Ca-Ching! -- Or Not -- Which GOP Governors Could Really Turn Down Stimulus Bucks
So with the stimulus bill now fully passed and signed into law, are there still any Republican governors who might actually go so far as refuse some or all of the cash, even if it goes against the immediate interests of their states? The answer is Yes.
Most Republican governors are now going ahead and figuring out how to spend the money, even if a bunch of them were opposed to the bill itself. But there are still some holdouts, people who are making noise about turning down a check from Washington.
First up is the most prominent anti-stimulus governor of all, South Carolina's Mark Sanford. In response to critics of his public position to not spend the money, Sanford wrote an op-ed piece for The State: "The bailout approach undermines what has historically been the ultimate source of economic stimulus -- the American worker and entrepreneur."
Less prominent than Sanford are some remaining governors who are definitely making noise about turning down some money:
• Sarah Palin of Alaska said the state is ready to accept the money for construction projects, but she is sharply critical of other spending on social programs. One could say something about a bridge, but it's too easy.
• Bobby Jindal of Louisiana says he is applying some serious scrutiny: "We'll have to review each program, each new dollar to make sure that we understand what are the conditions, what are the strings and see whether it's beneficial for Louisiana to use those dollars."
• Haley Barbour of Mississippi started some political fireworks back home when he said he might refuse some of the money, declaring that "there may be some things that we'd be better off not to take." His office is now discussing the package internally, before they make a further comment.
• Rick Perry of Texas previously co-authored an op-ed piece with Sanford in the Wall St. Journal, standing with him against the bill. But now Perry says he's examining the money to see how much he'll take, depending on the strings attached: "We need the freedom to pick and choose."
Also up in the air is Jan Brewer, the new Republican governor of Arizona. Brewer's self-proclaimed "stimulus" package was actually composed of spending cuts, and thus far she has not yet formally requested the money.
Josh
Matt
Eric
It's all posturing. What governor is going to turn down billions of dollars for projects in their state? GMAB
February 18, 2009 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course they won't turn it down, if they do see you later guv. I hope they turn it down, but they won't. More pick ups for the dems if they do.
February 18, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm flabbergasted (or not) that Eric didn't give any credit to Rachel Maddow. This piece could have been a transcript of the lead-up to her interview with MN GOP Gov. Pawlenty last night.
February 18, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't realize what a hypocritical sleaze Pawlenty was until I saw him last night. He's positioning himself for a shot at the White House.
February 18, 2009 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
They'll have no shot if it's against O.
February 18, 2009 6:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's young enough he can wait till 2016 if O's still looking good in '12.
February 18, 2009 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, actually, it wasn't that close. Just listened to the segment.
February 18, 2009 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Depends of course on what strings really are attached or not. This isn't all smoke. Here in Oregon for example, there is unused SCHIP money for our state because the state can't come up with matching dollars to be able to take advantage of the full SCHIP funding.
I agree that much of this is GOP posturing and luddite, doctrinaire stupidity, but that are times when Federal dollars are not usable by States. Not because the States don't want the money, but they can't afford the money.
February 18, 2009 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Poor Arizona. They had a Dem Governor until just a month ago, and Napolitano's departure has left with them with Brewer and (as far as I know) strong GOP majorities in the state legislature. Hopefully we can win the governorship in 2012 (CD has it rated #14 and as "lean retention").
February 18, 2009 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can they pick and choose as described?
And aren't they going to have to publicly accept or decline the $$?
I'm looking forward to seeing Republican governors put their money where their mouth is (figuratively speaking of course) and turn down this shameful horrible no good assistance from Washington D.C.
February 18, 2009 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel sorry for their constituents but if these Governors refuse the money there is that 45 day clause in which if they don't use it than the money has to be given to state legislature to use.
If the state legislature doesn't use than I hope they give it to states that will use it ie California, Florida, etc.
It's funny that it is the Southern white Governors who make up the GOP that are refusing to use the money.
February 18, 2009 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's funny that it is the Southern white Governors who make up the GOP that are refusing to use the money.
Well, maybe they realize that their states suck on the public trough more than any other, and they're just being generous?
