South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has until Friday to choose between the philosophical and the fiscal as the deadline to accept $700 million in federal stimulus money approaches, the Wall Street Journal reports. Sanford wants authority over the funds, earmarked for education and public safety, and has pledged to refuse them unless the legislature agrees to pay down debt—an action it says it can’t afford.
Overseeing the nation’s second-highest unemployment rate (11%) and shortfalls across education, Sanford risks alienating even his most strident supporters. The governor has not refused $2.8 billion for roads, but feels much of the stimulus is unwarranted and eventually harmful spending. South Carolina has cut its budget by $1 billion since August and will likely lay off up to 5,000 teachers without the money. (More Mark Sanford stories.)