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South Carolina's Mark Sanford Accepts Stimulus Money, After All

1 year ago
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Early last year, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford turned up his nose at federal stimulus funds for his state, saying it would only add to the national debt. That was then. On Tuesday, the Labor Department said the state had gone through the approval process and would begin receiving $97.5 million to help out its strapped unemployment compensation fund.

It seems the once stubborn Sanford, staggered by an extramarital affair that threw him off message and effectively ruined his political career, quietly signed a bill two months ago that expanded eligibility for jobless benefits in South Carolina, opening the way for the federal money, the New York Times said.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford
The reversal made South Carolina the 32nd state to take such action, qualifying for a full share of stimulus dollars, according to the National Employment Law Project, a liberal advocacy group. It also marked a "dramatic shift" for Sanford, a conservative governor the Law Project said had once been a "leading opponent" of the federal program.

Sanford was only the latest to come on board for stimulus money, the Times said. Govs. Dave Heineman of Nebraska, Sonny Perdue of Georgia and Phil Bredesen of Tennessee also resisted taking the funds initially, but then thought better of it.

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ernestvalerius

It proves the point that there is nothing conservative about the about self-labeled "Conservatives".

August 11 2010 at 1:41 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
jspe7

Sanford is just like the rest of the hypocrite Republican Governors and Senators who have criticized Obama for doing his best to help state governments that have also suffered greatly thru this Great Recession
However, they are the first ones at any job-producing project, smiling and claiming that they are the ones who supplied this financial help, and once the "ceremonies" are over will go right back to criticizing Obama

August 11 2010 at 12:17 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
tistolaugh

With Dem's continued failing policies, there is little choice but to take these funds at thsi point. The bigger issue is that if your local public transporation costs, city run facility costs, and city taxes keep rising unreasonably every year due to overspending, you will be wise to vote the current governor and mayor and Congressional legislators out on all levels, regardless of the endless excuses. Until America demands presidents, Congress and locals government operate within a PAY-GO balanced budget, our nation will continue to be beholden to outrageous pork, the endless unfunded spending and borrowing from our China. China is NOT our friend.

August 11 2010 at 12:16 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to tistolaugh's comment
ernestvalerius

I must agree; we must extend the tax cuts for the rich so they can continue creating jobs.

August 11 2010 at 1:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ernestvalerius

Wait a minute; the tax cuts didn't create jobs. Millions of jobs were lost during their tenure and the deficit soared. How can this be? Can Stockman's recantation of Reaganomics be accurate?

August 11 2010 at 2:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
happylinda09

Last year, it seemed like the right thing to do. Now, after the government has broken America, and they are NOT stimulating the economy for jobs, this is just picking up what's left on the table. I think Mark Sanford would have made a good president.

August 11 2010 at 10:25 AM Report abuse -4 rate up rate down Reply
HAHAHAHA

Haven't we been hearing from the right that the stimulus money hasn't helped and won't help? Curious that this conservative finally accepted the money. I guess we all come to the truth sooner or later.

August 11 2010 at 10:22 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
rohlemeyer

I know you're trying to paint these governors as hypocrites, but you miss the point. The stimulus never should have been done in the first place. Once it's out there, however, it's no longer a level playing field. They have to take it. There's no alternative.

August 11 2010 at 10:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to rohlemeyer's comment
Dennis Wayne

No they didn't have to take it,all levels of government should learn to live within its budget just like WE,the people do.

August 11 2010 at 10:55 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
ettu

Dennis...........pretty difficult for the States to live within a budget, when the Federal gov't is heaping costs on them that they never thought would be coming their way. Just one more way for the Fed to take control of everything. If you do not dance to their tune, you don't get any Fed assistance, but you must pay for all the inane programs passed by the Fed.

August 11 2010 at 12:52 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
jspe7

Surprise, Surprise, Mark Sanford taking stimulus money to hel his state. He is just another of the many Republican Senators and Governors who can be added to the growing list of hypocrites who criticize the Obama efforts to help the economy, but are the first ones to show up at job-producing projects claiming that they are the ones who magically produced the necessary funds. These smiling phonies then continue to criticize Obama, without having one concrete idea on how to help the economy

August 11 2010 at 9:23 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Tom

Seems as if the obstructionists can spout about how things would be in an ideal political world but when the rubber hits the road they suddenly have to face and admit the truest and shortest solution to the problem.

August 11 2010 at 9:22 AM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply

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