Nah.
February 18, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is these same white southern Republican governors and their states who intentionally have the least generous public benefit programs, the toughest income/resource requirements for Medicaid, the least public spending on education, and the highest poverty rates in the country.
It shouldn't surprise us that these governors are the ones making noises about turning down funding for programs that would help provide health care for the poor & unemployed, longer unemployment benefits, funds to prevent lay-offs of public employees, and other spending that could help the most vulnerable of their state's citizens.
If they actually go through with this, perhaps enough working class white southern voters will finally see past racial division to realize who is really looking out for their interests, and swing back to Democrats in 2010 and beyond.
February 18, 2009 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Being forced to accept the stimulus money would infringe on Republican Governor's Constitutional right to complain about all the unfunded mandates that money would fund. Clearly a freedom of speech issue here.
February 18, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said.
February 18, 2009 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes they do! Yes they do!
The southern redneck conservative states suck up way more federal dollars than they contribute. They are the big welfare queens of America. The red states in general are the welfare queens that need the liberal states of New York, California, and Illinois to pay their bills. I am sick to death of hearing these fascist fools tell the rest of us how and what to do with our money!!!
It is great if they do not take the money, absolutely great! We in California can keep our dollars right here to fix our own problems and not have to send billions to souther white redneck governors to buy political favors with. To hell with them. They already drag the rest of us down like and anchor. Cut them loose already and get on with the future.
February 18, 2009 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
One the earlier points of, All White Southern Governors, just want to point out the obvious here, but Mr. Jindal is in fact an Indian American.
Also, states should have the right to refuse federal money, just as they should have the right to pass their own laws, and regulations.
February 18, 2009 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I call dibs for Kentucky on every CENT repug governors turn down.
Our dem gov Steve Beshear is a coward and a waste of oxygen, but he's not stupid.
February 18, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's probably the best description of Beshear I've ever read.
I want Sanford's share for NC.
February 18, 2009 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
To hell with that, send the money to IL where we'll force Daley to spend the money on hybrid buses that are built in NC.
February 18, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emperor Daley doesn't give a rat's butt about hybrid buses. As I was personally informed, via a letter from his office, the CTA is a regional issue. The gist of the letter was: CTA? Not Daley's problem. (Let's forget that he decides who'll run it and head the board...)
I wouldn't trust Daley with one cent of federal money. He'll find some way to sink it - like TIF funds - into the pockets of developers, if not the Olympics. Where it won't go is to public transit/education/libraries/parks, anything that directly impacts Chicago's residents.
February 18, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
And I meant to add - who can force Daley to do ANYTHING??? Patrick Fitzgerald hasn't even found a way to get to the Mayor. He's far too protected by cronies and boot-licking aldermen.
February 18, 2009 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're right about Daley, he hasn't even produced a stim wish list yet. But there's more than one way to skin a cat. We'll funnel it thru Gov. Quinn who will give it to the RTA.
Fact is the CTA has a $213 million dollar hole in their budget even after the state earmarked $200 million in add'l. funds last year. Most of those revenue streams don't look like they're gonna provide anything near what they looked like they would last year. If I win my township race here is Downers Grove I'd like to extend a bus route out a housing complex on Rt 83 from Darien so those people can get to work. Doesn't look like it'll happen without a massive infusion of cash.
February 18, 2009 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can't have it.
February 18, 2009 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not surprised about Sanford from what I've been reading about him lately. I hear SC schools are a complete disgrace.
I think Obama should make a new designation and declare SC a political disaster state and force feed the money into them, circumventing Sanford.
Guys like Sanford are no better than big T Taliban leaders that would rather keep their populations uneducated so they are more easily manipulated.
February 18, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
South Carolinastan, a couple states over from Mississippistan.
February 18, 2009 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anything you read about Sanford is most likely true. The reality is probably worse. South Carolina ranks 46th in real per capita GDP and 42 in per capita income. We're worse off than when he took office.
