COLUMBIA --- South Carolina would get nearly $3 billion from the $819 billion stimulus package approved by the U.S. House, but members of Beaufort County's Statehouse delegation say the Democrat-led solution to the economic crisis is irresponsible and misguided.

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"The whole approach is so wrongheaded and so wrong for the economy," said state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort. "It moves us toward socialism and away from private initiative and enterprise."

U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, praised the plan, which passed without any Republican votes. He said the package will invest $3.2 billion, including money for transportation infrastructure and education, over the next decade in South Carolina. It is estimated to create or save 37,000 jobs in the state by 2010 and shrink the state's unemployment rate by 1.7 percent.

The recession has been particularly hard on South Carolina. The state has the third-highest unemployment rate and is one of about a half-dozen states to require a federal loan to pay unemployment benefits.

Still, Beaufort County lawmakers differ sharply with Mr. Clyburn.

State Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, said he opposed the bill but stressed the need for accountability if South Carolina receives the funds. He said it's not clear how any funds would be spent.

"Wild borrowing and undersupervised lending is a big part of how we got in this economic crisis," he said. "Is more undersupervised borrowing going to get us out of it?"

He added, "If we do go through with it, we should get a portion for roads and bridges and other infrastructure."

Mr. Herbkersman said the House Ways and Means Committee, which he joined this session, should direct the state's portion of the funding.

"The recovery approach taken by the Obama administration is the wrong one," Mr. Davis said. "It's trying to jump-start the economy top-down by having the government get involved in the economy."

State Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, said she's fielded concerns from her constituents about the plan, and she echoes their opposition.

"That being said, if the bailout brings funds to South Carolina, there are many areas that I would like to see benefit from them," she said.

"I think we in South Carolina will not take these funds for granted and will do our very to direct them to areas with the highest impact."

Reach Sarita Chourey at (803) 727-4257 or sarita.chourey@morris.com.