SC Dems: "Sanford's Philosophy Hurts More Than Helps"

Columbia, SC –In another apparently successful attempt to make the national news, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has said that he wants to use stimulus funds to pay off the state's debt-something he knows he cannot really do.

SC is expected to receive $8 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These funds will be used to create or retain jobs, improve education, and complete infrastructure projects.

Sanford has some say over only $700 million of these vitally needed funds, and chose today to try to heighten the drama over his anti-stimulus posturing, said Carol Fowler, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party.

"So far the only leadership Sanford has shown is his ability to draw lights, cameras and microphones to stimulate national interest in his presidential ambitions. There is never any action. This is a time that we really need competent leadership from our governor, not partisan ideology. South Carolina is in a state of economic turmoil. Our unemployment rate was at a whopping 10. 4 percent in January and we're steadily losing more jobs," said Fowler. "The least Mark Sanford could have done is step up for South Carolina's working families who are depending on national help because the Republicans running SC haven't gotten the job done."

The SCDP chair said she believes Sanford's decision is based on strict Republican Party ideologies and not the actual needs of the state. "He would rather that money go to New Jersey or Michigan than have it come here, " she said.

"Mark Sanford is one of those so-called mavericks whose cloak of ideological purity hides an inability to display real leadership – an ability to react to changing situations and reach out to others through compromise. No great political task has ever been accomplished without such statesmen. We can only hope that legislative leaders of both parties will get the job done without Sanford's support," Fowler said.

"The stimulus will help to improve the quality of life in South Carolina. We stand to gain and retain thousands of jobs under the stimulus bill. I applaud President Obama's efforts to bring us out of this economic crisis. I also applaud Congressmen Spratt and Clyburn for their determination to make sure South Carolina received our share of these funds, even as Republicans like Senator DeMint and Congressman Wilson were fighting against help for their constituents."