Responses to Sanford's Budget Veto

From Democratic National Committee: The Democratic National Committee issued the following response to Gov. Mark Sanford’s announcement that he will veto $348 million in federal funds the South Carolina legislature requested to create jobs in the state. “Governor Sanford is putting his own political ambitions before the well being of the South Carolinians he represents," said DNC spokeswoman Joanne Peters. "Instead of working with Republicans and Democrats in South Carolina to fund important priorities and create and save jobs, Sanford is siding with the Rush-Limbaugh-led 'Party of No' wing of the national GOP, saying no to jobs, no to an education for our youngsters, and no to safe streets for South Carolina families. Governor Sanford should instead put the interests of his state ahead of his own future political ambitions."

From S.C. Democratic Party: South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler released the following statement today in response to Gov. Mark Sanford's vetoes of the state's $5.7 billion budget. The budget, passed last week by the General Assembly, forces Sanford to request $350 million in federal economic recovery funds. "Gov. Sanford is clearly oblivious to the fact that our state has been hit hard by both the recession and his long-term failure to bring jobs to South Carolina. He needs to allow lawmakers to use these funds for their intended purpose instead of making them the platform for his presidential bid. Although Mark Sanford has successfully shown himself to be a strict Republican ideologist, he has failed to prove himself as a leader. I urge legislators to override the governor's vetoes of the stimulus money; South Carolina's working families are dependent on the General Assembly to pick up the governor's slack."

From State House Speaker Bobby Harrell: “First, this so-called stimulus bill should have never been passed, and second, we would have liked to use the money on paying down debt. However, the federal package was passed into law despite our objections and the President said twice we could not use it to pay down debt. It is simply not legally possible to do what the Governor is saying; it would only ensure that South Carolina’s money would be sent to other states while our citizens are left paying it back. The Governor’s vetoes takes away money that would keep teachers in the classroom and criminals in prisons. We owe it to our teachers and law enforcement officers to override these vetoes.”