Well good, let all those inland bible thumpers reap the benefit of their assinine devotion to the neo-con ideas.

Other governors have done the same. Problem is that stimulus funds create programs which are time limited with the STATE obligated to continue paying for them. The money isn't actually "free." There are always strings attached.

#2 | Posted by jestgettinalong

EXACTLY

I live in SC and the state is a complete disaster. Now they are trying to figure out where to ship the state prisoners because without the stimulus money the state prisons will close. "The State" newspaper from Columbia said that 1700 teachers will have to get laid off as well as police, fire and EMS services are in trouble. The republicans have destroyed the budgets here and if I could sell my house and move I would. SC government sucks......

"The State" newspaper from Columbia said that 1700 teachers will have to get laid off as well as police, fire and EMS services are in trouble."

Siiiiigh...They claimed EXACTLY the same things in California in the 70's if proposition 13 was passed. Proposition 13 passed and California went right on about their business.

Besides, THIS might give you some insight as to where "The State" stands politically.

"The State, a daily newspaper owned by a California based corporation, is set to be eclipsed in readership by the family owned Charleston Post and Courier next year.

While The State leans further left, and gets desperate with advertisers, Charleston's Post and Courier is bucking the national trends. According to BurrellesLuce's annual ranking of the top 100 daily newspapers, The State is losing 5,000 readers a year, while the Post and Courier is actually gaining readership, and is set to become South Carolina's most read daily in 2009. Unlike The State, the Post and Courier is a family owned paper, and demonstrates some balance on its opinion page."

"Other governors have done the same. Problem is that stimulus funds create programs which are time limited with the STATE obligated to continue paying for them."

We held this discussion weeks ago and every honest poster who participated will remember the term "sunset". Sunset provisions could easily be passed to eliminate the state's obligation as soon as the federal money runs out...so nice try Jestgettingalong but that excuse is pure bull shit.

Truth is Republicans like Sanford prefer to hypocritically grandstand on ideological points while their people suffer. Even other Republicans can see the irrationality of Sanford who doesn't need to care since he can't run again anyway.

SC government sucks......

#4 | Posted by Kenoosh

I lived there for 4 years and I have to say that SC is some kind of paradox.

and why would they want to pull out now? They have already been impregnated by Bushco, you can't get any more pregnant than you are now.

Plus, all this stimulus bullshit is gonna be paid for by inflation and reduced dollar values, which everyone will pay for, regardless of whether you take the stimulus money or not, so you may as well take it.

"Proposition 13 passed and California went right on about their business."

Yeah right on to a 42 billion dollar deficit.

The simple truth is: the money is going to be spent. If you supported it or not, it matters not now because the money will be spent. YOu can now either let your state die on principle or you can try to save your state.

I live in SC and the state is a complete disaster. Now they are trying to figure out where to ship the state prisoners because without the stimulus money the state prisons will close. "The State" newspaper from Columbia said that 1700 teachers will have to get laid off as well as police, fire and EMS services are in trouble. The republicans have destroyed the budgets here and if I could sell my house and move I would. SC government sucks......

Post that article, please. I'd like to read it, but I refuse to buy the State or the Post and Courier.

Things have been rough in rural areas of South Carolina for a long time. I guess you live in one of the "cities". I moved back home 2 years ago and things are no different now than they were when I moved to Charleston in 1995.

None of it really has anything to do with Sanford or the Republicans. It doesn't have anything to do with the Democrats in the state either. Manufacturing and Textile jobs were the life-blood of the area surrounding Horry-Georgetown.

A large portion of those jobs are gone and have been gone since the early and mid 90's.

That you're just experiencing it now and finally take issue with it is sad. Especially since the people I live around have been "suffering" for decades.

Fortunately, the company I work for has enough work right now to carry us through the middle of the year. After that, it's up in the air.

The republicans have destroyed the budgets here and if I could sell my house and move I would. SC government sucks..

The state representatives have voted to over-ride quite a good bit of Sanford's vetoes. To say that Republican's are the only people responsible for the dicked up budget is only a half truth. Considering that Sanford inherited a nearly bankrupt state, he's done good just keeping us afloat.