Sanford no-tax, do-nothing libertarian who wouldn't draw a salary if he were really true to his ideals. His latest big idea is replacing the state corporate income tax with a 30 cent tax increase on cigarettes, which are insanely cheap here. State business leaders have begged him to reform our decrepit tax system, but work bores him. He sat by while the legislature gutted property taxes a couple years ago. He's a vicious proponent of school choice.
Despite all that, South Carolina public schools aren't all bad. In fact, some of them are quite good and a few are among the best in the country. My son attends a public charter school in Greenville. The state school superintendent is a Democrat with an agenda that is fairly progressive even by my standards.
The problem isn't a lack of quality, it's a lack of consistency connected with the tremendous disparities between the wealthy upstate and coastal regions and pretty much everywhere else, which except for Columbia is rural and poor. Sanford's patrician attitude of benign and sometimes malevolent neglect, hasn't helped. But we struggle on. He's term-limited in 2010. Obama breathed new life into the state Democratic party, so maybe there's hope.
February 18, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your local charter school is a diamond in a manure pile. I was telling everyone who'd listen that sales tax will not pay for schools when no one is buying anything because of the recession- this was back when Sanford was tryin to sell that crap. Now everyone sees it for what it is. Id rather pay a lil more in property taxes than see that jackal lower the resources of an already messed up system. I'm right up the road from you near BMW but in Spartanburg County. My children are too young for school but we'll be moving out of state or sending them to private school. The only thing good IMO about my local school is that the HS was #1 in the nation at football. My local elementary is nice but I seriously don't trust these people.
Most of the upstate is poor too. And the improvements we did get in higher paid jobs are going fast. Plants are closing all over the upstate. Those that aren't closing are reducing wages and benefits. I know some people who were laidoff after 15-20yrs on the job. These people are not highly skilled workers and most likely wont find anything new. People waited all day at the BiLo Center for a job fair today. Friday and Saturday Walmart is having a job fair at a local community college for a new processing center theyre opening nearby. 500 jobs. That place will be mobbed.
Look at how bad Charleston is. I had no idea it was that bad. Its like the worst of the worst- on every top ten list for every type of violent crime.
SC is run like a plantation. If you have a little education you can get everything you need out of it but if you don't god help you.
I wish someone in the Democratic Party would send someone down here to whip this state into shape. You pretty much have people voting on moral christian right wing stuff but if someone spoke to their true needs it would be a different story. Columbia and a few other spots have some dems but aside from the Obama campaign I havent seen much going on. I dont know if you used Obama's site but I saw thousands of people near me who were trying to be active. I was really shocked.
Is it just me or do you feel like youre in some alternate universe with how things work down here?
February 18, 2009 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
SC has been gerrymandered to within an inch of it's life and so the Democratic party can only compete in limted areas - thus the party apparatus is kinda ossified (and IMO seems too often of late the duchy of the Fowler clan, but credit where credit is due they at least step forward to carry the banner). But still, if you look, there is life here and there rumbling at the county level.
I suppose the saying "you are the one you've been waiting for" suits SC as well as anywhere else.
February 18, 2009 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Run like a plantation" is a pretty good assessment.
Since I'm here for the long haul my perspective is not quite as harsh as TMs. I grew up in the rust belt, and I'm better off here in Greenville (at least at the moment) than I would have been if I'd stayed home.
But one thing is for sure. It's astonishing the way folks here dogmatically refuse to vote their own economic self interest. Some of it is "values" voting and the decaying remains of the southern strategy. Some is inbred racism. Some is proto-libertarian individualism and genetic hatred of government. That hatred has been patiently cultivated by entrenched incumbents in the legislature, who gleefully sign no-tax pledges and have turned starving government agencies into an art form.
Still, it's hard to explain Sanford. The man has been a total disaster for South Carolina, yet he was voted in twice with big majorities and twenty percent of the state thinks he's the right hand of God.
The South Carolina Democratic Party is a disorganized mess, but Obama's primary victory and relatively strong showing in the general has energized folks. Our local party people are committed to turning things around. But we sure could use some help. Another Sanford in 2010 and we're all toast.
