By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

March 11, 2009 – South Carolina’s top congressional lawmaker is furious with the governor for rejecting stimulus dollars which would allow the state to create jobs, increase unemployment benefits and offer tax credits for college tuition.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) issued a statement when he got word that Republican Gov. Mark Sanford announced he would not take the money allocated for his state in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.   

Thursday President Barack Obama has invited each state’s point person for the stimulus package to Washington to be part of a roundtable discussion on how the money should be spent. The meeting will be lead by Vice President Joe Biden, who will head up the spending oversight. But it looks like when attendance is taken South Carolina will be absent. 

“We waited three weeks after the recovery package was signed into law for Gov.  Sanford to unveil, with great fanfare, yet another political chess move towards the 2012 presidential race,” Clyburn charged.

 Sanford has been very outspoken and made a point to define himself in opposition to President Barack Obama. This political move has earned him national media attention in  prominent publications and started the buzz that he’s eyeing a presidential run in 2012.

Sanford is doing what several conservative members of the House and other Republican governors had threatened to do – decline their portion of the stimulus.  But other than “fanfare” it’s not clear this move will decrease the deficit or overall spending by the feds. 

Clyburn believes it will have the opposite impact and said economists agree the investments in this recovery package are necessary to save and create jobs, and stimulate the economy.

“As a matter of fact, while prudent in times of economic stability, paying down debt in a time of recession has the opposite effect; it deepens and lengthens economic downturns,” Clyburn contends.   
 
South Carolina’s unemployment rate is 10.4 percent, and reaches double-digits in 35 of the state’s counties. Clyburn charges the governor is doing this for political gain only and without thought for the folks needing this assistance in the state.  

African Americans make up 28.7 percent of the population and vote Democratic, however, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) carried the state in the 2008 presidential race.  “Governor Sanford will sleep well at night because he has improved his ‘conservative record’ and raised his national profile,” Clyburn said.

The only hope now for South Caroline is for the South Carolina Legislature to pass a resolution that will allow them to claim the funds; that’s what Clyburn is recommending.

It’s not clear how the White House is taking this latest strategy, but I’m waiting to hear from them. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst 

Feb. 16, 2008 – When President Obama signs the $787 billion stimulus package into law Tuesday, Black Americans could see the impact in their communities — sooner rather than later.  But it’s not a magic bullet; some things take more time.  

Last week Black lawmakers made a point to express their pleasure with the spirit of the final bill even with some minor cuts to favored programs.  Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) said, the package remains “the largest economic stimulant in history.”  

And the dollars in it will be welcome back home. “We lined up the initial package with the needs of the people we represent then we measured it along with what we were able to give them.  The people we represent can feel comfortable with this package.  What we wanted in this package is what made it.”

Cleaver‘s district isn’t alone when it comes to meeting the “need” this economic surge of cash will deliver.  House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) one of the Democratic leadership responsible for moving the bill forward said, “We are pleased President Obama focused his tax cuts on the poor and middle class.”

New York Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) said, “People in our communities see their salaries and they see their paychecks and notice a lot is missing.  People are working hard every day and still can’t afford to pay their bills and now we have a President that can help them.”

The bill will offer up hope for folks struggling in the tight job market.  Of the 3.4 million jobs projected in the legislation thousands of these jobs will be in states with large minority populations.  For example, Missouri, Cleaver’s state could see an estimated 70,000 new jobs; South Carolina 50,000; and New York 215,000. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act estimates on job creation were derived from an analysis conducted by the Council of Economic Advisers and the chief economist for the vice president.

According to their state-by-state analysis states like Michigan, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania will see upwards of 150,000 new jobs statewide.  

“We’re proud we can take home a real solution to the constituents in our communities who have been waiting for a hand up from the government,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said.  Her state could see close to 400,000 new jobs.

But this is just the beginning Waters said, “We made sure that there is a continuation of stabilization funds for foreclosures in this bill.  We asked for $4 billion, we got $2 billion and we’re going after TARP next!  We’re on our way to correcting serious ills in this country.”

Along with jobs the bill now awaiting the president’s signature will also help extend unemployment benefits, prevent teacher lay-offs, provide for school repairs, infrastructure repairs to roads and public transit as well as provide foreclosure assistance.  

Waters summed it up, “We can say to our constituents we took care of you.”

What do you think is needed in your community?

By Pamela Gentry,  Senior Political Analyst

 Feb. 9, 2008 – President Obama made the case for his economic plan during his first nationally televised news conference.  He called on his critics to “set aside” differences and work with him to get the economy back on track and the American people back to work.

“It is absolutely true that we cannot depend on government alone to create jobs or economic growth. That is and must be the role of the private sector. But at this particular moment, with the private sector so weakened by this recession, the federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back to life,” he said in his opening statement.

Questions were raised about his outreach to Republicans, repairing the banking system, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, but the majority of the questions centered on the economy.

Obama said he would judge the success of his economic plan if it opened credit markets and lenders were confident in the economy; housing market stabilized; job loss declined and new jobs were created.

“The recovery and reinvestment package is not the only thing we have to do. It’s one leg of the stool. We are still going to have to make sure that we are attracting private capital, get the credit markets flowing again, because that’s the lifeblood of the economy.

 What do you think of the President’s speech? Do you think he made a strong case?