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PRESIDENT REJECTS SANFORD’S REQUEST FOR STIMULUS WAIVER
Gov. Mark Sanford’s proposal to use $700 million in federal stimulus money to pay down South Carolina’s debt has been denied. The Obama administration on Monday rejected Sanford’s request for a waiver, which will likely result in the state returning the funds.
White House Budget Director Peter Orszag said in a letter to the Republican that the federal stimulus law doesn’t allow President Barack Obama to make an exception for that cash. Last week, Sanford said he would reject that stimulus money if Obama wouldn’t give him flexibility in spending it, but Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer now says it’s not over.
The $787 billion stimulus legislation sets strict rules for the $53.6 billion being sent to help state budgets, Orszag wrote. It calls for 82 percent of the money to be used for public schools and colleges and 18 percent on public safety and other government services.
Quantcast“Congress has not authorized the executive branch to waive any of the above statutory requirements,” Orszag’s one-page letter said. Last week, Sanford left little doubt about how he would handle rejection of his plans use the money to pay down debt, including future obligations in the state’s retirement system. [AP]
You didn’t exactly need a crystal ball to see this response coming. And that’s a good thing because I pawned mine for a Snuggie and a pair of Aviators. I may not be able to predict the future, but at least I’ll be able to protect my eyes and keep warm while talking on the phone. Don’t be jealous.
…OBAMA VS SANFORD….. “please call off the attack dogs”….
*** UPDATE *** Sanford’s communications director, Joel Sawyer, responds: “We appreciate the White House’s response, as it represents a far more constructive form of dialogue than did the DNC attack ad now running in South Carolina. We’re in the process of drafting a response that will go back to the White House tomorrow, which will more narrowly tailor our request to pay off debt in a way consistent with the Administration’s response. We believe there is a way to do so.”
“In the meantime, part of a truly constructive response would be to call off the attack dogs from the DNC who are now attempting through political attack ads to determine our course of action. It’s time for the President’s game of good cop, bad cop to end, and therefore we again ask him to end these ads so we can engage in a productive dialogue on the merits or our request.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/16/1838297.aspx
Why would Sanfraud not want to allocate the monies other than what is statutorily required?
He is burning the midnight oil trying to get his grubby little hands on this money. Go figure.
Sanfraud is acting very paranoid ..isn’t interesting that he can dish it out, but he can’t take it.
What a worm.
Mark Sanford should heed his own advice
Mark Sanford said:
“I have come to conclude that it would be a mistake to simply accept the money as offered,” …Sanford wrote to state legislators in announcing his decision. “When one is in a hole, the first order of business is to stop digging”
OMG …Ha Ha Ha Ha……Ha Ha Ha Ha……Ha Ha Ha Ha……Ha Ha Ha Ha……Ha Ha Ha Ha……Ha Ha Ha Ha……Ha Ha Ha Ha……Ha Ha Ha Ha…
Hey Sanford …stop…Ha Ha Ha Ha ….stop…Ha Ha Ha Ha …STOP DIGGING………Ha Ha Ha Ha …Sanford, listen ……Ha Ha Ha Ha …STOP DIGGING!
STOP DIGGING SANFORD!
LETTER TO GOVERNOR MARK SANFORD
Letter from Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag to Gov. Sanford denying his request for a waiver.
http://media.charleston.net/2009/pdf/obama2sanford_031609.pdf
Mark Sanford Ignores Letter From OMB Director
LETTER TO GOVERNOR MARK SANFORD – SOUTH CAROLINA
Letter from Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag to Gov. Mark Sanford denying his request for a waiver.
COPY OF LETTER
http://media.charleston.net/2009/pdf/obama2sanford_031609.pdf
***********************************************************************
The letter states: “Specifically, by statue, the State allocation must be used as follows:”
“by statue” AND “must” …what is there not to understand?
Brace yourself…
“Sanford will release details of his follow-up request today”.
Okay, Sanford has been informed in writing that the “State allocation” , by “statue” “must” be used as “follows”
Now, Sanford read the letter, yet he insists on a “follow-up request”
What is his problem? He has to be the most thick-headed, bone-headed, stubborn, money grubbing politician on this planet.
…Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the Law.
I am so glad Obama said NO to SC and Sanford. Someone must stand up to the GOP>
Thank you President Obama.
Mark Sanford, NOW he only wants 577 million, to save interest on Bonds, Uh that’s about it….
Published: March 17, 2009
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has sent a narrower request to The White House for ways to use stimulus money to pay down some of the state’s debt.
