More than $480,000 in ‘stimulus’ so far | Commentary | Summerville Journal Scene

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More than $480,000 in ‘stimulus’ so far

Published Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:51 AM

By Richard Eckstrom - Comptroller General
Summerville Journal Scene ®

At the recent meeting of the S.C. Stimulus Oversight Task Force, I was pleased to introduce state Treasurer Converse Chellis as a co-chairman. Treasurer Chellis was chosen by the state legislature this summer to join me in heading up the task force, which is charged with accounting for federal “stimulus” dollars to ensure they are not misused.

I had previously asked state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and state Medicaid director Emma Forkner to help co-chair the committee, and I am grateful for their efforts.

To date, South Carolina programs and agencies have received slightly more than $480 million in stimulus money. Agencies that have received the money are:

n Department of Health and Human Services, $312 million

n Employment Security Commission, $68 million

n Department of Social Services, $42 million

n Department of Public Safety, $23 million

n Department of Education, $17 million

n Governor’s Office, $12 million

n Department of Commerce, $3 million

n Department of Health and Environmental Control, $2 million

n Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging, $222 thousand

n Department of Transportation, $24 thousand

The Stimulus Oversight Task Force consists of more than 40 volunteers, mainly from state agencies which will receive the funds.

You’re probably aware that there is a wide range of views on the stimulus package. The White House argued that the stimulus was needed to quickly create jobs, and that the economy would immediately begin improving if Congress passed it. None of that has happened. Frankly, I believe there’s far too much wasteful spending in the stimulus package -- things that have nothing to do with improving the economy, like $50 million to endow the arts and $16 million to preserve the habitat of a kind of mouse in San Francisco.

But whether or not you like the stimulus, one thing is clear: There’s absolutely no money for any of this. We’re spending borrowed money, and we’re saddling future generations -- our children and grandchildren -- with unparalleled debt.

It’s because future generations will be repaying this debt that we have an obligation to closely follow the stimulus money to see that it’s spent as intended and to reduce the risk of fraud or waste.

Regardless of one’s personal opinion on the stimulus, South Carolinians can be sure accountability measures are in place, and that the Stimulus Oversight Task Force will provide much needed scrutiny as billions of dollars flow into South Carolina. I will continue to issue regular reports, such as this one, to keep citizens as informed as possible.

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