Casey Edwards was just a high school student in South Carolina, trying to help other students. She had seen Corridor of Shame, a documentary about the deplorable conditions of South Carolina schools, and with her friends, helped raise money for one of the schools.

Then the recession hit, things got worse, but the federal government passed the stimulus bill, which would channel millions to South Carolina schools. That is, until Governor Mark Sanford (R) refused to take some of the money, despite threats by Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature to overrule him. Sanford vetoed the legislation and then when overruled, still refused to ask for $700 million the state was eligible for, unless cuts were made to offset that amount, citing concerns of debt to future South Carolina citizens.

So Casey Edwards took him to court, and the case made it to the state Supreme Court. Yesterday the ruling was issued and the Governor has been ordered to ask for the $700 million in stimulus funding, a portion of which will go to South Carolina school system. Sanford had previously agreed to abide by whatever the court decided, despite questioning the balance of state power .