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S.C. House overrides Sanford veto of $5.7 billion budget, stimulus money

3:36 pm May 20, 2009, by jgalloway

The South Carolina House of Representatives, by a vote of 93-23, just overrode Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto of $350 million in federal stimulus cash contained in a $5.7 billion budget.

This from The State newspaper:

The disagreement likely will be resolved to court, as a Chapin High School student said Tuesday she will refile a rejected lawsuit to compel the governor to spend the money.

Sanford declined to say whether he will file a lawsuit over control of the stimulus money, which appears to be among his only options to maintain control of the money if lawmakers muster the votes to overturn his vetoes.

The governor said forcing him to accept the money in the budget takes away his executive power and that state residents are ready to oppose the federal spending.
“The logical question would be then ‘Why have a governor?’” Sanford asked. “I think it’s a big deal and has far-reaching implications.”

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2 comments Add your comment

DW

May 21st, 2009
7:34 am

Unless there is something that contradicts this action in the state constitution, would Gov. Sanford really win a lawsuit?

Big Guy in GA

May 21st, 2009
8:36 am

I can’t believe with shape of SC public schools and the massive infrastructure issues they have in places like the state Capital Columbia. Why would he turn down monies this state desperately needs just for partisan politics? What he and other are doing is turning down monies the states should have been getting going back to the Reagan days. These are monies that have been wasted over the year on military building while our schools, roads and infrastructure has been neglected. The bridge falling in Minnesota is just a warning we need to heed that our tax dollars need to spent at home.