Take that darn money Gov. Sanford (Sanford must think he's in charge of a junk yard or something?):
SC high court orders Gov. Sanford to take money
By JIM DAVENPORT – 42 minutes ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's Supreme Court ordered Gov. Mark Sanford on Thursday to take $700 million in federal stimulus money aimed primarily at struggling schools.
The decision brings a likely end to months of wrangling between the nation's most vocal anti-bailout governor and legislators who accused him of playing politics with people's lives.
The Republican governor had refused to take the money designated for the state over the next two years, facing down irate protesters and legislators who passed a budget requiring him to do so. While other Republican governors had taken issue with requesting money from the $787 billion federal stimulus package, Sanford was the first governor to defend in court his desire to reject money from Washington.
Educators quickly hailed the decision. They had predicted hundreds of teachers would lose jobs and colleges would see steep tuition increases without the money, though sharp budget cuts will still take a toll.
"It shows the strength of the case and was needed when you realize the governor has used every trick possible to stall this process and hopefully he will not be able to stall any longer," said Molly Spearman, director of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, which sued for the money to be taken.
Sanford objects to the stimulus money on several levels. He claims it will devalue the dollar and increase debt, and, when fellow Republicans who control the Legislature pushed for the cash, said they were overstepping their reach into his executive powers.
The unanimous court ruling said the governor had no say in the matter.
"At this stage in the process, the Governor certainly has no discretion to make a contradictory decision on behalf of the State," the ruling said. "He has no discretion concerning the appropriation of funds."
Sanford planned an afternoon news conference.
State Attorney General Henry McMaster, the target of Sanford's federal lawsuit, said the decision does mean the governor loses clout.
"I"m concerned that the unintended result of this ruling may be to diminish the executive branch into functional irrelevancy," said McMaster, who plans a bid for the office when Sanford's term-limited second term ends.
The state Supreme Court's ruling came a day after arguments in two lawsuits filed by students and school administrators. Sanford had tried to get those cases merged in federal court with his lawsuit, which he filed moments after legislators overrode his budget veto. But he lost that battle Monday when a federal judge refused to take those cases.
Sanford anticipated Thursday's ruling. On Monday, the governor said he would not appeal the Supreme Court's decision and, if he lost, would drop his federal case.
Sanford has refused to request the $700 million — the portion of the $2.8 billion bound for the state that he says he controls — unless legislators agreed to offset state debt by an equal amount. The White House twice rejected that idea, noting the money must be used to help education and avoid job losses.
South Carolina, which had the nation's third-highest jobless rate in April — hitting a state record high of 11.5 percent — cut more than $1 billion from its $7 billion spending plan for 2008-09 as tax revenues slumped in the recession.
The stimulus fight has raised the national profile of Sanford, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, and prompted talk of a 2012 GOP presidential bid.
Sanford's refusal has raised the ire of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat, who accused the governor of being a foe of public education. Amid budget cuts and uncertainty over the federal money, districts had told hundreds of teachers they don't have a job in the upcoming school year.
State education officials estimated schools would eliminate 2,600 education jobs, including 1,500 teachers, without the stimulus money.
Clyburn, D-S.C., inserted an amendment in the federal law with Sanford's anti-bailout stance in mind, saying legislators could go around a governor's refusal. But the legality of that was later questioned.
But on Monday, U.S. District Judge Joseph Anderson cited Clyburn's amendment in saying it was clear Congress intended to allow legislators to get around governors who didn't want the money.
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