SOUTH CAROLINA
stimulus.sc.gov
As of October 13, 2009:
| Agency Reported Data: | | Rank: |
| Funds Announced | $4,807,901,206 | 17 |
| Funds Available | $3,224,118,288 | 23 |
| Funds Paid Out | $1,120,140,820 | 26 |
| | | |
| Recipient Reported Data: | | Rank: |
| Number of Awards | 64 | 32 |
| Funds Awarded | $253,842,587 | 18 |
| Funds Awarded Per Capita | $57 | 13 |
| Funds Received | $219,564,904 | 3 |
| Jobs Created / Saved | 146 | 41 |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.6 | 5 |
Notes: All Rankings are from Highest to Lowest. For example, a ranking of 15 for “Funds Announced” means that the state had the 15th highest amount of funds announced. A ranking of 15 for the unemployment rate means that this state has the 15th highest unemployment rate.
Terms defined by http://www.recovery.gov/
Recipient Reported Data: These data are based on data submitted by federal contract recipients to www.federalreporting.gov between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10, 2009. On Oct. 30, 2009, the final recipient federal contract data and the final data on grants and loans will be available. It is collected and updated quarterly.
Agency Reported Data: These data are based on weekly Financial and Activity Reports filed by federal agencies receiving Recovery Act Funds.
Funds Announced: Funds that have been publicly announced as available to entities outside of the federal government. Not all available funds are announced publicly. For example, the funds going to a project started prior to the Recovery Act that are commingled with the project’s Recovery funds will not be announced publicly before being made available to a recipient. The Funds Announced figure should not be viewed as the total funding that an agency has made available.
Funds Available (Obligation): The term used todescribe when an agency informs the public of the release of money to recipients either immediately or in the future.
Funds Awarded: This is the amount of contract dollars that will be made available to recipients.
Funds Paid Out: Funds that have been released from a federal agency to a recipient.
Funds Received: The amount of money each recipient received from afederal award.
Recent Updates
June 26, 2009
Last week Gov. Sanford officially requested $700 million in federal stimulus money, ending his long running dispute with state legislators and the Obama administration. While Sanford did not elect to fight the state supreme court's ruling that forced him to apply for the money, he did voice his disapproval for the stimulus package in a formal letter to the Obama administration requesting the disputed funds.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced last week that $9.8 million in federal stimulus funds would be given to South Carolina to be used for a variety of transportation projects. Most of the money will be used to purchase buses for public transportation, build transit facilities and upgrade technology in rural service areas.
June 9, 2009
The South Carolina Supreme Court last week ordered Gov. Sanford to request $700 million in disputed stimulus funds aimed primarily at struggling schools. The court’s decision ends an ongoing battle with the state Legislature. Sanford, who has been the most vocal opponent of the Obama administration’s stimulus package, said he would not appeal the ruling. Instead he formally requested the disputed money on Monday in an e-mail to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Sanford also ended his legal challenge yesterday when he asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit he filed last month that sought to prevent state Attorney General Henry McMaster from enforcing the state budget passed by the Legislature. Sanford’s decision to request disputed stimulus money and drop the suit should bring an end to the ongoing debate in the state.
Educators in South Carolina applauded last week’s decision by the state supreme court. They had argued that if Sanford did not accept the money hundreds of teachers would lose their jobs and tuition would rise dramatically at state colleges and universities. State Education Superintendent Jim Rex noted that the court’s decision “will allow districts to immediately begin to reconstitute programs and fill positions they didn't think they could fill."
May 26, 2009
Governor Sanford announced last week that he has filed a federal law suit against the South Carolina state Legislature over $350 million on disputed stimulus dollars. The suit was filed shortly after Sanford vetoed parts of the Senate’s proposed budget that required Sanford to accept the disputed funds. It is possible the Legislature can override Sanford’s veto, though at this point it is unclear if they have the necessary votes.
Complicating matters for both the Legislature and Governor Sanford is a new deadline from the Department of Education that requires states apply for education stimulus dollars by July 1. Lawmakers want Sanford to use part of the disputed $350 million to avoid budget cuts in education funding.
