Great moments in governing

Gov. Mark Sanford, R-SC, man of principle.

The Obama administration rejected Gov. Mark Sanford’s request to use $700 million in federal stimulus cash to pay down state debt. The White House budget director, Peter R. Orszag, said in a letter to Mr. Sanford, left, a Republican, that the federal stimulus law did not allow President Obama to make an exception for that cash. A Sanford spokesman, Joel Sawyer, had no immediate response, but the governor has said he would reject part of the stimulus money if Mr. Obama would not give him flexibility in spending it. The $787 billion stimulus legislation sets strict rules for the $53.6 billion being sent to help state budgets, Mr. Orszag wrote. It calls for 82 percent of the money to be used for public schools and colleges, and 18 percent on public safety and other government services. “Congress has not authorized the executive branch to waive any of the above statutory requirements,” Mr. Orszag’s letter said.

How else to explain his brave stance putting his ideology and future prospects in the GOP ahead of the people who elected him?

(Aiken Standard Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Mar. 13--With the recession deepening and South Carolina now ranked second only to Michigan in unemployment, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Jim Rex is worried about morale among educators.

"Our school system has seen $370 million in cuts this year," he told Aiken County residents at a community meeting Thursday. "The school districts' budgets have been cut by 15 percent. When you get to that level, you're eventually going to have to get into personnel." Rex was invited by S.C. Rep. Bill Clyburn, R-Aiken, to discuss his education vision and the current budget woes facing the state.

The Aiken School District expects to displace around 90 teachers through an increase in class sizes and has told all retired teachers still on faculties that they may not be rehired for the next term.

Mark Sanford is an intellectual leader of the GOP. After Rush, of course.