South Carolina's Governor Signs Application for Federal Stimulus Money for Education

South Carolina’s governor, Mark Sanford, is applying for his state’s share of federal stimulus money for education. But he’s not happy about it.

Mr. Sanford, a Republican, has consistently opposed President Obama’s entire $787-billion economic-stimulus measure, and has refused to apply for his state’s share of nearly $40-billion that is meant to shore up spending on public schools and higher education.

But the state’s General Assembly passed a measure to compel the governor to seek those funds — about $700-million — and on Friday the state’s Supreme Court upheld the legislature’s authority over the state’s purse strings.

Governor Sanford, who had promised not to drag out the legal battle, sent his request for the education money today, while reiterating his displeasure.

“First, it’s important to state one last time for the record what a monumentally terrible idea I believe the entire so-called stimulus act is, and why in particular utilizing this money as our General Assembly has done is ultimately going to cause more harm than good,” he wrote to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, according to the Associated Press. —Eric Kelderman