February 18, 2009 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
SC is still run like a planation. I love Charleston, I left once and came back and have to leave again but will probably return, but I don't have children to educate and don't have many fincial requirements. I was here 30 years ago and people had no problem with overt racial talk in everyday conversation. The only difference now is they have learned to not verbalize it so much. I can't wait to see what Sanford does with the federal fund issue. If he turns it down, it will send the state back another 100 years just when there was some glimmer of hope way out on the horizon.
February 19, 2009 6:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, I'm looking forward to Jindal taking the money. I think he's the GOP's best shot in 2012, and I'd look forward to hearing Obama say "Bobby, you weren't so critical of the bags full of cash Louisiana received."
February 18, 2009 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
It isn't just the southern governors making noise about rejecting stimulus money.
Here in Vermont, our governor's office is say they are considering rejecting some of the package - including money to strengthen state unemployment insurance funds, some of the Medicaid money, and some of the discretionary money designed to prevent lay-offs of public employees.
In both cases, the governor says that the funds come with requirements (for example, not cutting levels of unemployment benefits) that could require the state to spend additional state money to meet the requirements.
Our Republican governor Jim Douglas likes to pretend he is a moderate and not part of an ideologically right wing party - although his proposals to cut and dismantle programs to help the most vulnerable show otherwise. If he goes ahead with rejecting some of these stimulus funds, it will set up a serious showdown with the legislature where a more than 2-1 Democratic/Progressive margin could override many of his decisions.
Across the country, advocates should be carefully monitoring the way the stimulus is being spent in their states - because governors will have a great deal of discretion, there is no guarantee that any governor (Republican or Democrat) will spend them wisely unless there is public scrutiny of their actions.
February 18, 2009 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to the clause you can't pick and choose. Either you use all of it or you don't get it is my understanding.
February 18, 2009 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
terje:
Another reason for Douglas to drag his feet on accepting stimulus money is that (according to stimuluswatch.org, which may be out of date) all the "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects that have been lined up so far are in Burlington, which is pretty much the opposite of his constituency. His people have pretty much failed the rest of the state in terms of getting paperwork done.
February 18, 2009 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm really surprised at Gov. Brewer, I read an article yesterday about what a difficult time they are having because of the foreclosures. It is causing such a problem that some roads and schools in some of the newer housing tracts can't be completed.
I can't imagine how this could be a winner for her.
February 18, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
So they are going to pick and choose which money to take and which money to reject.
Hmmm.
Unfunded federal mandates have been replace by unmandated federal funds.
Progress.
February 18, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfunded federal mandates have been replace by unmandated federal funds
I love this description.
Even if you are a Cowboys fan.
February 18, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seconded
February 18, 2009 6:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let the red state governors refuse the money then re-direct it to the blue states.
Can you imagine the uproar if South Carolina's money went to Massachusetts?
February 18, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's self righteous, then there's pragmatic. Congressmen are usually the former, as can be seen on most of the news and talk shows they manage to get on. Governors tend to the latter. They will huff and puff self righteously as Govs Barbour, Sanford, and Jindal have been doing, but once the media glow is gone and most have forgotten what they have said, their pragmatic hand will be extended and they will take the money, as much as they can get.
February 18, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't imagine how this could be a winner for her.
Probably the same way that voting en masse against the stimulus bill and a president that the majority of the country approves of is a "victory"?
[shrug] That's the best I can do. It's tough for those of us in the real world to grasp the sweet, gauzy view that the GOP currently enjoys.
February 18, 2009 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mark Sanford's career is over if he doesn't take the money. I actually saw the local (Spartanburg) paper had letters from the public criticizing Sanford's tough talk about not accepting the money.
He's a scumbag. Third highest unemployment and the state can't even afford to pay the unemployment benefits for more than a month or two.
February 18, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second.
February 18, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
His career is over in 2010 anyway. He's term-limited.
February 18, 2009 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who elected these nutballs?
February 18, 2009 7:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
The South Carolina Democratic Party elected them through a highly detailed strategy of ineptitude, apathy and overall stupidity.
This state is poor as hell and the local dems do nothing. Dems could run this state easily. Schools are for feces, infrastructure is horrible - you name it, it probably sucks in SC, with a few exceptions- no inflated real estate market to collapse.
