GREENVILLE, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford talked about his position on accepting federal stimulus money to a group at Furman University on Monday evening.

Sanford fielded questions from the public about the economy and his case for not accepting stimulus cash.

Some protesters also waved posters urging Sanford to accept the money and use it for education.

Sanford said his stance on the issue is firm. He said that stimulus funds should be used to pay down debt or not at all.

“He hasn’t submitted another proposal to address how he would deal with the redistricting in public schools and reforms that need to happen if the money were to be implemented or accepted,” said Andrew Lee, a senior at Furman.

“Like he said we don’t even know if this is going to work or not,” said Christopher Mills, another senior at Furman. “So an option like paying down debt is very attractive because it reduces the burden on our generation and at the same time makes our state better off.”

Sanford has submitted two requests to the federal government for a waiver to use the funds to pay off debt; both have been denied.

Sanford said legislators must now decide how to spend the money, which they said they will accept even if he does not.