Disaster in South Carolina

Now that Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina has polished his credentials with the Republican right by recklessly rejecting $700 million in federal education stimulus money, we keep hoping he will change his mind and put the needs of his recession-ravaged state ahead of his political ambitions.

It will be up to more responsible political leaders to act if Mr. Sanford sticks by his disastrous choice, which would drive an already depressed state economy deeper into a hole and place even more South Carolinians at risk of losing their homes.

In the State Legislature, it was encouraging to see influential Republicans’ distancing themselves from what State Senator Hugh Leatherman, the Finance Committee chairman, rightly describes as an irresponsible policy. In a letter sent to Mr. Sanford last week, Mr. Leatherman pleaded with him to change his mind, writing that rejecting the funds would “create absolute chaos in governmental agencies that perform core missions for the people, and will hurt tens of thousands of South Carolina families at a time when uncertainty and fear over the economy already pervade almost every household.”

The federal stimulus money is meant to shield schools from layoffs and reignite a national reform effort that still has a long way to go in places like South Carolina. Without the federal money, state lawmakers say, tuition at state-supported universities could increase dramatically and thousands of teachers could be laid off.

With South Carolina’s unemployment rate already one of the highest in the nation, state lawmakers seem poised to invoke a provision of the federal stimulus law that allows them to override the governor’s decision. They worry, however, that a legal challenge might tie up the issue in the courts beyond the beginning of the state’s next fiscal year.

It would be best, therefore, for Mr. Sanford to find a face-saving way to reverse himself. If he does not, voters should remember that their governor placed politics ahead of schoolchildren and the schools that are struggling to save them.

I guess Krugman and Broder are as well? 

Even David Broder is saying Obama is lying about the budget now.  Krugman called it a ponzi scheme like Madoff.

[MRDUMPLING]

March 30, 2009
Editorial
Courting Disaster in South Carolina

Now that Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina has polished his credentials with the Republican right by recklessly rejecting $700 million in federal education stimulus money, we keep hoping he will change his mind and put the needs of his recession-ravaged state ahead of his political ambitions.

It will be up to more responsible political leaders to act if Mr. Sanford sticks by his disastrous choice, which would drive an already depressed state economy deeper into a hole and place even more South Carolinians at risk of losing their homes.

In the State Legislature, it was encouraging to see influential Republicans’ distancing themselves from what State Senator Hugh Leatherman, the Finance Committee chairman, rightly describes as an irresponsible policy. In a letter sent to Mr. Sanford last week, Mr. Leatherman pleaded with him to change his mind, writing that rejecting the funds would “create absolute chaos in governmental agencies that perform core missions for the people, and will hurt tens of thousands of South Carolina families at a time when uncertainty and fear over the economy already pervade almost every household.”

The federal stimulus money is meant to shield schools from layoffs and reignite a national reform effort that still has a long way to go in places like South Carolina. Without the federal money, state lawmakers say, tuition at state-supported universities could increase dramatically and thousands of teachers could be laid off.

With South Carolina’s unemployment rate already one of the highest in the nation, state lawmakers seem poised to invoke a provision of the federal stimulus law that allows them to override the governor’s decision. They worry, however, that a legal challenge might tie up the issue in the courts beyond the beginning of the state’s next fiscal year.

It would be best, therefore, for Mr. Sanford to find a face-saving way to reverse himself. If he does not, voters should remember that their governor placed politics ahead of schoolchildren and the schools that are struggling to save them.

What a biased article...so just because a person is trying to be fiscally responsible unlike some people(Obama) he is far right?  That should be a responsibility of all Americans.  What a load of crap to say that in an article.


Once again you show your ignorance for the far left.  Gov. Sanford has made it clear that he does not want this state to be indebted to the Federal government.  Our sovereignty bill just passed our State House not too long ago.  If you didn't know...the money would only last 2-3 years max.  Then what?  His philosophy is we will hurt right now, but be better off in the long run.  Who is going to pay for this worthless money?  I agree with what Sanford is doing.

[Benny B]

I guess Krugman and Broder are as well? 

Even David Broder is saying Obama is lying about the budget now.  Krugman called it a ponzi scheme like Madoff.

