Sanford says no to federal money

The governor speaks against calls for more money from Washington for new state public works spending, lifesaving dollars for the auto industry and even stimulus checks.

Sanford says his position makes him a lonely man as the nation sinks deeper into a recession, state budgets everywhere are shrinking and unemployment rates are soaring. Sanford defends his unpopular positions by saying that the nation is getting too far in debt.
   
South Carolina does need federal help though. The state’s fund to pay unemployment benefits is almost insolvent and needs a loan from the federal government to continue writing checks after the first of the year. Sanford is holding up the request for that money until the state’s unemployment agency agrees to make changes in the way it does business.