Brief update from a story I posted last week concernig a legal challange to Governor Sanford's refusal to accept Federal stimulas funds.

According to Columbia’s State Newspaper:

“A Chapin High School student has filed a lawsuit asking the S.C. Supreme Court whether lawmakers can force Gov. Mark Sanford to accept federal stimulus money. Read the lawsuit (PDF) According to Columbia’s State News Paper, “The suit was filed by Columbia attorneys Dwight Drake and Dick Harpootlian on behalf of Casey Edwards, an 18-year-old high school senior. The suit asks the S.C. Supreme Court to hear the case before any lower state courts, and seeks to confirm that the egislature has the final say about how federal stimulus money is spent in the state.”

 
In a ruling late this afternoon the South Carolina Surpreme Court ruled that Governor Mark Sanford had the authority not to apply for the Federal Stimulas funds and the Legaslature  did not have the authority to overrule his decision.  The Federal law seemed clear to me and apparantly to the the Justices on the Surpreme Court.  Great example of how tax dollers are wasted every day in South Carolina. South Carolina Attorney General, Henry McMaster released the following statement.< Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]-->

 According to S.C. Attorney General, Henry McMaster <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]-->

Columbia, S.C. –“I am pleased that the Supreme Court agreed with our position that this lawsuit was premature. This decision allows the governor and the legislature to resolve the issue free of any extraneous complications.”

View the Court’s Order:

http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/courtOrders/displayOrder.cfm?orderNo=2009-

04-22-01