Two of the state’s big dailies— the P&C and the (Spartanburg) Herald-Journal — published editorials critical of Gov. Sanford’s stimulus money plan.
First up, the HJ:
Gov. Mark Sanford is right when he says Washington shouldn’t have put the nation this much further in debt for a $787 billion stimulus bill that uses more of the money to increase government spending than creating jobs.
But he’s wrong to push the idea that the state may refuse the money. Washington has already taken out the loan in our name, and we will have to pay it back. Why would South Carolinians want to shoulder their share of the burden of paying this back and not gain their share of the benefits? It makes no sense.
The P&C:
Like it or not, the stimulus package is here, the money is real, and it should be applied to actual, extreme problems such as this state hasn’t seen for many years.
Rather than asking for a waiver to undertake a campaign against the state debt, the governor should be working to assure that the stimulus money is used to the best immediate effect. Again, maybe he’ll get another opportunity.
Gov. Sanford was elected to be the state’s chief executive officer and, in this instance, his job requires more than tilting at windmills. The governor should realize that, sometimes, standing on principle can look a lot like posturing.
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