A quote from today's NYT column by your new hero and champion Paul Krugman:

The details of our current crisis are very different, but the need for cooperation is no less. President Obama got it exactly right last week when he declared: “All of us are going to have to take steps in order to lift the economy. We don’t want a situation in which some countries are making extraordinary efforts and other countries aren’t.”

Yet that is exactly the situation we’re in. I don’t believe that even America’s economic efforts are adequate, but they’re far more than most other wealthy countries have been willing to undertake. And by rights this week’s G-20 summit ought to be an occasion for Mr. Obama to chide and chivy European leaders, in particular, into pulling their weight.

But these days foreign leaders are in no mood to be lectured by American officials, even when — as in this case — the Americans are right.

The financial crisis has had many costs. And one of those costs is the damage to America’s reputation, an asset we’ve lost just when we, and the world, need it most.


When Krugman states, " I don’t believe that even America’s economic efforts are adequate," he means he feels we should have spent hundreds of billions more dollars. You co-sign on that, Mr. Republican Butt Boy? We'll see how long your love affair with quoting Krugman lasts. 

[Soul Crusher]

Yeah, spend more, right. 

How is that refund of your tuition going? 

[Benny B]

What a biased article...so just because a person is trying to be fiscally responsible unlike some people(Obama) he is far right?  That should be a responsibility of all Americans.  What a load of crap to say that in an article.


Once again you show your ignorance for the far left.  Gov. Sanford has made it clear that he does not want this state to be indebted to the Federal government.  Our sovereignty bill just passed our State House not too long ago.  If you didn't know...the money would only last 2-3 years max.  Then what?  His philosophy is we will hurt right now, but be better off in the long run.  Who is going to pay for this worthless money?  I agree with what Sanford is doing.

Dude, you live in one of the biggest federal welfare states in America. One of the poorest with one of the highest unemployment rates.Yet your moronic governor has the temerity reject aid in a horrible recession and you support that shit?  No wonder much of America sees you all as a bunch of illiterate rednecks still fighting the damn Civil War.

Continue supporting this clown as he looks out for his national aspirations to the detriment of your already beleaguered state. Pretty soon you'll be the only "red state" surrounded by a sea of more enlightened "blue states" anyway. The demographics are a-changin' in the southeast, but not in SC because you can't get your shit together and attract industry that brings jobs and well-educated people.

[MRDUMPLING]

Wow...couldn't even respond to the post, yet you attack me.  You, more than any other person has a tendency to do that on the forum.  Try rereading my post.  That money will not last us long at all. 

Once again, I ask you...then what?  We just ask for more and more money?  You can't live like that, it's no different then a family living beyond their means like most Americans do today.

I support the fact that I would rather have a tough time now and get through this now then just keep putting it off with more and more money that is devalued every day.  Maybe Sanford has actually been watching some Schiff videos and has decided to listen.  I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but to just keep asking for money is more damaging that what he is doing now. 

 

 

[Benny B]

Wow...couldn't even respond to the post, yet you attack me.  You, more than any other person has a tendency to do that on the forum.  Try rereading my post.  That money will not last us long at all. 

I read your post, you slacked-jawed moron, and responded in the fashion I saw fit. The fact that you did not receive the truth well is not my problem.   

Once again, I ask you...then what?  We just ask for more and more money?  You can't live like that, it's no different then a family living beyond their means like most Americans do today.

You get your fiscal house in order and utilize the stimulus in ways that promote sustainable economic growth. That's the job of the governor and his budget staff. 

I support the fact that I would rather have a tough time now and get through this now then just keep putting it off with more and more money that is devalued every day.  Maybe Sanford has actually been watching some Schiff videos and has decided to listen.  I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but to just keep asking for money is more damaging that what he is doing now. 

Your state has been having a "tough time" for a long time. 


As one of the biggest welfare states in America,per federal tax dollar paid, South Carolina gets back $1.35. Why is this if governor Sanford's concern is to be fiscally responsible and take care of the priorities of your state? When will your state stop mooching off of the rest of the nation's taxpayers and not giving back its fair share in return?