South Carolina Lt. Gov. to Sanford: Resign

[Dos Equis]

Good. 

South Carolina Lt. Gov. to Sanford: Resign
At a Wednesday news conference, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said if embattled Gov. Mark Sanford resigns, he will renew his offer to stay out of the 2010 gubernatorial race. 

FOXNews.com

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer on Wednesday called for embattled Gov. Mark Sanford to step down, saying the state has been crippled by questions over the legality of the governor's travel, which included trips to visit his mistress.

At a Wednesday news conference, Bauer said if Sanford resigns, he will renew his offer to stay out of the 2010 gubernatorial race. Sanford's term ends in January 2011.

Bauer says he tried to give the governor the benefit of the doubt after he admitted to having an affair. But the lieutenant governor says he worries calls for Sanford's impeachment will dominate next year's legislative session, instead of issues like the economy and job creation.

Sanford's office declined to comment on the latest development but said it will issue a statement later Wednesday.

Bauer is the most prominent Republican to call for Sanford's resignation. He was widely expected to run for governor next year. But Bauer has numerous critics among South Carolina Republicans. GOP critics view him as a loose cannon.

Sanford has come under scrutiny since his June admission of an affair with an Argentine mistress.

In a series of investigations, The Associated Press has raised questions about the legality of Sanford's travel.

Sanford reportedly took 35 flights on private planes that he did not list on state ethics forms or campaign reports. The flights are noted on Sanford's official calendars, obtained by the AP through a Freedom of Information request.

State law requires elected officials to disclose gifts received in a day worth $25 or more and "anything of value" over the course of a year worth at least $200 "if there is reason to believe the donor would not give the thing of value" but for the public official's position.

Sanford arranged to meet with his mistress in one of the 2008 Republican Governors' Assoication trips that he did not disclose. He had been traveling to Ireland for RGA in November, and arranged a meeting with the woman when he returned, according to records he released after the affair became public.

A South Carolina GOP leader compared Bauer's statement to a move in a "game of poker" between two camps who do not like each other. The GOP official said Bauer's move opens the door wider for heightened criticism by party leaders.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/26/south-carolina-lt-gov-sanford-resign/

[240 is Back]

Sanford could have been president.

[Dos Equis]

 

Sanford fights back against call for resignation
Posted: August 26th, 2009 05:20 PM ET

From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby

(CNN) – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford forcefully rejected his lieutenant governor's request that he resign for the good of the state, telling reporters Wednesday: "I am not going to be railroaded out of this office by political opponents or folks that were never fans of mine in the first place."

Sanford called a press conference to respond to Bauer, who said earlier in the day "that the best interests of the people of South Carolina can no longer be served by the current administration." Bauer also promised voters that if Sanford resigns and he assumes the governorship, he will not go through with his long-held plans to enter the 2010 governor's race.

But Sanford dismissed Bauer's offer — which was made formally in a letter sent to Sanford's office — and accused Bauer and other critics of cynically trying to exploit his weakened political position in the wake of recent investigations into his travel expenses.

"A lot of what's going on is pure politics, plain and simple," he said.

Bauer and Sanford were elected separately to their offices, and they are not politically or personally close.

Sanford sarcastically said that while "it would represent heaven on earth" to take Bauer up on his offer, he'd rather focus on solving the state's problems for the remainder of his term.

The governor, whose office sits just feet from Bauer's in the state House, responded to his number two with his own sharply-worded letter. "I most humbly decline your offer," Sanford wrote, "but thank you for it nonetheless."

The embattled governor claimed that most South Carolinians have moved on from his admission in June that he had an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman, a disclosure that sparked investigations into his use of state resources. But Sanford said political rivals continue to stir up controversy for "payback" and that the media keeps covering the story "because it helps sell papers."

Sanford continued to defend his administration's "incredible record" of using taxpayer money wisely for international and domestic travel.

House Republicans are meeting this weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for their annual retreat, and the topic of impeachment is likely to dominate the agenda, according to those planning to attend. Members of the House Judiciary Committee have told CNN there are enough votes on the committee to send an impeachment motion to the floor of the House.

The power of impeachment in South Carolina, according to the state constitution, is reserved for "cases of serious crimes or serious misconduct in office."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/26/sanford-fights-back-against-call-for-resignation/#more-66166