S.C. Governor Mark Sanford Taking Stimulus Money He Vowed To Reject

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford said last year that taking stimulus money would lead to “a thing called slavery” and likened it to “fiscal child abuse.” He even went to court to fight the funds. In particular, Sanford objected to jobless benefits for people who previously did not qualify for help.  But now he’s taking the money. (h/t Think Progress)

Two months ago, however, with the bright lights of political promise dimmed by a scandal involving an extramarital affair, Mr. Sanford quietly signed a bill passed by the Legislature that expanded eligibility for unemployment benefits. The move paved the way for the state to claim $97.5 million in stimulus money to bolster its financially ailing unemployment insurance trust fund.

The federal Department of Labor announced Tuesday that South Carolina had officially cleared its approval process and that the stimulus money was being released immediately.

The reversal by Mr. Sanford attracted virtually no notice, but it made South Carolina the 33rd state in the country to expand jobless benefits to qualify for its full share of stimulus money under the program, according to the National Employment Law Project, a liberal advocacy group.

Sanford isn’t the only governor to take the money after vowing not to.

Govs. Dave Heineman (R-NE), Sonny Perdue (R-GA), and Phil Bredesen (D-TN) all also made similar vows not to take stimulus funds for jobless benefits, only to eventually relent.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.