Sanford, Obama becoming pen pals

After rejection, governor sends president 2nd letter

By Robert Behre (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Mark Sanford was unfazed by the president's rejection letter.

On Tuesday, South Carolina's Republican governor wrote back to President Barack Obama, again asking for permission to use about $700 million in stimulus dollars to pay down state debts. And he also asked the president to pull an attack ad off the air.

Sanford's critics again are accusing him of posturing toward a possible 2012 presidential bid rather than ensuring that state government is doing all it can to help the unemployed and others affected by the state budget crunch.

Less than 24 hours after Obama rejected Sanford's request for a waiver to use the stimulus money to pay off debt, Sanford again wrote the White House. He said he proposed using $577 million to pay off State School Facilities Bonds and Research University Infrastructure Bonds and using $125 million to pay down other state debts.

Sanford said those ideas fit the statutory requirements under the stimulus legislation. On Monday, Peter Orszag, director of the president's Office of Management and Budget, said Congress didn't authorize the president to waive requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"I also await your response on pulling down the attack ads," Sanford wrote, referring to a Democratic National Committee ad that began airing Monday in Columbia.

Meanwhile, the debate has spread beyond South Carolina.

Exchange of letters
Letter from Gov. Mark Sanford to President Obama seeking a waiver to use federal stimulus money to pay down school bonds.(PDF)
[link to media.charleston.net]

Letter from Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag to Gov. Mark Sanford denying his request for a waiver. (PDF)
[link to media.charleston.net]

Letter from Gov. Mark Sanford to President Obama seeking a waiver for $700 in stimulus money. (PDF)
[link to media.charleston.net]

ColorOfChange.org, which bills itself as the nation's largest black online political organization, said its members have placed more than 800 calls to Sanford's office urging him to change his mind.

"It's obvious even to Republicans in South Carolina that this has nothing to do with what's best for the state, it's all about scoring political points," said the group's executive director, James Rucker.

Sanford press secretary Joel Sawyer said, "What we're hearing from real folks in South Carolina is overwhelmingly positive. I can't really speak to what out-of-state folks are doing in their efforts."

While only about 3 percent of those ColorOfChange calls originated from inside South Carolina, other Sanford opponents raised their voices, too.

South Carolina Democratic Chairwoman Carol Fowler, who supports the DNC's ad, joined a few Democratic lawmakers to say Sanford's political posturing is hurting state residents.

"The people in this state need economic relief, and they need it now, and they don't need him sending letters back and forth to the White House trying to find other ways to use that money other than helping with jobs," she said.

She noted that 52 mayors in the state have urged Sanford to reconsider, and that the $700 million at stake could help their cities from laying off police officers, fire fighters and others.

Sawyer called their criticism "schizophrenic."

He said last week that House Democrats were arguing against using one-time revenues in the state budget, "and now they seem to be in favor of it."

Dorchester County Democratic Party Chairman Steve Yeomans said he has been hearing bipartisan disbelief as to what's going on.

"I understand that Mark is a fiscal conservative, and that's fine. On the other hand, he has to realize these aren't normal times, and the economy needs to be stimulated," he said.

Berkeley County GOP Chairman Wade Arnette said he's heard a lot of division over the stimulus issue. On Tuesday, the state Senate Finance Committee opted to take control of the stimulus money if Sanford doesn't make spending decisions by April 3, The Associated Press reported.

Still, Arnette said he's inclined to give the governor the benefit of the doubt.

"I'm not sure I'm privileged to all the information I need to make that decision. I hope Mark (Sanford) is," Arnette said. "I know there is a big division on this, and I'd like to see it straighten out."

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or [email protected].

[link to www.postandcourier.com]