THE ISSUE: S.C. and stimulus dollars

OUR OPINION: Action in Congress yet may lead to bypassing Sanford rejection

Gov. Mark Sanford may be on the national stage with his stand against accepting federal stimulus dollars, but all the speculation about the governor making a stand based on presidential aspirations in 2012 fail to recognize the consistency of the state’s chief executive.

From his days as a congressman in the 1990s, when he was known for sleeping in his office as a way of illustrating how government can save money, to carrying pigs into the Statehouse to protest “pork-barrel spending,” Sanford has maintained conservative principles on the government use of taxpayer money.

The two-term governor has had numerous clashes with the Legislature, which is dominated by Republicans, over spending. Every year he vetoes large chunks of the budget only to be overridden by his own party’s majority with the help of Democratic lawmakers. He’s called for the closing of college campuses, saying South Carolina has too many. He’s vetoed a cigarette tax increase because lawmakers won’t use the money to cut income taxes.

This, however, is the highest profile battle of them all.

About $2.8 billion in federal stimulus money is intended for South Carolina over the next two years. Sanford has said he’ll take nearly all of that, but not the $700 million set aside to spare schools and colleges from budget cuts and layoffs. He has more control over that money than the other cash and wants it used in some way to offset state debt — a plan twice rejected by the White House.

Although Sanford is getting criticism from legislative leaders in his own party who say the money is essential, it is the opposition of U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., that could have the most impact.

While Sanford can make headlines, Clyburn can engineer legislation. He thought he already had plotted a course to bypass the governor, authoring an amendment that would give the Legislature power to accept the stimulus money should the governor fail to act. Constitutional questions surround the provision — but lawmakers have been urged to go back to the drawing board and take action that will stand any legal test. They say it can be done.

And look for Clyburn to do just that.

Speaking at The Citadel on Monday, he said he is working with federal Education Secretary Arne Duncan and lawmakers to try to get around Sanford’s opposition. He would not comment to The Associated Press on his strategy, but promised to have legislation in place by a June deadline.

“I do not plan for a single dime that should be going to the people of South Carolina to go to North Carolina or Georgia or any other state,” he vowed.

And he chastised Sanford for his stand: “He is saying to children in these schools that need to be fixed, that I am so concerned you are going to have to pay this back 25 years down the road that I’m going to deny you a solid education that will prepare you to pay it back. You tell me how that makes sense?”

Sanford vs. Clyburn: The congressman may yet have the final say, and ironically with the support of Sanford’s fellow Republicans.

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