News
Watch the Arguments
S.C. ETV provided live streaming video of the arguments before the court. The petitioners (those bringing the lawsuit) were given 20 minutes to present their case, followed by 20 minutes from the respondents. The petitioners then had 10 minutes to rebut.
Click here to view.
3 questions
The five-judge S.C. Supreme Court heard attorneys’ arguments about the stimulus funding. Here are three issues that emerged Wednesday that could decide the case.
1. Congressional intent. Chief Justice Jean Toal and Justice Don Beatty asked questions about whether Congress intended to give Gov. Mark Sanford sole control over the stimulus money, as the governor contends.
2. Who can order spending. What happens when federal law isn’t clear on who should control spending? Justices asked questions that suggested the federal law isn’t clear. In the absence of clarity in federal law, state law prevails.
3. Balance of power. Justices listened to the attorneys spar over how the state constitution allocates power. Sanford’s attorneys say lawmakers are trying to grab authority federal law gives him. Attorneys fighting Sanford over the money say he is trying to grab federal authority by ordering the Legislature to spend stimulus money on debt when the money is meant to help struggling schools and law enforcement agencies balance their budgets.
Where the money goes
How the state would spend this year’s portion of the disputed $700 million in federal stimulus money. The money is paid in two equal installments over the next two years.
K-12 schools $185 million
State colleges $100 million
Public safety $15 million
Prisons $22 million
SOURCE: S.C. General Assembly