Also at issue is who has jurisdiction in the case. Sanford filed the suit in Federal Court. Legislators, who welcome the suit, think this is an issue that should be settled by the State Supreme Court. The South Carolina Supreme Court previously issued a statement that they would not hear the matter before the Legislature took up the issue. Last week’s decision likely paves the way for the State Supreme Court to hear the issue.
Sanford Suing General Assembly – Thestate.com, May 21, 2009
Governor Sanford’s Veto Letter to Legislators – Thestate.com, May 19, 2009
May 7, 2009
Legislators in South Carolina last week approved an amendment to the state budget designed to force Gov. Sanford to accept $350 million in federal stimulus dollars Sanford had previously rejected. The amendment passed the state Senate by a vote of 31-12. The Senate plan calls for $185 million in stimulus funds to be distributed to public schools to help save teacher jobs. Another $100 million will be distributed to state colleges and universities to try and offset double digit increases in tuition. The balance of the money will go primarily to prison agencies and law enforcement.
Despite the Senate’s decision, debate continues at both the federal and national level about a state Legislature’s ability to override the governor. Sanford’s spokesman Joel Sawyer noted that the White House, a Congressional research group, and South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster have all questioned whether the Legislature can request money previously rejected by the governor. Sawyer added “they all affirm it’s under the governor’s control and not the Legislature’s.”
The Senate’s decision almost certainly ensures this issue will be settled in Court. The South Carolina Supreme Court recently said that they would not become involved with the issue until the state Legislature took action. Justices noted that there was no reason for their involvement prior to legislative action because until that happened no controversy existed. Last week’s Senate vote seems to have cleared the stage for the state Supreme Court to hear the case.
May 1, 2009
Ashley Landess, the head of the South Carolina Policy Council, cautioned South Carolina legislators about overriding Gov. Sanford and accepting stimulus dollars, according to The State. Landess cites two primary reasons why the legislature should be very cautious in accepting stimulus dollars. First she notes that stimulus dollars will be gone in two years and it will be the state’s responsibility to fund different programs. Landess also argues that in the long run stimulus spending will result in significant job losses. She contends most jobs that are created by one-time government spending are temporary and come at the expense of permanent jobs in the private sector. Like Gov. Sanford, Landess contends that in the long run South Carolina would be better to reject portions of the stimulus package and cut unnecessary state spending instead.
April 24, 2009
Wednesday of this week the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that it will not hear a lawsuit aimed at forcing the state to use federal stimulus money. The five member Court unanimously said that the state Legislature first has to act to spend previously rejected stimulus funds before the court can become involved. Despite the Court’s decision, proponents of accepting stimulus money viewed this as a victory, noting that the Court recognizes the General Assembly’s authority to override Sanford and spend the money.
At the center of the ongoing debate in South Carolina about federal stimulus dollars is the question of debt. Governor Sanford has been insistent that the only way he will accept $700 million in disputed stimulus dollars is if state lawmakers first agree to pay in equal amount toward existing state debts. Most of the existing state debt has been incurred over the last several years for buildings or school improvements, colleges and universities, highway construction, building projects, and economic development. Many Legislators on the other hand contend the state does not have a debt problem and cite the fact that the state recently received an AAA credit rating as proof. Staff from the Senate Finance Committee recently noted that South Carolina ranks fourth-lowest among southeastern states in general obligation debt.
Senate Republicans offered a compromise to Sanford over the issue of debt last week when they proposed putting approximately $200 million in general funds toward the state’s existing debt. The proposal never made it out of committee though as it was soundly defeated by the Senate Finance Committee.
April 14, 2009
South Carolina state Sen. Vincent Sheheen announced that he will file a joint resolution this week aimed at forcing Gov. Sanford to apply for previously rejected federal stimulus dollars. If Sanford vetoes the bill, Sheheen noted that the Legislature still has the option to override the governor. He also left open the possibility of taking Sanford to court if the situation progresses to that point. Sanford remains opposed to the stimulus package and announced that he disagrees with Sheheen's proposal.
