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March 13, 2009
South Carolina's Sanford First Governor to Reject Funds Others Do The Same
South Carolina's Sanford to become first governor to reject funds
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is expected Wednesday to become the first governor to formally reject some of the federal stimulus money earmarked by Congress for his state.
The move will cement Sanford's growing reputation as a political powerhouse among Republican party stalwarts nationwide — though how much of the estimated $8 billion in stimulus funds destined for South Carolina will be affected is unclear. The law allows state legislative leaders to accept funds the governor rejects.
"Our objections to the so-called stimulus bill have been well-chronicled for the way it spends money that we don't have and for the way this printing of money could ultimately devalue the American dollar," Sanford said on Tuesday, even as he acknowledged that he'll accept some.
"Those of us opposed to this package lost the debate on these merits, and I now think it is important we look for creative ways to apply and use these monies in accordance with the long-term interests of our state," he said.
Still, Sanford's formal rejection will enhance his standing as a Republican willing to challenge President Barack Obama, a position Sanford first took Dec. 1, when he traveled to Philadelphia to challenge the then president-elect directly at a meeting with the nation's governors.
Since then, a handful of other governors — all Republicans, all talked about as possible 2012 presidential candidates — have joined Sanford in saying they'd reject at least some of their states' stimulus shares.
Sanford's outspoken aversion to using deficit spending to spark
Sanford urged 1,000 activists, gathered in late February at the Ronald Reagan Banquet in a Washington hotel, to be prepared to lose, and to feel happy about it.
"Would you be willing to support a cause or a candidate that is likely to lose?" Sanford asked conventioneers at the Conservative Political Action Committee's annual gathering.
As the diners leapt to their feet and applauded, Sanford declared:
"The name of the game is staying true to the principles that got you into politics in the first place _ and letting the chips fall where they may."
PA Gov. Rendell Criticizes GOP Governors for Refusing Stimulus Funds
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell had some choice words for Republican governors who have refused, or threatened to refuse, portions of the $787 economic stimulus bill directed to their states.
Republican Govs. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Bob Riley of Alabama, and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana have all made moves in that direction.
They are “not turning away a lot of the stimulus money. Don’t give them credit for being that courageous,” Rendell told reporters at a lunch Thursday hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. “They turned a way a little bit of the stimulus money. There is nobody who has said ‘no’ and by the way the law was written there is no legislature–including Republican legislators–who would let a governor turn away the money. They are turning away a tad of the money.”
To governors who seek to refuse portions of the funding, Rendell said, “What does that make you? Does that make you a good Christian? Does that make you somebody who follows the Judeo-Christian tradition? I mean, there comes a time that the hurt that individuals are facing becomes paramount over whether I’m going to have a budget problem three years down the road.”
He continued: “If government means anything at all, if it has any raison d’être at all, it ought to be able to take care of that person who’s worked, who’s done everything right, who’s done everything we told him to do and who lost his job—not because of his fault—but because some greedy S.O.B’s who are richer than Croesus wanted to be—ten times richer than Croesus—and you tell him ‘no’ because you’re worried about you maybe having a little budget problem down the road? Not me, maybe somebody else, but not me.”
Rendell accused Republicans of playing politics with funding that would directly benefit their constituents. “It’s stunning to me. It’s a terrible call and it is based on politics, and you can say that you disagree with it but you ought to have your peoples’ welfare first,” he said, crediting Republican Govs. Charlie Crist of Florida and Jim Douglas of Vermont for supporting President Barack Obama’s stimulus.
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Wild Thing's comment........
Awesome! Some of them are taking partial on this and others the whole thing and a few don't want it at all and have given Obama their terms on the only way they would do this. I am so glad to see some of these Gov. speaking up and not just giving and across the board OK to all Obama wants to do.
LMAO wow, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is really losing it! hahaha
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at March 13, 2009 05:47 AM
Comments
I read where Texas is going to refuse the funds too.
I think Missouri already has most of theirs spent already.
