News and Press Releases for June 2007

Back to June 2007 Releases

Governor Sanford Issues Statement on Budget Vetoes

6/29/2007

Columbia, S.C. - Governor Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on the House sustaining 15 of 243 items vetoed by the governor, for a total of $1.8 million out of the $167 million vetoed. This means the Legislature saw fit to trim just one-tenth of one percent of the new money coming into Columbia this year.

"While we would have certainly liked to have seen more from the House, I would give them credit for taking their time in at least considering these vetoes," Gov. Sanford said. There were also some real taxpayer heroes who stood tall in efforts to sustain vetoes and hold spending in check, and for their efforts I thank them.

While we have some great allies in the Senate, as a body they rolled through vetoes while failing to have any real deliberations and I think this represents a downright dereliction of duty on their part. It's particularly disturbing when the legislative body that considers itself 'deliberative' would avoid debate on whether or not it really makes sense to spend another $1.5 billion and grow government by 16 percent this year - especially given that the average South Carolinian's paycheck has grown by less than half that rate. We don't think it makes common sense to grow government twice as fast as people's wallets and pocketbooks are growing in our state.

"Whether it's been with workers' compensation reform, DOT restructuring, or one of the largest tax cuts in state history, we've worked with the House and with some in the Senate on some very important changes this year. But let me be very clear - it was a mistake and a squandered opportunity for the legislature to not have used these vetoes as a chance to more adequately address our state's $9 billion unfunded liability, particularly when we've had more new money come into state government than ever before. While the spending train plowed ahead today, I am quite certain that taxpayers will be paying for these spending decisions over the next few years."