Sheheen and other legislators argue that by rejecting the money Sanford is in effect sending South Carolina tax dollars to other states without any benefits. Legislators also contend thousands of teachers will lose their jobs, tuition will increase substantially at state colleges and universities, and thousands of inmates will be released early from prison. Sanford's office continues to reject these claims.
April 9, 2009
Gov. Sanford did comply with the April 3 deadline to file for stimulus dollars. However, Sanford is continuing to contest nearly $700 million in unemployment, education, and law enforcement money because accepting that money would require permanent changes to state law. Sanford also noted that he might be willing to apply for the $700 million in question if the state legislature agrees to use money earmarked in the state budget to pay down existing state debt. Sanford in turn would use the remaining stimulus dollars to offset budget shortages. Budget deliberations began last week in the legislature and there is some support for Sanford’s proposal, but no decision has been reached to this point.
While it remains unclear what the state legislature will ultimately do, Sanford has received substantial criticism from other elected government officials in South Carolina. Reggie Lloyd, the chief of the state Law Enforcement Division was particularly critical of Sanford, suggesting his agency is facing substantial layoffs and vacancies unless Sanford accepts money earmarked specifically for law enforcement. The state Department of Education has also been critical of Sanford’s decision, suggesting that the state stands to lose approximately 2,600 education jobs if stimulus money is not accepted. Despite the criticism it is unlikely Sanford will agree to accept additional money unless a compromise can be reached with the legislature.
March 31, 2009
Gov. Sanford proposed a compromise with state lawmakers over accepting $700 million in federal stimulus dollars. In a speech yesterday, Sanford said he may be willing to accept the rest of the stimulus money due to South Carolina if legislators use an equivalent amount of state money to pay down existing state debt over the next two years. Sanford has until Friday to decide about accepting federal funds, according to an article from The State. March 25, 2009
Gov. Sanford issued an Executive Order mandating state agencies and local government officials to provide the state with details about how stimulus dollars are being spent. The order establishes the South Carolina Stimulus Oversight, Accountability, and Coordination Task Force to monitor the use of stimulus dollars.
March 23, 2009
President Obama rejected a second request from Gov. Sanford to use federal stimulus dollars to pay down existing state debt. The Obama Administration once again noted that Congress did not authorize such payments in the legislation it passed last month. After receiving Obama's response, Sanford also expressed hope that if the legislature overrides his decision and accepts stimulus dollars, they will use existing funds to pay down state debt.
March 17, 2009
President Obama has rejected Gov. Mark Sanford's request for a waiver to use part of the stimulus funds to pay down the state's debt. According to a letter written by Obama's budget director Peter Orzag, Congress had not authorized the executive branch to waive any statutory requirements of the stimulus bill and therefore states spending stimulus dollars must satisfy all those requirements. However, Gov. Sanford wrote another letter responding to that initial rejection from the White House to use the Recovery Act funds to pay down his state's debt. That letter clarifies the governor's position on the issue.
March 12, 2009
Governor Sanford announced yesterday his decision regarding nearly $700 million in federal stimulus dollars, saying he will seek a waiver from the Obama administration so stimulus dollars can be used to pay down outstanding state debt and contingent liabilities. According to officials from the Governor’s office the stimulus represents more accumulated debt for the state, meaning the state should be able to use the money as it prefers. Currently South Carolina has about $20 billion in unfunded political promises in its retirement system and stands at number one in the southeast in per capita debt. Governor Sanford’s proposal would allow state officials to spend nearly $1.2 billion over the next two years paying down existing debt. Sanford also announced that if President Obama denies his waiver request he will reject portions of the stimulus money, which would make him the first Governor in the country to do so.
March 10, 2009
Gov. Sanford has announced that he has completed his review of the federal stimulus legislation and will make a formal announcement sometime tomorrow outlining his position.
March 6, 2009
Governor Sanford met Wednesday with Republicans from the South Carolina Senate to discuss how to spend stimulus dollars. While the Governor still has not reached a final decision on what money he will accept and what he will reject, he did say one will be coming very soon. The meeting came about at the insistence of Senate Republicans, who have voiced concerns over what Sanford planned to do. Although it remains unclear what Sanford will elect to do with the stimulus dollars, both the Governor and Republican Senators expressed optimism that the two parties can work together.