Sanford is asking the Obama Administration to allow him to use $577 million in stimulus dollars “to pay down the roughly $579 million of principal for State School Facilities Bonds and Research University Infrastructure Bonds over two years.“
The governor claims this would save South Carolina $125 million in interest payments over the next 13 years. He is also asking to use $125 million from the federal stimulus to deal with unemployment and retiree debts.
Governor Sanford also called on President Obama to pull “down attack ads” that have been launched against him by the Democratic National Committee.
The governor writes “ I have to express my disappointment that our substantive dialogue about the best way to adapt this stimulus to the unique situations of states across this country was interrupted by the Democratic National Committee’s launching of a petty attack ad against us even before we had received your response.“
The White House denied a waiver request by Governor Sanford on Monday that would have used $700 million in stimulus funds to pay down South Carolina debt. White House Budget Director Peter Orszag said the stimulus law didn’t allow for such changes.
The text of Governor Sanford’s letter that was released to the media on Tuesday morning:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR
March 17, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President
United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I’d first thank you and Director Orszag for your response of March 16 to my letter of the previous week. Likewise, I have to express my disappointment that our substantive dialogue about the best way to adapt this stimulus to the unique situations of states across this country was interrupted by the Democratic National Committee’s launching of a petty attack ad against us even before we had received your response.
I’ve made clear my opposition to using debt to solve a problem created in the first place by too much debt – and I don’t believe this to be an unreasonable position. What I find less reasonable is the way this DNC attack ad returns a nation indeed yearning for change back to the same old politics-as-usual. Because I believe you and I share a common desire to escape this worn-out “attack first” mentality, I’d respectfully ask you to immediately condemn and put an end to this unnecessary politicization of a truly important policy discussion.
In the spirit of moving forward, I’d offer the following as a clarification to our using a portion of the stimulus funds to paying down our state’s sizable debt. With regard to the Education Stabilization Fund monies (ARRA § 14002(a)(1)) that must be used “for the support of * education,“ we think it would be consistent with statutory requirements to use this $577 million to pay down the roughly $579 million of principal for State School Facilities Bonds and Research University Infrastructure Bonds over two years. This would immediately free up over $162 million in debt service in the first two years and save roughly $125 million in interest payments over the next 13 years, which could then be directed towards other educational purposes – just as paying off a mortgage early frees up the typical monthly payment for other uses.
Regarding the $125 million in the Fiscal Stabilization Fund (ARRA § 14002(b)(1)) headed to South Carolina, we’d lay out a few options for your consideration: first, paying down debt related to the state’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund that currently exceeds $200 million and would directly impact those currently out of work in this struggling economy; second, paying down debt related to state retirees, since that would seem to satisfy the statutory requirement that these funds be used for “other government services”; or third, paying down other bonded indebtedness at the state level.
We trust these alternative proposals fit both the statutory requirements and spirit of the stimulus legislation. Thank you again for your response, and we would again appreciate your opinion as soon as possible given that we believe this course of action will do more to ensure South Carolina’s long-term economic strength than would other contemplated uses of the funds.
I also await your response on pulling down the attack ads. A good part of your candidacy was fueled by the hope for change in the way political debate is conducted in our country. On this, actions will speak louder than words – words you have been so gifted in delivering – in determining where you really stand, not as a candidate promising to deliver on change, but as a leader now capable of bringing this change. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Mark Sanford
cc: The Honorable Peter R. Orszag, Director
Office of Management and Budget
“I think it’s time for Mark Sanford to quit being pen pals with the White House and take the money”
State Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler says Governor Mark Sanford needs to spend less time writing letters to President Barack Obama about stimulus funds and more time finding jobs for South Carolinians.
WATCH THE VIDEO ON THIS LINK
http://www.wolo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3142:robins-pkg&catid=43:local-news&Itemid=50
2008 South Carolina Constitution
ARTICLE XV.
IMPEACHMENT
SECTION 1. Power of impeachment; vote required; suspension of officer impeached.
The House of Representatives alone shall have the power of impeachment in cases of serious crimes or serious misconduct in office by officials elected on a statewide basis, state judges, and such other state officers as may be designated by law. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members elected shall be required for an impeachment. Any officer impeached shall thereby be suspended from office until judgment in the case shall have been pronounced, and the office shall be filled during the trial in such manner as may be provided by law.
When the Governor is impeached, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or, if he be disqualified, the Senior Justice, shall preside, with a casting vote in all preliminary questions.
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/scconstitution/a15.htm
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