Georgia Could Get Extra Stimulus Money

South Carolina may refuse a portion of its economic stimulus dollars, and that could mean an extra $20 million for Georgia.

The money would likely go to schools and law enforcement here.

The report comes as South Carolina's governor, Mark Sanford, continues to say he'll refuse $700 million of that state's stimulus allocation. Sanford wants to use that money on debt. Federal law specifically allocates the money for education and public safety.

If Sanford refuses the money,then it will likely be divvied up between the other states, say analysts with the South Carolina senate finance committee, led by Senator Hugh Leatherman, a fellow Republican who has very openly opposed Sanford's stance. The committee's report projects how much each state will receive, based on a formula in the stimulus legislation.

Sanford has said it’s not stimulative to spend federal dollars on bureaucracies that don’t work, although he plans to accept most of the $8 billion allocated to his state.

Sanford has faced enormous public pressure to keep the money for South Carolina. His opponents say losing the money would mean laying off thousands of teachers and school staff.

Spokesmen for both Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Department of Education, meanwhile, declined to comment on the issue.