Sunset provisions could easily be passed to eliminate the state's obligation as soon as the federal money runs out...so nice try Jestgettingalong but that excuse is pure bull shit.

So you would support "infrastructure" projects that would be defunded in 5 years...and you would maintain that these are sustainable jobs?

"Sunset provisions would be easily passed." What a joke. People like you will be the first ones in line to cry about maintaining funding for these sinking ships in five years. These federal funds are simply a jumpstart to new additional government theft.

"Sunset provisions could easily be passed to eliminate the state's obligation as soon as the federal money runs out"

How do you "sunset" something like a new train line? Stop running the train in 5 years and let it sit and rot?

How do you sunset a new bridge? Let it fall into disrepair and plummet into the Mississippi?

As usual, your rhetoric ignores reality.

"Yeah right on to a 42 billion dollar deficit."

Are you trying to convince us that it is a result of Proposition 13, Danni? Isn't it about time for your nappy-poo? I know you've been on the ol' bong for several hours now. Don't worry, we have your message imbedded in our minds....

Republicans....BAD!
Democrats....GOOD!

You can nap knowing you have educated all of us.

"As usual, your rhetoric ignores reality."

Danni just needs her little noon time rest. She gets a little fogged up from all her self-avowed usage of (medical?)weed EVERY day. You may have noticed that she's a little paranoid and is easily upset. Ya' gotta catch her early or right after her little nappy-poo.

"The state representatives have voted to over-ride quite a good bit of Sanford's vetoes. To say that Republican's are the only people responsible for the dicked up budget is only a half truth. Considering that Sanford inherited a nearly bankrupt state, he's done good just keeping us afloat." - AXIOM
SC has been republican for a long time. The state legislature is a majoiry of republicans as well. So why would't it be their fault?

SC has been republican for a long time. The state legislature is a majoiry of republicans as well. So why would't it be their fault?

I never said they don't share in the blame, but to not acknowledge the democrats, like Yancey McGill (the senator from my home town), is to only place the blame on half of those responsible.

Look up Yancey McGill, then look up the areas mentioned in this article. Notice any similarities?

Does anyone really care what happens in South Carolina?

I know I don't.

Fuck the South.

Myrtle Beach losing jobs.

Myrtle Beach told the bikers to go somewhere else.

......SC's a nice state......one of my kids went to University there and we visited a lot......

......like the people........

Who cares, SC is a shithole anyway.

......it's a little run down, but the people and atmosphere are beautiful and calm.......

......great place to retire.......

when the other states are whining and needing tax payer bailout because they cant afford the NEW unemployment figures when the FED money runs out and the requirements ARE THE SAME..

get back to us with an article then about how states like this one are doing okay and the ones who took it all arent.

How do you "sunset" something like a new train line? Stop running the train in 5 years and let it sit and rot?

How do you sunset a new bridge? Let it fall into disrepair and plummet into the Mississippi?

As usual, your rhetoric ignores reality.

#13 | Posted by JOE at 2009-03-30 11:45 AM | Reply |

What little I followed on the sunset thing, is that it applies to extended welfare or unemployment benefits, not actual infrastructure projects.

C'mon guys, it's not all bad.

SC is in trouble?

Michigan has been in horrible shape for a decade now. Jennifer Granholm (D) happily took any stimulus money she could get her hands on and Michigan is STILL in horrible shape.

The entire premise of this thread is a non-seuqitur: That SC would be doing great if only Sanford had accepted stimulus money.

His reason for rejecting the money is the same as Jindal's: It's the attached strings (that don't have to be there) that put the state on the hook to match the one-time stimulus infusion year after year with state funds.

SC would be a veritable left wing utopia had they only accepted all that Chinese stimulus money.

His reason for rejecting the money is the same as Jindal's: Pure ideological pomposity.

His reason for rejecting the money is the same as Jindal's: Pure ideological pomposity.

Your opinion.

He stated a reason, a reason that NOBODY has denied as true: the 'stimulus' money came with strings attached that after the 1-time infusion of cash would have put his budget on the hook to continue money flowing toward whereever the stimulus money initially went. In short, it would have put a strain on the state budget down the road. He even went so far as to advocate, 'remove the strings and I'll take the money.'