Posted by: BobF at March 13, 2009 07:58 AM
Rendell is right. Texas governor Rick Perry is refusing 550 Million to extend unemployment benefits, because after the money runs out, Texas has to make up the difference ...But he is accepting 17 Billion of the 'Pork' money. When push come to shove Governor Perry is rejecting about 3% of Texas's alloted 'Pork' package. So where is the 'go it alone attitude of Texas' it aint in the Governors office.
This is pure politics as usual. It don't matter democrat or republican there's 'not a dimes worth of difference'
There's also an all out drug war going on down on the border. Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are trying to deal with it. Governor Perry has sent 1000 National Guard troops to help( let's hope they are Armed). New Mexico and Arizona are beggging for Obama to help. Homeland Security chief Janet Napolotano, former governor of Arizona, who did nothing when Governor, is still maintaining that posture in washington.
So what is the Federal Government doing about the border, why, ...they're prosecuting Sheriff Joe Arpaio...This is how the obama administration is handling the problem.
Posted by: Mark at March 13, 2009 08:50 AM
The states cannot print money like the Feds can. So these stimulus programs that are started by the Federal government will have to be funded by state taxation after the Fed money runs out in 2 or 3 years. All the states should turn down that stimulus money, but like most politicians, they are looking at the "free" money now and not the costs later.
I can see why Pennsylvania is in dire economic straits. Ed Rendell throws religious values into the arguement for accepting socialist bribe money. He and John Murtha are from the same school of political greed.
Posted by: TomR at March 13, 2009 12:47 PM
Thank you Governor Perry! No wonder Texas is in a much better economic and fiscal position than the rest of the country... decisions like this.
Posted by: Texas Conservative at March 13, 2009 04:44 PM
BobF., thanks, our Gov. can hardly wait to get the money. haha I Gov. Crist and ole Calif. Gov.Arnie are a total mess, they both think Obama is wonderful, judging by the things they say and how they behave. Hellllpppppp us!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 13, 2009 06:33 PM
Mark, I hope they are armed too. It is really scary what is going on in Mexico and along the borders. Cutting heads off oh my gosh!
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 13, 2009 06:39 PM
Tom, Ed Rendell is ia total ass, there is no polite way to put it. He did not have to bring religion into his statement but he did, he was out of line and rude to say the least.
He might say something true about accepting some not all of the money etc. but the thing is he wraps his statement in an attitude that stinks to high heaven so in the end his attitude is noticed more then the message he is trying to get across.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 13, 2009 06:47 PM
Proud to have served at Myrtle Beach AFB... and proud that Vader Junior attends a university in South Carolina... and hopefully we'll retire in MB in less than four years! GO Chanticleers, Gamecocks and Tigers!! God bless US Senator Jim Demint too!!!
- The SOUTH will RISE again....
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at March 13, 2009 07:18 PM
TomR, I agree Ed Rendell and Murtha are both scumbags and greedy. As far as Rendell's religious beliefs go I couldn't tell you This is my second year here and I don't listen to him anyway.
Second, Because Governor Perry only took 97% of the stimulus pork bill, or 17 Billion earmarked for Texas, doesn't make him any better than Rendell. Character wise, Perry probably is better than Rendell or at least I hope so.
My point was there aint much difference in taking 100% of the pork, or just 97% . I don't know of a single governor that is NOT taking some of the stimulus Pork bill. Republicans and deficrats they both are taking the money. Perry is a politician, by saying he is rejecting the increase in the unemployment insurance sounds great until you look at the whole picture, and is trying to make hay out of straw and it won't work.
When it comes to money, Politicians and IT are not parted, regardless, Republican or deficrat.
Posted by: Mark at March 13, 2009 07:34 PM
You should live in PA and listen to this moron every day...sheesh!
Posted by: Rich at March 13, 2009 09:16 PM
We all know about Blago and his ridiculous career as Gov. of Illinois, but one thing he warned of is surfacing. He said "they want me out so they can raise taxes on the Illinois people by summer, and they knew I wouldn't go for that." What do you know, yesterday FOX News ran a story that the Illinois legislators want to raise our state tax 50% from 3% to 4.5%.
Posted by: Eden at March 14, 2009 04:49 AM
