Even after losing his fierce battle against receiving federal budget stabilization funds, Gov Mark Sanford (R-SC) is still working to ensure that South Carolina's stimulus spending is done on his terms. On Wednesday, Gov Sanford announced the creation of a five member committee to oversee applications for federal broadband infrastructure stimulus funds. Under this year's federal stimulus act, public and private groups across the state can apply for broadband grants from a national $7.2 billion pool that are then forwarded to the governor's office for prioritization. "Going back to the Executive Budget of 2006, we've consistently advocated for expanding broadband access as a means of improving the economic environment and spurring on development in our state," Gov Sanford said. "This group of experts and statewide voices represents a small but important opportunity for us not only to work toward this larger notion of improving economic soil conditions, but indeed prioritize the way federal stimulus dollars get spent. "So while we continue to believe that the so-called stimulus was fundamentally flawed in spending money the federal government doesn't have, given that it's now a reality, we think it's vital that these dollars have the maximum impact possible and that's what this committee is all about."
