Eckstrom taps Rex, Forkner to co-chair Stimulus Task Force

COLUMBIA, SC – April 27, 2009 – Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom announced that state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and state Department of Health and Human Services director Emma Forkner have agreed to join him as co-chairs of the S.C. Stimulus Oversight, Accountability and Coordination Task Force.

 The Task Force was created last month by Executive Order of the Governor, and Eckstrom was selected as its chairman. The purpose of the Task Force is to ensure that federal stimulus funds are used as intended and to cut down on opportunities for waste and mismanagement.

“This is an important challenge, and I would like to thank Jim and Emma for their willingness to help lead this Task Force,” Eckstrom said. “Whether or not one agrees with the massive spending bill approved by Congress, what’s clear is that we now must have in place strong controls to make sure that federal dollars are spent wisely and only for their intended purpose.”

Prior to its passage, Eckstrom had strongly opposed the $787 billion stimulus package. “But now that it has passed, we must to do everything we can to ensure the funds are properly spent,” he said.  “For the stimulus to have any chance at succeeding in moving our economy forward, we can’t let any of these funds be wasted. Let there be no mistake about who will pay off the obligations we incur for this spending: It won’t be us. It will be our children and grandchildren. It is our obligation to properly track and report for every dollar spent.”