Mr. Norquist on Cspan today “our life expectancy would fall” if we adopted universal health We should be so lucky! "OECD countries have enjoyed large gains in life expectancy over the past 40 years.the United States, life expectancy increased by 7.6 years between 1960 and 2003, which is less than the increase of over 14 years in Japan, or 8.6 years in Canada. In 2003/4, life expectancy in the United States stood at 77.5 years, below the OECD average of 78.3 years.
>> Fred Friday, March 13, 2009 10:46 AM

Governor Sanford has hit the nail or the head. If you use stimulus (taxpayer) money to retire existing state debt, put a balanced budget in balance, put a transparicy plan in place for expeditures his state would be a leader not a member of the pack of not responsible state governments.
>> Steve Mohler Friday, March 13, 2009 3:54 PM

Fred is wrong about life expectancy. The report didn't include car accidents, war and other accidental deaths. Nice try Fred.
>> biff Friday, March 13, 2009 3:57 PM

I wonder if the Clyburn(D) clause is unconstitutional. For example, take the money for unemployment expansion, some states would have to change their constitution/charter. That sounds like extortion. The sad part is the money goes away by 2010. Now you're left with typical unfunded federal mandate. Oh, btw: I am in favor of states rights.
>> Jim Friday, March 13, 2009 4:48 PM

The Democrats have never seen a spending bill they don't like. Mr Clyburn wants to keep getting elected. And he will if he keeps giving away the taxpayers money. Once uninformed voters find out they can vote themselves money, they will..
>> Shirley Saturday, March 14, 2009 1:44 PM

Spend, spend, spend. Democrats in congress know no other way. Republicans should have known better in the past. They have gotten a little smarter lately. Just give us tax breaks/incentives and infrastructure repairs and junk the other pork. We don't need debt now that we will have to pay for later. The economy is on the mend without willful spending. Bam and his slugs are socialists, pure and simple. T.C. Bear
>> Thomas Chubco Bear Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:31 PM

How did the fiscally responsible govenor end up with this much deficit? Seems like a lot of craziness to me. Obviously you spent more than you took in to have a deficit and now you want the other states to bail you out so you can run for higher office. I don't think it will happen.
>> Susie Sunday, March 15, 2009 8:24 PM

I think Sanford is full of what ever he is talking about digging! SC people are 3rd highest in unemployed but yet he is fighting not to help us. Give it up people, we need help at least until some jobs come about. I think anyone against ext. unemployment has a job but you better wake up because when the spending stops your job may be the next to go! By the way, I hope it does then you will feel what we have and watch everything you have ever worked for disappear!
>> shead Sunday, March 15, 2009 10:42 PM

South Carolina has an antiquated system where the legislature has much more power than the govenor. Gov. Sanford has been fighting this system for years, trying to hold back spending increases, but the good-ole-boy legislature has increased spending year after year. Gov. Sanford has warned and warned about the costs associated with this kind of reckless spending, but even the Republicans in the legislature wouldn't listen. Now, the state is in a mess.
>> CWMoore Monday, March 16, 2009 8:56 AM

As for the high unemployment number for SC, the state has a big problem with illegal immigrants who claim unemployment benefits and she lost her biggest employer,the textile industry to oversees competition. No federal bailout for the South, go figure.
>> CWMoore Monday, March 16, 2009 8:57 AM