COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s Supreme Court ordered Gov. Mark Sanford on Thursday to request $700 million in federal stimulus money aimed primarily at struggling schools, ending months of wrangling with legislators who accused him of playing politics with people’s lives.
The nation’s most vocal anti-bailout governor had refused to take the money designated for the state over the next two years, facing down protesters and legislators who passed a budget requiring him to. While other Republican governors had taken issue with requesting money from the $787 billion federal stimulus package, Sanford was the first to defend in court his rejection of the funds.
He said Thursday, however, that he would not appeal the Supreme Court ruling and plans to sign paperwork to request the money Monday.
Educators quickly hailed the court decision. They had predicted hundreds of teachers would lose jobs and that colleges would see steep tuition increases without the money, though sharp budget cuts will still take a toll.
The stimulus fight has raised the national profile of Sanford, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, and prompted talk of a 2012 GOP presidential bid.
The former congressman objected to the stimulus money on several levels that were consistent with his small-government, anti-spending stances: He claimed it would devalue the dollar and increase debt.
When fellow Republicans who control the Legislature pushed for the cash, Sanford said they were overstepping their reach into his executive powers.
The unanimous court ruling said the governor had no say in the matter. “He has no discretion concerning the appropriation of funds,” it said.
Sanford had refused to request the $700 million — the portion of the $2.8 billion bound for the state that he says he controls — unless legislators agreed to offset state debt by an equal amount.
The White House twice rejected that idea, noting the money must be used to help education and avoid job losses.
