WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Rep. Clyburn has strong words for Gov. Mark Sanford

Rep. Clyburn has strong words for Gov. Mark Sanford

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Representative James Clyburn held a roundtable meeting to discuss how the newly-signed stimulus package will affect South Carolina.

He said not only would it create jobs, but also repair roads and bridges around the state.

Clyburn also had some strong comments for Gov. Mark Sanford on why he thinks he opposed the stimulus.

"The governor of Louisiana expressed opposition. Has the highest African-American population in the country. Governor of Mississippi expressed opposition. The governor of Texas, and the governor of South Carolina. These four governor's represent states that are in the black belt. I was insulted by that," Clyburn said. "All of this was a slap in the face of African-Americans. It had nothing to do with Governor Sanford."

Clyburn also said that the money is there, and its up to the state to use it to create the jobs.

A spokesman from the governor's office says, "Representative Clyburn is no stranger to playing the race card, because he has no defense for the runaway spending and the deficits contained in this so-called stimulus bil that will hurt our economy. Spending money at the federal level that we do not have represents a future tax increase on all South Carolinians, regardless of their color - and in the process of doing so, he's ripping off everyone he claims to represent."

In the 1,000+ page bill, billions are set to come to South Carolina. Most of that in these key areas:

• Highway Infrastructure: $463,081,483
• Education Title I grants: $204,655,290
• Unemployment Benefits Extension: $406,464,835
• State Fiscal Stabilization Fund: $700,643,202
• Pay Tax Cuts: $1,712,142,296

Congressman Clyburn says despite what Republican lawmakers think, spending in these areas will create jobs. While the state has the third highest unemployment rate in the country, Clyburn says we are destined to reverse that trend.

"There's too much right about South Carolina for us to have 9.5 percent unemployment. There's too much right about this state for us to have this problem. Visionary leadership is the problem," Clyburn said.

With jabs being tossed from both sides of the aisle, President Obama called for bipartisan negotiations in ironing out the bill. Like the governor, every Republican in the house opposed the bill.

"You would like to have bipartisan participation but that's no requirement for passing a law. Nor is it a requirement for making it a success," Clyburn said.

Despite who may be right or wrong, the money is on the way and local and state offices are already planning on ways to spend it.

Reported by Stewart Moore

Posted by Jeremy Turnage