Top S.C. Court Tells State Gov to Take $700M in Federal Stimulus Money
Siding with South Carolina legislators in a budgetary power play with the state’s chief executive, the South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered Gov. Mark Sanford to accept $700 million in federal stimulus money that lawmakers included in the state spending plan.
Sanford opposed accepting the money, which will be used primarily for South Carolina’s schools, because it will increase the state’s debtload, according to the Associated Press. Sanford said earlier he would accept the decision of the supreme court if it ruled against him, however, and the governor is expected to discuss the ruling at a news conference today.
“I”m concerned that the unintended result of this ruling may be to diminish the executive branch into functional irrelevancy,” says the state’s attorney general, Henry McMaster. He plans to run for the governor’s office at the conclusion of Sanford’s term-limited time in office.
Hat tip: South Carolina Injury Law Journal.
Additional coverage:
Legal Newsline: “S.C.’s top court to Gov. Sanford: Take the money”
ABC News (May 20): “South Carolina Stimulus Battle Heats Up … Again”
Greenville News (May 23): “Students take stimulus plea to Supreme Court”
New York Times (June 1): “South Carolina Stimulus Case Is Given to State Court”
