To join our Weekly Press Clips email list, please click here!

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“The governor, after all, is only trying to address what anybody, on the left or right, ought to acknowledge as a serious long-term problem. Sanford’s South Carolina –- like many other states and, to a much greater degree, like the federal government itself –- is facing a tremendous debt obligation. The state is now fourth in the nation with respect to the percentage of tax revenue spent on debt service–that is, the millions of taxpayer dollars that don’t go to schools or bridges or anything else that Frank presumably thinks are important governmental responsibilities. Further, the state’s pension plan has fallen to the bottom 15 percent of plans nationwide in unfunded liabilities. If these and related problems continue to go unaddressed, later generations of South Carolinians will face the consequences in the form of tax hikes, benefit cuts, and recession.” – Mallory Factor op-ed on Governor Sanford’s proposal to use stimulus dollars to address long-term debt obligations

“If lawmakers have a hope of moving Sanford to use the $700 million, they will have to do their part by coming up with a budget that recognizes our economic realities. While many people don’t want to see money intended for South Carolina — money we will have to pay back — go elsewhere, they also don’t want to see state legislators spend one-time money as if it’s always going to be there. That’s a bad habit we’ve suffered from many times over.” – Beaufort Gazette editorial calling for smart budgeting

“South Carolina athletics director Eric Hyman is not letting the recession hold up his plan for the Gamecocks’ athletics facilities…The board of trustees’ building and grounds committee approved $19 million in construction costs for the 60,000-square-foot administration building…Trustees also signed off on $5.3 million for the tennis facility, $8.8 million for the parking garage and $16.6 million in infrastructure costs for utilities, landscaping, lighting and walkways in the athletics village.” – State article on USC funding priorities

“School-choice advocates are questioning why the State Department of Education is spending millions on consultants, some of whom are politically connected.  That includes more than $58,000 paid so far this fiscal year to Democratic consultant Zeke Stokes, who ran State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex’s successful 2006 campaign, catapulting the only Democrat into statewide office.” – The State examining questionable contracts received by political staffers

FEATURES OF THE WEEK

Gov. Sanford suggests using stimulus to shore up retirement system
Munson: Legislature should pass restructuring
Questions raised about consultants being paid by Jim Rex’s Dept. of Ed
Despite economic realities, USC to spend $50 million on athletics project
Policy Council, others examine state’s high marginal tax rate

COMMON-SENSE, GOOD GOVERNMENT

Lawmakers approach finish line
The State urges lawmakers to address DHEC restructuring
Warnings come to pass: State retirement gap widens
Herald-Journal says Legislature dragging its heels on spending limits
Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette editorial slams Senate for “chaos budget”
FITS examines problems with capital police force bill

EDUCATION REFORM

Post and Courier editorializes in favor of giving school vouchers a chance
Columbia Star: School Choice a win win
Greenville News editorial calls growth in charter schools a positive for the state…
…as group battles with Greenville County School District over charter approval

ELECTIONS

Two gubernatorial hopefuls report $1 million for race

MISC

Mallory Factor takes Left to task for their attacks on Gov. Sanford
Republicans plan anti-tax ‘tea party’