Loading ...
OBAMA LETTER TO SANFORD: IF YOU DO NOT APPLY FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS, MONEY WILL NOT BE THERE
Among the numerous rumors swirling around Columbia tonight is a report that President Barack Obama has told Gov. Mark Sanford that if he does not apply for federal stimulus funds, the money will not be available for South Carolina.
And The Palmetto Scoop has now confirmed that Obama has, in fact, sent Sanford a very blunt, personal letter saying just that.
The correspondence reportedly states that roughly $700 million in discretionary stimulus money allocated for South Carolina will be revoked on Friday if Sanford declines to accept the funds and that, by law, no alternative options can be accepted.
The letter is in line with a nonbinding opinion issued Tuesday by Attorney General Henry McMaster that said Sanford — not state lawmakers — have the final say over whether the state accepts federal stimulus money.
“Under the (stimulus act’s) express provisions, only the Governor (or in other cases, other officials pursuant to the particular terms of the Act) may apply to the Secretary of Education (or other federal agencies) for such funds, based upon the federal criteria for eligibility of such funds,” McMaster wrote. “Federal law bestows upon the Governor, as chief executive of the State, the discretion as to whether to apply for these funds.”
Sanford has requested on numerous occasions that the money be used to pay down debt. Obama has repeatedly denied those requests.
But tonight — with the deadline to accept stimulus funding only 72 hours away — marked the first time that Obama has formally told Sanford that he must either take the money or lose it.
Obama’s letter would explain reports that Sanford has approached the General Assembly with an offer to cut a deal. Sanford has allegedly offered to accept the stimulus money if the legislature diverts state funds to pay off debt.
The Palmetto Scoop will publish a full copy of Obama’s letter to Sanford as soon as it becomes available.
I will also hit on some of the other rumors as soon as I can confirm them.
_________
UPDATED: As promised, here is the letter from the White House to Sanford, which turned out to be by way of Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Most notably, the White House hits Sanford with this blunt line:
It would be an unfortunate (and we believe unintended) policy outcome if the children of South Carolina were to be deprived their share of federal stimulus dollars, which South Carolina citizens have already paid for, because the Governor chooses not to apply for available funds– especially in circumstances where the State legislature would be willing to make application on behalf of the State if it were allowed by statute to do so.
Adam: you’ve been linked in “Wonkette”. Congrats!
While I have been critical of the Governor in the past,he is exactly right on this point. What do you do when the stimulus money goes away and you are committed to a certain level of funding. REAL chaos and bloodletting would occur. You never fund on going obligations with one time money. It is disastrous fiscal policy.
great post fogle. see you’ve gotten some big covereage of this. this is why your the best in S.C.
Isn’t it suspicious that Obama would implement the carrot and stick routine to change Sanford’s decision? What happens when the lights go out and the party is over? If they are spending all their money on party favors, balloons, ornaments, decorations, and a three ring circus, where are they going to find the money to clean up the mess after the party’s over? How are they going to keep these programs rolling after the money runs out?
Sanford chose wisely. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts…
A report that came out today or yesterday said the following agencies would be cut the most if Sanford refuses the money. These are mostly Democrat give away programs anyway, so why should Sanford care what happens to these programs. Maybe if we don’t get the money many of these waists of money will go away. The collages will complain, but they can raise tuition.
Agency Cut
Department of Education 158,000,000
Department of Health & Human Services 58,000,000
Department of Disb. and Special Needs 11,500,000
Dept of Mental Health 13,150,000
DHEC 8,300,000
Dept of Social Services 8,000,000
School for the Deaf and Blind 1,000,000
USC 10,300,000
Clemson 6,300,000
Dept of Corrections 21,900,000
Dept of Juvenile Justice 6,100,000
MUSC 5,500,000
“These are mostly Democrat give away programs anyway..
Department of Education 158,000,000
Department of Health & Human Services 58,000,000
Department of Disb. and Special Needs 11,500,000
Dept of Mental Health 13,150,000
DHEC 8,300,000
Dept of Social Services 8,000,000
School for the Deaf and Blind 1,000,000
USC 10,300,000
Clemson 6,300,000
Dept of Corrections 21,900,000
Dept of Juvenile Justice 6,100,000
MUSC 5,500,000″
Ah, refusing help: the reason South Carolina is leading the nation in self-reliance, per-capita income, and education. Thanks for making us look good, guys!
HONORABLE MR SANFORD,PLEASE REMAIN HONORABLE AND STAND FIRM ON YOUR DECISION TO REFUSE TO ACCEPT THESE MONIES.I CAN AND DO UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THAT DECISION.
James, thank you for your courageous stand against the deaf and blind! I’m sure that many right-thinking Americans share your desire that those “waists of money” will just go away.
STOP CALLING MARK SANFORD
Call his Republican Friends in the Republican Dominated Legislature and ask them to control their Republican Governor or face challenged in house districts in the Lowcountry, Midlands and Corridor of Shame in 2010
Detailed blog post on Organizing for America Website:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/williamhamiltonmtpSC/gGxgWk
Republicans have nothing against the deaf and blind, we just don’t think we should have to pay for their schooling. That should be done with private funds except in dire circumstances.
Just like if we can get vouchers or tax credits for private schools, most working people should be able to afford to send their kids to a private school of some type. That way the people using the schools pay for the schools and we can dramatically scale back all that money we are spending in the Department of Education.
We will always need some public schools for the people who are too poor to pay anything for private school, but if we encourage as many people as possible to get into private school we should be able to dramatically reduce the number of public schools we are supporting on the back of the taxpayer.
This will in turn allow us to get the state out of employing all these teachers who we then have to fund retirement and health care for. The private sector can take over that, and private schools will not have to buy into these high dollar retirement and health care plans and 3 month summer vacations.
Just say NO to the stimulus hawks!
“johndozier Apr 1st, 2009 at 2:48 pm
While I have been critical of the Governor in the past,he is exactly right on this point. What do you do when the stimulus money goes away and you are committed to a certain level of funding. REAL chaos and bloodletting would occur. You never fund on going obligations with one time money. It is disastrous fiscal policy.”
Nonsense. You listen to too much right wing radio. Explain how you would be forever committed to the funding. You can’t, because you wouldn’t be.
What you do is stand up and have some courage and explain to your constituents what you are doing and why. Then you make the hard decisions and take responsibility for them.
The bottom line is the economy is going to get better, eventually. And Obama will get all the credit and R’s will look even more useless then they do now. Just take the money and fix all the sh*t you have thats crumbling to the ground while you have the chance.
Sanford just does not get it. Value is increased by using cash to invest in higher return investments than the cash costs. Education is the highest return investment, see all the available analyses. You can change your opinion but you can not change the facts.
In this case, our leader wants to reduce 6% +/- interest costs instead of earning the benefits of investing in the highest return investment, education. I.E. What he wants to do is chump change!
Those against taking the money clearly want to maintain this states last place in Education and first place in joblessnes. Brilliant! Even George Bush said “If government does not respond to the needs of it citizen,it will not survive”.
Can our great leader, decider who does not give the citizens what they want be impeached? What are the consequences to “private school” Sanford compared to the rest of the population. “Let them eat cake”?
[...] Sanford’s decision has resulted in public protests, criticism from the state legislature, a public rebuke from President Obama, and a lawsuit by an 18-year-old high-school [...]
Sanford shows a lot of courage in standing up for his convictions. He is exactly right. There is no point in robbing Peter to pay Paul. If our state takes this money, ::shudder:: we’ll end up just like the crappy state of California with the entire state government on the brink of collapse.
Mama always said nothing in life comes for free and she was right.