GOP governor's have broken ranks with their Congressional colleagues and are pushing for passage of the Pork-Chop bill 2009. Many of their states are experiencing severe budgetary challenges in areas such as Medicaid and public works. Areas which the Obastimulus is supposed to direct billions in support.
Sarah Palin, the GOP hopeful in 2012, is lobbying Mitch McConnell, and other members of the Senate GOP delegation, this weekend for Alaska's share of the stimulus. Also, joining the ranks are Charlie Crist of Florida and Vermont governor, Jim Douglas.
Fence sitters include, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Mark Sanford of South Carolina, and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. I personally DON'T CARE who is going to be the GOP hopeful in 2012. If any of these governor's take a lick of this Pork Chop they should be removed from office and kicked to the curb.
Several states, regardless of political affiliation, are already junkies addicted to federal dollars. It is a sad day in hell when they can't survive without federal assistance. This malaise, lack of ingenuity, and fortitude that has infected corporate America is now spreading to state governments.
Admittedly, in the past I have touted the GOP group of governors as the future and lauded on about their potential, this is under serious review.
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Republican Governors Urge Congress to Pass Stimulus Bill
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7 comments :
I agree. I was once a Sarah Palin supporter, but she has lost me on this one. I understand she is doing a job for Alaska, but this is bad for ALL AMERICA, and if she want this bill, how much does she care about America?
This is making me wonder if there IS just air inside there like the liberals have been saying. Maybe she should be kicked to the curb. Time will tell.
There are no fence sitters, despite what the media is telling you. They all support getting money from the federal government. They have all taken money from the federal government.
These guys are governors, the decision is not their decision.
Obama and the democrats will pass this lard fest, with not one single governor, Republican or not, having a say in this, period.
What I want to see out of Jindal, Palin and the rest is fiscal responsibility. Do the best they can and actually get a bridge or road built with it.
The money is coming and every governor will accept the money. What are they going to do with it?
It won't stimulate the economy, it is not nearly enough money.
The government will be back for more.
Do I blame the governors for being governors? No.
I wish there was a way to stop this train coming out of Washington, but the GOP controls nothing.
There is no way to stop it. So how to we make the best out of a bad situation?
I expect these GOP governors(even Arnie) to make the best out of a bad stimulus bill and spend wisely.
"There are no fence sitters."
Think I made that point when I called them junkies addicted to federal aid.
"It won't stimulate the economy, it is not nearly enough money."
How very Keynesian of you. So answer me this, what is enough money? 2 trillion, 3 trillion?
Why stop there? Go for the whole enchilada. Thirteen trillion is the amount of the national GDP, let's throw that at it and see what happens?
Maybe, you could cut your spending, manage what money you do have, better. And since states don't quite have the income from taxes that the Federal gov has I would rather see tax hikes on things such as sales taxes to make up the difference. They have options besides the federal heroine coming their way.
Also, what about Alaska, Louisiana, or Mississippi's state surpluses? Already gone? Yup because no one honestly knows how to curb their expensive tastes for pork. Louisiana and Alaska both have state surpluses, Alaska's was 10 billion and Louisiana has almost a billion. And wouldn't you know here is a nice little quote from ABC 26 WGNO out of Louisiana that sums up the problem better than I can.
"State budget analysts say the years of surpluses are coming to an end, and the state faces a shortfall topping a billion dollars if it wanted to continue operating every program it has today."
http://www.abc26.com/pages/abc26news_completestorylist_landing/?blockID=106494&feedID=1154
Notice the last part of the sentence, if they want to continue operating every program it has today.
"Do I blame the governors for being governors? No."
I blame them, this is not leadership, this is management. I could have wasted a vote on a Far Left Liberal if I wanted that.
I suggest you quite making excuses for their apparent ineptitude and lack of creativity during a time of crisis and set your bar for expectations a little higher.
Hmmmm critical,
Perhaps I'm opening the door here for attack but when you say sales tax hike I cough under my breath (subliminally- doesn't that remond you of that 80's song from S.T?) fair tax vs. income tax. Futhermore, while a governor may not support the methods that money gets to them, it is still their responsibility to ensure it is spent correctly. Ideally, I would like to see the GOPs stand fast and quit offering pet subsidies that should be included to make this more acceptable to them. Let the dems out and out own this bill. I think we are starting to see the GOP price tags I mentioned in my earlier post.
Phaed,
I would rather see the GOP Governors raise state taxes than accept this federal heroine. And you know how I am about taxes. Paint me Libertarian on that stance.
The prices tags are exactly what concerns me. Federal money, as with a drug money, always comes with a price. It gives the Fed more power over the state governments. Don't believe me? Just ask the CEO's of the companies that are getting nationalized.
All of this just boils down to power consolidation in the hands of government technocrats. And the money is the the bait to hook the fish.
Critical,
"Self sufficient states" was a good notion, but I believe this was solved by the end of the War of Northern Aggression. (Otherwise commonly reffered to by the Yanks as "the Civil War". So...... sovereignty being a time relic of the past, the only alternative to Idaho begging Louisiana for trickle-down oil revenues, is for the States to get the money when they can. You are blaming the light bulb maker for the kids leaving the lights on. As W and J said "You need to clean up the sugar to get rid of the ants".
Phaed,
Read an upcoming post I have on the Governor's options and what some of them are doing right now to correct budgetary problems. So stay tuned.
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