Stimulus Money Won’t Solve SC Funding Problems

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Don’t for a moment think that South
Carolina’s budget problems will be solved with $350 million in
federal stimulus money that has been the subject of a monthslong
dispute.
    The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Gov. Mark
Sanford to seek $700 million in federal stimulus money over the
next two years that he contended he alone controlled and refused to
request.
    Though Sanford lost his battles, and the designated money will
flow to South Carolina, budget holes will remain.
    Hundreds of teachers’ jobs will be lost. State workers will
continue to take unpaid days off. And college tuition will still
increase.
   
    (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)