SC gov hints that stimulus fight may soon end

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford predicts his fight to block federal money for schools is coming to an end and says he won’t appeal court decisions on the issue.
   
Sanford told reporters Monday that he wasn’t optimistic the court would side with him in a months-long battle against $700 million intended to spare schools and colleges from deep budget cuts.
   
On Monday, a federal judge rejected Sanford’s argument that two state Supreme Court cases that aim to force him to request the money should be handled in U.S. District Court.
   
Sanford says if he loses the Supreme Court cases he’ll drop his federal lawsuit against the stimulus money.
   
In all, South Carolina agencies and programs stand to get up to $2.8 billion over two years from Washington.