If you can factually refute any of this, I am all ears.

His reason for rejecting the money is the same as Jindal's: Pure ideological pomposity.

#28 | Posted by danni at 2009-03-31 12

danni

I dont meant to jump on you but read jeffs post.
and then maybe read post NUMBER ONE on the nooner and you will read words from jefferson talking about the same concept being used by the LA governor as well as rick perry the gov of texas.
GOVERNMENT MANDATES without the funding have put many of programs in a death spiral as well as puttiong them under and after a time period UNFUNDED GOVERNMENT MANDATES will be EXACTLY what these things are.

Jeff,

Once the stimulus money is accepted, the state can just simply write a sunset provision effectively saying that once the money dries up, all the illegal immigrants that got jobs out of it are fired and have to go home.

Sunset provisions could easily be passed to eliminate the state's obligation as soon as the federal money runs out...

#6 | Posted by danni

Once the stimulus money is accepted, the state can just simply write a sunset provision effectively saying that once the money dries up, all the illegal immigrants that got jobs out of it are fired and have to go home.

I think you were trying to be funny. If not, my understanding of the strings attached to the stimulus money was that the state couldn't write in their own sunset provision. When this hoopla all started, the NYTimes wrote an editorial about this - in it they acknowledged Jindal's claim to be correct, but they felt he was STILL making a mistake because this money would preserve jobs. It's a reasonable difference of opinion; which is a far-cry from the claim that this is SOLELY posturing when Jindal and his ilk have legitimate reasons for refusing this money.

Jeff,

Key word was that I was trying. Unsuccessful as usual. =)

On a more serious note, even if they can simply write the provision, it's not going to fly. Who's going to come up and say they have to cut all the jobs created by the stimulus dollars because the state can't afford it? If a republican tries it, I'm sure the Dannis will be right here saying they don't care about the workers.

Well I live in the upstate region of SC. I enjoy the area. Greenville as a city is thriving. The article focused on only one region of the state, of course a tourist based region is going to suffer, regardless of the Governor taking the stimulus money. He probably should, because his tax paying citizens will pay for it anyway. However the report is a little biased. I don't see this stimulus doind a whole lot for the people described in the article.

I mean SC in general is a nice state. I mean you can't spit without hitting a church and most people vote republican. But people are friendly, taxes aren't bad, and housing is affordable, at least in the upstate.

I mean you can't spit without hitting a church and most people vote republican

The upstate is historically bright red. The area I live in voted overwhelmingly for the current POTUS during primary time.

I also live near Greenville and concur. The area is overwhelmingly republican. There is a church and bank on every corner. Some people are ok but there is a lot of hate here. I've lived all over the US and I'd say this area has the most stubborn and self righteous people out of anywhere. Very superficial.

......within fifty miles of Clemson......you walk into any bar, restaurant or even a public building and yell "Tigers!!".....and everybody yells right back at you......lots of people paint Tiger Paws right onto the sides of their houses to show support for the Clemson Tigers..........

......and just up the road a few miles is Central...home of Southern Wesleyan U......one of the most beautiful small universities anywhere.....

.....the Clemson area is really nice......I miss S.C.......

"within fifty miles of Clemson......you walk into any bar, restaurant or even a public building and yell "Tigers!!".....and everybody yells right back at you......"

No matter where I am in the country if I'm wearing an Ohio State shirt I tend to meet other Ohio State fans. I was in DC on game day and got invited to watch the game at a bar the Alumni Club there rents out. And I also get the occasional "O-H" and I respond "I-O"

School spirit is great.

.....the Clemson area is really nice......I miss S.C.......

I've gone on a few hikes through different sections of the Foot Hills Trail. If you ever get down that way again, check it out.

My favorite is Table Rock. I'm working on bringing my packweight down to 27lbs with 5 days of food and gear to make a thru-hike of the entire foothills trail. Getting myself physically prepared is a different story since I live on the flat side of the state.

That's still a year off, though. Hopefully, things will pick up economically everywhere.

Looks as if Sanford just realized he could use the stimulus package after all. All he had to do is use the current state budget to pay down the debt he wants paid.......duhhh......why didn't he say that before instead of grandstanding.......