Governor Not Working On New Budget Proposal

**Update 2:00 p.m.**

Statement from the Governor's Office:
Let’s be clear the governor already proposed a budget, and it was done in January. It’s interesting that this is the first year that Senator Leatherman is actually interested in what the governor has to say on the budget. Had he listened and taken a more conservative approach to spending the governor suggested over the past six years, we would not be in the shape we’re in right now.

The fact is that Senator Leatherman does not speak for the entire Senate on the budget. A number of Senators who agree with us that it isn’t smart to spend every penny in stimulus money have come to us for technical assistance in creating their own proposal. We’ve provided the help they asked for, as we have in every other case, be it with legislative or budget assistance. We’ll continue to provide that kind of assistance to any Senator looking to advance the debate on the budget.

Unfortunately, this morning’s comments again demonstrate that Senator Leatherman is unable or unwilling to shoot straight and approach this budget debate with the honesty it deserves. He told the governor to his face two weeks ago that he was leaving $578 million off the table, and he said in Senate Finance this morning that the opposite was true. Senator Leatherman needs to stop with the chaos budgets, the games and the delay tactics, and put forward a real budget for discussion.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The South Carolina Senate's chief budget writer says Gov. Mark Sanford is drafting a counterproposal on state spending.

The Senate Finance Committee met for the first time Tuesday after a week off. Chairman Hugh Leatherman of Florence said the committee would delay work on detailed spending until it reviews Sanford's plan.

Sanford has said for weeks that legislators can address shortfalls by adopting his proposals to cut an additional $270 million from agency spending. Spending already has been cut by $1 billion since July.

Sanford has refused to request $350 million in federal funds intended to spare education programs and jobs unless the money is somehow used to reduce debt.

Earlier story: Senators Work On 2 Budgets: One With Stimulus, One Without

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Senators return to their desks after a week off to write the budget and a separate plan to spend $350 million in federal stimulus cash that Gov. Mark Sanford insists should be used to lower state debt.

The Senate Finance Committee meets Tuesday morning to work out details on the state budget.

The main budget will cut heavily into state spending and particularly schools and colleges because it won't use the $350 million intended to spare education programs and jobs. But senators also will write a second spending bill that uses the money.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman says the second bill will keep the state's primary budget plan from getting tied up in legal challenges if legislators force Sanford to spend the stimulus money.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)