GOP Governors That Might Turn Down Stimulus Bucks

[RedEarth]

By Eric Kleefeld - February 18, 2009, 2:04PM
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.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/cha-ching-or-not-which-gop-governors-could-really-turn-down-stimulus-bucks.php

[Turbineguy]

1. Repubs turn down free money?

Isn't that against their religion? I'm sure the bible has something to say about that. "And when the Lord saw that the Republicanites cast away that which was rendered unto them he angered and slew them and laid waste to their houses and sold their wives and daughters into slavery."

OK, we'll take it but only if we can give it to the rich.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Perfect. Let them reject it...It should be all or nothing...not like a menu.

Let's see how many of the get re-elected....

[TexasObserver]

3. This is the best news in a month.

Any governor that turns down stimulus money will have to answer to his or her constituents soon enough.

[sweetpotato]

13. If only

Unfortunately, South Carolina voters seem to go by name recognition only. They've heard his name before, voted for him before, they'd likely vote for him again, no matter what he runs for.

He only gets 2 terms in the governorship, thank goodness, but I'll bet that the next one will be worse.

The people in my state are woefully uninformed and kept ignorant on purpose.

[Thrill]

4. What a surprise? All the ones considering running for President

Politics over People

[Still Sensible]

9. Yep, they're just posing for their purity snapshot

in case the GOP gets desperate enough to go looking for another Bushbot to carry the torch in '12.

[blogslut]

5. Here is the 1-800 number for Governor GoodHair's office

[phone]

I don't want my state to suffer because of GOP obstructionist pride.

[KamaAina]

21. Or give Piyush "Bobby" Jindal a buzz

at 1-866-366-1121. Do be sure to call him by his given name, Piyush, as that gives a certain small-town newspaper editor fits (get this: he thinks we're the racists!), and besides, Jindal took the name "Bobby" at age 4, from his favorite TV character -- Bobby Brady! He couldn't even pick one of the cool Bradys... anyhoo, ask him why he's turning down money when large swaths of his state's largest city are still indistinguishable from downtown Baghdad.

[spanone]

6. can they do that? can they fuck their constituents over politics?

i bet many of them steal a lot of it

[Lost in CT]

7. Well to be fair I didn't turn down Bush's tax cuts even though I opposed them. nt

[damntexdem]

8. Wonderful! More money for the other states!

And what an issue for dems in the next election in the non-stimulated states.

[blue_onyx]

10. Good...more money for the rest of us

[JDPriestly]

11. We in California will be happy to take the share that these states

don't want. And I'll bet you that Ohio and Michigan and many other states will be standing in line, hands out to try to relieve the reduction in services that most states are facing.

[trof]

12. I'll go wa-a-a-y-y-y out on a limb here and predict...

They all wind up taking the money.
;-)
Oh they'll delight in taking potshots at the plan.
And there will be a lot of self-righteous hand wringing.
And they'll never bring up the fact that their party is what got us in this mess.
But they'll take the money.
Bet on it.

[ejpoeta]

14. palin is the funniest one of them all. because she has aggressively

pursued federal dollars for alaska. i get a good laugh whenever i hear her talk about big government and blah blah blah.

these guys are NOT going to turn down any of that money. I wish they would, because that's more money for the rest of our states. but they won't turn it down.

[Cerridwen]

15. Upcoming campaign rhetoric *warning! cynic alert*

They will ultimately "accept" the funding while at the same time saying it was "forced" on them.

Up coming sound bites:

"I tried to do the fiscally responsible thing but the Obama administration forced us to take the money."

I see about 8 points in that one line depending on wording.

It paints the Democrats as fiscally irresponsible.
It uses the "big bad government" theme.
There're some "states' rights" dog-whistles in there.
Reminds us of the "evils" of socialism.
If worded correctly, it could even stir up fear of the "big black man."
Any funding not spent well (is there any question that could happen?) will be used to show what a waste of taxpayer dollars it was.
Unless the economy does a complete 180 within moments of those states receiving the funds, yep, it will be labeled a "failure."
Paints "them," and by extension the repub party, as the poor put-upon heros "they truly are."

lather, spin, rinse, repeat.

[SidneyCarton]

16. The Bankrupt state of California would gladly take any funds that these states so generously decline

We would probably be willing to split it with similarly troubled states.

[liberal1973]

17. let them drown

[Andy823]

18. If they turn down money

For programs that will help those who are out of work, need food stamps, extend unemployment or any of the other social programs that will help the poor, they should not be given ANY money as far as I am concerned. Why should they pick the projects they want and let those in need go without? Palin has people in need of help right now and she isn't helping them, she can go to hell if she only wants to build another "bridge" to nowhere, or a highway to nowhere, and let those who need help suffer!

[Thrill]

19. The South Carolina Gov is one of the most Arrogant Pompous Politicians

I've seen in a long time. He makes Mittens look normal.

And he has some nerve turning money down. Isn't South Carolina the state where kids are going to schools that are as bad as the ones in Afghanistan? Remember when they showed Obama touring one? The place was falling to bits

[Are_grits_groceries]

26. He's been trying to take the whole

state into a depression by itself even before everything was going down. He doesn't care for anything but his governmental philosophy. He hasn't done a damn thing to try to bring jobs in. Then he tries to cover it up by fighting with the SC Employment commission.

[notadmblnd]

20. Those bastids will be first in line

[elizfeelinggreat]

22. "sharply critical of other spending on social programs"

THAT is what their problem is.

Hopefully the citizens of their states will not have to suffer or if they do, they should vote these hypocrites out!

[tabbycat31]

23. more money for other states

maybe when these partisan hacks realize how much the bill is helping the other states, either a) their constituents will kick the bums out of office, and/or b) they'll admit they were wrong and beg the feds for the $$ that was supposed to be allocated.

[Bake]

24. There is not a snowball's chance in Hell they'll turn it down.

They just haven't figured out how to take it without looking like hypocritical fools.

Bake

[BattyDem]

25. I'll tell you what ...

since the GOP loves ballot initiatives so damn much (especially when those initiatives screw over other people, but I digress), they should hold special elections in their states and put each program that is due to receive stimulus money up for a vote - a collection of stimulus package ballot initiatives in which the people of those states can decide what's best.

[DebbieCDC]

27. Screw 'em -- they yelled the loudest against it, now let 'em do without it

See how much their constituents like looking over the state line to somewhere the federal dollars are flowing. There won't be a puke gov left standing that turns the money down.

[glinda]

28. They just want to control it and are upset at the guidelines.

What? No money for all their buddies????????

[asjr]

29. Damn fools!

[tanyev]

30. Talk is cheap.

Get the quotes out there to try and make themselves look good, and quietly accept every stinking penny later. That's how they play the game.

[Ilsa]

31. Maybe Texas will finally get off their asses and start electing

Democratic governors again. God Bless Ann Richards! May she rest in Peace!

[madrchsod]

32. more for the rest of us!

[stillcool]

33. It's about time...

the voters should get what they voted for!!