No shortage of shots being fired from the State House at the Governor's mansion this week, but this one from Glen McConnell stands out:
SC Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell Responds to Governor's Lawsuit McConnell: "Governor asks federal judge to usurp states' rights in quest for more power"
Columbia, SC - May 21, 2009 - South Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell today issued the following statement in response to Governor Mark Sanford's lawsuit:
"Governor Sanford says this court case is about the "balance of power." The truth is that this case is about his power. The Governor wants more of it, and he's willing to trample over states' rights to get it. He has run to the federal courts asking them to reinterpret our state Constitution so as to give him powers not granted to him by the people of South Carolina. While we have debated the 10th Amendment, little did we know the Governor was conspiring to ride over it in the federal courts.
For seven years Governor Mark Sanford has worked tirelessly to increase his power and the scope of South Carolina's executive branch of government. While working to centralize power under one individual, the Governor has continuously attacked the General Assembly for what he describes as liberal tendencies. Never before have I witnessed such hypocrisy as I did today when Governor Sanford asked a federal judge to usurp South Carolina's rights.
Whether the stimulus money should have been appropriated by the United State Congress was a federal matter. But the question of separation of powers involves the duties of the executive and legislative branches of government as prescribed by the South Carolina Constitution. As such, the rightful arbiter is the South Carolina Supreme Court. Either he is fearful of a South Carolina court ruling or he is playing to a national audience.
Sanford's friends at Carolinians for Reform Inc. announced Thursday they will spend $230,000 to air ads featuring the governor defending his stance against using federal stimulus cash to fund education and public safety programs in our state.
"Many families are struggling with challenges we've not seen in our lifetimes," Sanford says in the one-minute ad. "Some say the solution lies in more government spending and deeper debt. The truth is, more tax dollars will be spent in our state this year than ever before. But there must be a stopping point. Going further into debt will not solve a problem that was created by too much debt. There must be a price that we will not impose on future generations."
Buying Time Beyond increasing the Governor's national profile for his likely 2012 presidential bid, the CfR ad represents a broader effort by Sanford and his allies to shift the stimulus debate and public opinion in their favor.
Over the coming weeks, the Governor's Mansion will subject us to an endless barrage of Club for Growth talking points espousing the urgent need to protect "future generations," curb reckless spending, reform our broken state government, and pay down tomorrow's debts today.
Sanford will paint his critics as alarmists and victims of misinformation. He'll spin out a myriad of unique counter-interpretations on projected education and public safety budget deficits. And he'll
Tim and I will be camping out today, bringing you real time updates from the "Sanfordville" tent city protest in Finlay Park near the Governor's Mansion in Columbia. If you're in the area, pop by and help us protest Sanford's refusal to accept our share of $700 million in stimulus money designated for SC schools and public safety.
We'll have several special guests stopping by Sanfordville throughout the day, including State Sen. Vincent Sheheen, Richland County Treasurer David Adams, former Governor Jim Hodges, State Sen. John Scott and State Representative Anton Gunn.
We have a problem with prostrate cancer in our state. No, folks, I'm not talking about this kind of cancer. I'm talking about the kind of cancer you get by laying down, especially when a semi-carpet bagger governor pins his political aspirations on the breaking backs of his constituents. Gov. Mark Sanford courts South Carolina's disaster by courting conservatives and other folks who don't have to worry about their jobs, mortgages, college funds, retirement plans, and health insurance. Y'know, like the kind of people who think it's cute to brew revolution by dumping tea into rivers. They're the same people who didn't say a word when President Bush blundered his way through foreign and domestic policy and squandered our cash and reputation. But, I digress.
Sanford is gaining popularity with the good 'ol boys and girls (just not the ones in the SCGOP), trying to prove that being a state governor, former member of Congress and wannabe presidential candidate does not disqualify him from hating government and not-so-rich people like a true conservative. And, by government, I mean firefighters, sheriff deputies, teachers, social workers, administrators, school bus drivers and anyone who's not a South Carolina elected official. And, by not-so-rich people I mean anyone who's quality of life would improve even marginally from the stimulus money.
Just as Mark Sanford rallies to reject the stimulus funds, voters are rallying to reject his evil plan to recreate antebellum South Carolina. Hundreds have spoken out aleady, including the folks in Charleston, and tomorrow so will the folks in Columbia. The best way to get rid of a cancer is to fight it, so let's see if we can't put the unGov in remission and cut out his rhetoric. Let's stimulate his prostrate with protest. If you don't have a rally to go to just start one. If you do then post a comment.
In news that's sure to ignite a fresh wave of protests across the state, S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster announced today that Sanford, not the state legislature, has final say over whether South Carolina accepts our share of the federal stimulus funds:
South Carolina's attorney general says the governor must approve the use of federal stimulus money before it can be spent as the White House wants.