As someone who's been taking in the view around here for 10 years here's the deal- all the educated persons in SC (most not all) live off of the exploitation of poor and lower middle class South Carolinians. This includes SC dems who are unorganized. You have huge numbers of poor whites and african americans who are basically getting nothing from government except a subpar k-12 education, an overpriced public college education(tuition is twice that in NC and GA who's systems are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better)or a nice prison uniform.
Last cycle many races had no Dem contender for office. In a cycle where dem turnout was huge- where most repubs were disgusted with the GOP, not even a friggin name to check off on.
February 18, 2009 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not soon enough. He needs to be laid-off too.
February 18, 2009 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're bluffing.
February 18, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Turn it down, baby. F*Q the Red States. They take way more from the Feds than they give, so they are already SOCIALIST!
February 18, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those red-states are quite the miserable hypocrites aren't they.
February 18, 2009 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
If any one of them turns down even one penny, I'll eat my hat.
Shorter version: we hate you and everything about you, but we'll take your dirty money because we need it.
February 18, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Governor Perry's not gonna be hornswoggled by no smooth talking big guvmit snake erl and gas peddler
No sir
Don't mess with Texas .....
Give em back to Mexico
Before they send us another President
February 18, 2009 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Texas is George W. Bush country, its forever going to have a stench.
February 18, 2009 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Bushes are Texas Royalty! Yuk! Can you live anywhere more disgusting than with the crudest dumbest bunch of rednecks gathered on Earth called Texas. Please please succeed from the Union again so we can NOT fight a war to get you back ..... Please!
February 18, 2009 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rick Perry is a tool as well. He had comments in all the major papers basically saying the sam things many describe here. He is unsure about the unemployment requirements and some of the other provisions, says he may have to pick and choose depending on the outcome of their deliberations. He will take the frickin' money, maybe one GOV will stand up but then again that person is going to have to face the voters. Poor ol' Rick has his hands full, with Sen Hutchinson possibly running for GOV in 2010 and added to that fact would be last years elections which saw great gains for the Texas Dem's in the state leg. Rick wanted to possibly run for President but then ol Bush had to go an ruin it for him by driving this country in the shitter. Texas needs better education, Texas needs better infrastructure, Texas needs money for the Hurricane disaster both in Galveston and the rest fo the coast which extends to LA. If he doesn't take the money me thinks there will be hell to pay.
February 18, 2009 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those guvs are trapped: refuse and go down or take and eat crow.
February 18, 2009 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
But the clause in the law that says if they don;t spend it, then it goes to the state legislature to spend, might be an escape hatch. This way that can talk tough about holding the line against "wasteful spending" but the money gets spent to offset the actual hardship of not spending the money, no?
February 18, 2009 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some of this is too obvious.
Both Jindal and Palin are looking at their runs for the White House. If they buck the Republican line, they lose primary votes. They'll sell out their states for far less than that.
Perry is another case. Never the brightest bulb in the pack, he is between a rock and a hard place here in Texas. If he doesn't take the funds he will be held to task for putting the state at risk and will lose the next GOP primary. If he does take the funds he risks Hutchison, (who can claim she voted against the bailout and stood with the united GOP), calling him out and he loses the GOP primary. Couldn't happen to a better guy. I'm soooo looking forward to seeing him go down hard. the only question at this point is how hard and how fast.
February 18, 2009 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay... If, after all my fuss, I accept the funding... it proves I'm just a common hypocrite... voting against the bill, but making sure I get mine...
If I do not accept the funding... I'll never get another high paying do nothing, get lots of credit, be extremely important... job.
What the heck... I'm already a hypocrite... and rich and powerful to boot!
Gimme ALL you got!!! But remember... I'l still continue to vilify you...
February 18, 2009 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, does it get any better? Take the stimulus money, make sure it's spent ineffectively or better still, make sure lots of it ends up where you want it. Then bash Obama and the bill for being ineffective or worse. I bet Republicans are loving this.
February 18, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would LOVE to see a couple of red states turn down the stimulus funds.
