Gov. Mark Sanford indicated he’s said all he is going to say about talk of his possible impeachment.

And in Orangeburg on Monday, the two-term Republican would say no more about his present family situation than that he spent the weekend in Beaufort with wife Jenny and his sons.

The first lady no longer lives with Sanford in Columbia, having exited in the wake of the scandal over Sanford’s absence from the state during a trip to see a mistress in Argentina. The governor is under fire also over his use of state aircraft and travel costs.

What Sanford did say was a lot about state government. He said he would push during his final 16 months in office to fix the “absolutely broken structure” in Columbia and put the brakes on spending.

“The question we need to ask ourselves is where do we go from here?” Sanford said.

A packed house of Kiwanis and Rotary club members inside the Orangeburg Country Club dining room pondered the same question in the wake of a tumultuous two months that have seen the governor reject calls for his resignation.



The House Republican Caucus said this weekend it wants Sanford gone but stopped short of calling for his resignation or impeachment until a State Ethics Commission probe is complete.

While Sanford did apologize Monday for his “moral failure,” he made it clear to the media that any discussion regarding his recent misgivings or possible impeachment were off the table.

“I’ve given all the comments on the front,” he said.

After the speech, he refused further comment when reporters asked for details about the weekend with his family.



As the governor heads into his final legislative session next year to work with a General Assembly that may well move to impeach him, Sanford said there should be a cap on what the state can spend each year.

He noted the cap should be linked to how much revenue the state collects.

Holding up several charts, Sanford pointed out the federal government’s debt has now ballooned to 100 percent of the national gross domestic product and state government spending has grown by $2 billion in the past few years.

“We really need to look at getting our financial houses in order,” he said.

Sanford railed against President Barack Obama’s stimulus package and rejected federal money from it until the state Supreme Court overruled him earlier this year. Prior to publicly admitting his extramarital affair, many speculated Sanford’s stance against the stimulus was posturing for a potential presidential run.

He told the Orangeburg audience it’s clear his life in politics is over when he leaves the Governor’s Mansion after 2010.

Between now and then, Sanford said he still has goals.

Sanford outlined initiatives such as requiring the governor and lieutenant governor to run on the same ticket instead of seeking office separately. He said factionalism inside the executive branch could be ended by allowing the governor to appoint some officers that currently require elections.

He did not specifically say which offices should fall under that category.

Also, he called for abolishing the state Budget and Control Board.

Sanford said lawmakers often get rewarded for bringing money to their districts. But he said the state Budget and Control Board has to do the heavy lifting when it comes time to make budgets cuts after the legislative session ends.

He says the current system skews accountability for the state’s purse stings.

Sanford said he would be willing to bet the audience couldn’t name everyone who serves on the board, which is comprised of the chairmen of the House and Senate budget-writing committees, the state treasurer, comptroller general and governor.

He also reiterated his desire to restructure the state Employment Security Commission. Last December, Sanford threatened to not accept a federal loan needed to keep the state’s unemployment fund solvent as leverage to reform the agency. He said Monday that one-third of the state’s unemployment checks go to businesses or temporary and seasonal workers.

One audience member said he likes Sanford’s vision. He asked what is standing in the way of making the changes.

“Enough of us haven’t made noise on it,” Sanford responded.

Retiree Thomas Langford asked Sanford why colleges are spending so much money.

Sanford cited the competition among colleges to stand out and the current system. He said he’s proposed putting a moratorium on college capital projects until the economy improves.

Sanford also gave insight on his plans after leaving office, saying he plans to revive his real estate career. He said he plans to live at his Beaufort farm with his wife and children.

Photos By CHRISTOPHER HUFF/T&D

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.

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