The nonbinding opinion issued Tuesday by Attorney General Henry McMaster throws yet another wrench into South Carolina's potential use of $700 million in federal cash that the Obama administration wants spent on schools and other programs.
Call to Action In response to the latest development in the Sanford stimulus drama, state Rep. James Smith (D-Richland) is asking all South Carolinians to phone the Governor's home 803-737-3000 and office 803-734-2100 and "urge him to accept the Federal Recovery Dollars."
For those of you who will be in the Columbia area Wednesday, stop by and lend your voice to the bi-partisan People's $timulu$ Rally at the State House from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Scheduled speakers include Sen. Jake Knotts (R-Lexington) and Sen. John Land (D-Clarendon).
Fed up with Sanford's stimulus drama? Let 'em know:
People's Stimulus Rally When: Wednesday, April 1 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Where: Statehouse, Columbia
Contact: (803) 808-3384 or network@scpronet.com
Support the Stimulus Rally When: Tuesday, March 31 from 12:15-1:15 p.m.
Where: Brittlebank Park, Charleston (180 Lockwood Blvd)
Contact: StimulusRally@gmail.com
Predictably, the White House has again rejected Governor Sanford's request to use federal stimulus funds to pay down the state debt rather than, you know, use the money to stimulate a state economy struggling with the nation's second highest unemployment rate. From the Associated Press:
The White House has again rejected South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's bid to use federal stimulus cash to pay down state debt.
White House Budget Director Peter Orszag sent the Republican governor a letter Friday saying the federal cash should be used on things such as education, not to pay off school construction debt.
There's been no response yet from Sanford. The Governor has said he will reject the $700 million if he can't use it to pay down the state's debt -- a move that would again put him at odds with the GOP-controlled legislature, which says it will take the money if Sanford doesn't.
Usually when South Carolina's schools and students make headlines, the news is pretty bleak. Stories of crumbling infrastructure, tragically low test scores, and relentless posts from the anti-public school interest groups flood the Nets and papers daily. It's enough to discourage even the most dedicated students and teachers.
But one J.V. Martin Junior High student, Ty'Sheoma Bethea, wanted Congress to know that while her school in Dillon urgently needs more resources, it is not a "hopeless" school. And now thanks to her letter to our nation's lawmakers, the South Carolina eighth-grader will watch President Obama deliver his first address to Congress tonight alongside the Obama family. From The State:
Ty'Sheoma was invited to sit in first lady Michelle Obama's mezzanine box in the House of Representatives, thanks to her letter imploring lawmakers to help her crumbling school, built in 1896.
Ty'Sheoma's letter made its way to Obama, who campaigned at J.V. Martin in 2007.
Obama cited J.V. Martin two weeks ago in his first presidential news conference as a symbol of decaying schools that would be replaced by funds in his economic-stimulus plan.
"The president and first lady were moved by Ty'Sheoma's heartfelt letter and are looking forward to welcoming her to D.C.," said Gannet Tseggai, a White House spokeswoman.
Ty'Sheoma walked to the Dillon town library to write her letter because her family doesn't have a computer.
"People are starting to see my school as a hopeless, uneducated school, which we are not," she wrote. "We finally want to prove to the world that we have a chance in life just like other schools, and we can feel good about what we are doing, because of the conditions we are in now we can not succeed in anything."
So keep an eye out for Ty'Sheoma and her mom during tonight's speech; and in the meantime, you can read her full letter to Congress here.
Our state's GOPhers have been falling all over themselves to denouce the economic stimulus bill that President Obama signed today.
Meanwhile, the White House has released state-specific estimates of the jobs the legislation will create.
The bottom line is 50,000 jobs for South Carolina, not counting the green jobs that could be created if scientists found a way to capture the hot air coming from Jim Demint's mouth. The breakdown by congressional district:
Mark Sanford is blaming everything from drugs to other people's incompetence for the lack of jobs in South Carolina, all while lobbying against President Obama's economic stimulus package. He's joined in his efforts to lengthen and deepen the recession by our U.S. Senators, Lindsey Graham and Jim Demint.
Think Progress reminds these two Senate stalwarts what's happening in our state:
South Carolina Sens. Lindsey Graham (R) and Jim DeMint (R) have been two of the most ardent opponents of President Obama’s economic recovery plan. “They’re trying to jam through the Congress a bill that will have long-lasting consequences that will not stimulate the economy but grow the government,” said Graham on Fox News last week. “This bill is not a stimulus, ladies and gentlemen; it is a mugging. It is a fraud,” said DeMint last month. The CBO estimates that the Senate’s stimulus plan could create 3.9 million jobs by 2010. Instead of opposing it, the South Carolina senators should take note of the “recession reality” in their state. Watch it:
Brother Brad is waxing philosophic over whether he should be disturbed or pleased that every Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives gave President Obama the finger Wednesday on the economic stimulus bill.
My response? Screw' em.
For at least 16 years - and probably 28 - the GOP and most pundits have defined "bipartisanship" as Democrats doing what Republicans want and liking it. It's the same idea behind continuing to describe America as a "center-right country" even though Republicans got their butts handed to them in the last two elections and Gallup now says there are only five solidly Republican states left (though not counting South Carolina as one of them makes the findings a bit suspect to me).
The president came in for some criticism this week for telling Republicans, "I won," when discussing what they wanted - and largely got - in a bill they ultimately all opposed.
But he did, and we did, as evidenced by expanded Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress.
For now at least, that means if we want bipartisanship, Republicans are going to have to come a few steps toward our side of the aisle or be content to sit on the sidelines throwing bombs.
On a national level, Brad and The State's editorial board have gotten just what they want in South Carolina: somebody clearly in charge of the government.
If Obama and the Democrats are wrong and makes things even worse, President Palin and Vice President Demint will have their chance to clean up the mess in four years as the Kelly family prepares to move abroad.
Elections have consequences. Not getting your way when you lose is one of them. Suck it up, wingnuts.
SC House Committee approves 24-hour waiting period before abortion The House Constitutional Laws Subcommittee voted Wednesday 4-0 to approve a bill that would require women seeking an abortion to wait at least 24 hours after their ultrasound. Currently, women are required to wait one hour before the procedure can be performed.
Sponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Greg Delleney (R-Chester), H. 3245 would require two trips to the physician for women seeking an abortion in South Carolina. Proponents argue that if women have more time to think about their decision, they’ll be less likely to have an abortion. Critics point out that the two trips are an added burden, particularly for poor women and those living in rural areas.
Rep. James Smith (D-Columbia) offered a motion to adjourn the debate, saying he needed more time to discuss the bill with his constituents. However, Chairman Delleney said the legislature faces pressing time constraints and the panel defeated Smith’s motion 3-2. The bill now goes to the full House Judiciary Committee for debate and a vote on February 3.
Not in my backyard Reps. Jim Merrill (R-Charleston) and David Umphlett (R-Berkley) introduced a bill (H. 3364) this week that would make it illegal to relocate GITMO prisoners to South Carolina. In addition, another bill (H. 3366) would prohibit any utility company (electric, water, sewer etc.) to serve a facility that houses prisoners from Guantanamo.
Picture the scene: A wiry Senator Jim "Joe McCarthy" DeMint, glaring down from the Senate bench, fixes the witness with a steely eye, points an accusatory finger, and spits, "Sir, are you now or have you ever been a socialist or a member of a socialist organization?"
His voice quavering ever so slightly, the general replies, "Well Senator, I guess you could say that the military is about as socialist an organization as you'll find. It's 100% taxpayer-funded by mandate and and centrally managed from the top down. So, technically, I'd have to answer 'yes.'"
Thankfully we're not living this nightmare yet, if only because DeMint and his fellow "freedom fighters" are in a shrinking minority, and because voters just overwhelmingly embraced the idea of a little more government intervention and assistance.
Bipartisan, schmartisan President Obama has expressed a willingness to reach across the aisle in drafting his economic stimulus plan, but apparently many of his top Democratic allies in Congress don't share the President's bipartisan sentiments.
During an interview on C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" show that aired on Sunday, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) downplayed the need to secure substantial bipartisan support for Obama's proposed economic stimulus bill:
"We had an election on November 4, and the American people voted overwhelmingly for the approach being offered by the Democrats. And I think my Republican friends ought to respect that." [...]
"I would love for it to be bipartisan, but I'll remind you that in 1993, President Clinton passed a package without a single Republican vote. It passed in the House by two votes, in the Senate by one vote, but a lot of people say it had the biggest and best growth in the economy that we have ever had and that was done without a single Republican vote.... Because it's bipartisan doesn't mean it will be successful. That's all I'm saying."
...and you can forget about that health care reform, too In addition to dismissing the need for significant bipartisan support on the stimulus bill, Clyburn said he doesn't expect comprehensive health care reform - a cornerstone of Obama's campaign platform - to pass Congress in 2009.
When asked how the House should proceed in overhauling our nation's ailing health care system, Clyburn recommended taking an incremental approach to reforming the system.
"I would much rather see it done that way, incrementally, than to go out and just bite something you can't chew. We've been down that road. I still remember 1994," Clyburn said, referring to then-President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton's health care plan, which failed to pass the Democratic led-Congress.
Tim and I will be camping out today, bringing you real time updates from the "
We have a problem with prostrate cancer in our state. No, folks, I'm not talking about 
