State Democrats, Unemployed Workers: Sanford's Actions Hurt Real People

Columbia, SC- During a news conference in Columbia today, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler, SC Senate Democratic Leader John Land, Rep. Leon Howard and a number of unemployed workers spoke out against Gov. Mark Sanford's rejection of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"We're here today to remind Governor Mark Sanford that his political posturing is hurting real people here in South Carolina. We want to tell everyone that although Mark Sanford is against the stimulus, other South Carolinians don't share his views," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. "It's unbelievable. Governor Sanford doesn't want to use this money to keep South Carolina teachers, firefighters, and police officers on the job."

She said Sanford's philosophy does not work and he'd rather show the country he holds tight to his Republican principles than to help his state. Fowler quoted Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols in saying that Sanford "appears to be out of touch with reality on this."

"It doesn't seem to matter to the governor that thousands of South Carolinians are in danger of losing homes because they're losing jobs. His big housing worry is whether he'll get the full $3.5 million when he sells his beach house - so he can build his dream home on the family plantation," said Fowler.

Land and Howard also discussed how Sanford's refusal of portions of the stimulus affects South Carolinians.

Land said he can't understand Sanford's stimulus decision, which will only benefits other states.

"Other states are saying 'please turn (it) down, I want the money'," he said. "The Republican governor in Florida and the Republican governor in California say 'yeah turn it down. Send it to us. We'll put our people to work. We'll make jobs for them.'"

"It's a shame when our governor is playing politics with our constituents," said Howard. "He knows the General Assembly will accept this money because we have no other choice. Our constituents need it."

The Dist. 76 Representative urged Sanford to stop using scare tactics with SC's working families.
"People are under enough stress (and) pressure as it relates to economics," said Howard. "This state has the second highest unemployment in the country."