Right-wing legal scholars who heart "states' rights" are always citing state-to-state experimentation as one of the many benefits that flow therefrom.
Well, a little state-to-state experimentation is just what we need to provide an empirical answer to the question of whether stimulus bills actually stimulate. Let the anti-Keynesians eat their shirts (if they still have them) when, in two years, the economies of all states have recovered but South Carolina and the other dopes who turn down those cursed, generation-thieving stimulus funds.
February 18, 2009 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the other states would be more than happy to split the SC, TX, AK, LA, MS and AZ portions of the stimulus.
February 18, 2009 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
We should seriously encourage them to secede.
February 18, 2009 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I say give the Red States the funds payable in toxic assets. That way we can kill 2 birds with one stone.
February 18, 2009 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
And remove them from the 'genepoole'?
Sorry, I'm a dork. I couldn't resist.
February 18, 2009 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am all in favor of letting the Repug Governors turn down the stimulus money. The ramifications will be that their citizens will be less educated, less healthy and more likely to drive on a disintegrating highway. Good riddance to all of the Rethugs and the stupid citizens who voted them in to begin with.
February 18, 2009 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe having the population be less educated is one of their goals. They can cry about how the elitist liberals' education has put them out of touch with "Real America."
February 18, 2009 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
For christ sake, how can they be more undereducated then in SC? Don't answer that question here. Sanford might read it and put it in practice and if not him, the state legislature that does such a bang up job of doing nothing (makes absolute 0 look like a fake) will.
February 19, 2009 6:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
This talk from the governors seems almost traitorous to me. The president is trying to save the country from serious economic disaster and these buffoons are putting the welfare of the nation at risk with their partisan showboating. It's an absolute disgrace.
February 18, 2009 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
All Republicans suck!
February 18, 2009 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
And some swallow. Ask Chris Buttars (R-Utah)
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/18/buttars-homophobia/#comments
February 18, 2009 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Take all of the economic recovery money from these Republican governors and spend it on condoms, sex education, ACORN, a Bill Ayers statue, an NPR documentary highlighting the life of Reverend Wright, flag pins for every American especially the undocumented ones, and free marriage ceremonies for all gays who wish to get hitched including prepaid health care benefits.
February 18, 2009 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let them refuse. Then watch them try and explain in a couple years why their states are in worse shape than those who accepted funding. Then watch them try and explain to their constituents how they get to pay taxes on stimulus funding their state never received because the governor was too self righteous to accept it.
February 18, 2009 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
For these guys to turn verbally denounce the money and then accept it later is like a vegetarian throwing down at the local Black Angus.
No offense to vegetarians or the fine people at Black Angus.
February 18, 2009 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, well. This is the flip side of the old reliable wingnut talking point: "If you libruls think you're undertaxed, why dontcha send extra money to the Treasury on April 15th?"
So here we are, with conservatives declaring they oppose "gummint spending" so much, they'll forgo federal dollars for their states. By saying "Thanks, but no thanks" these governors will show how much more principled they are than those whiny libruls. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ACTUALLY TURN DOWN THE MONEY.
As they say in showbiz, "Pull the other one. It's got bells on it."
--TP
February 18, 2009 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Headlines for any Republican controlled state that refuses the money:
"Republicans Decide to Fuck State"
Headline just for Bobby Jindal:
"Jindal Sacrifices Louisiana to his Ambition"
February 18, 2009 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Look, all the Republican governors are going to take the money, they're just talking tough and trying to obfuscate things so that they can make people think they took a stand. Most of them will probably make a big show about rejecting 2% of the money while racing to accept the other 98%, and will subsequently only talk about the 2% they rejected.
February 19, 2009 12:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
exactly
February 19, 2009 5:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope TPM keeps up with this thread. I'd like to know the conditions of accepting the funds and who ends up turning it down. Don't they have to decide in 60 days?
February 19, 2009 6:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Besides K-12 the biggest and fastest growing item in State budgets is Medicaid specifically long term care. No way any of these hypocritical Republican Governors will turn that money down.
February 19, 2009 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink