GOP governors consider turning down stimulus money

[LynneSin]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090219/ap_on_bi_ge/bucking_the_stimulus;_ylt=AkLXStQlxPDv_xtdLoQYbiis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTJlbnN1dGNzBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwMjE5L2J1Y2tpbmdfdGhlX3N0aW11bHVzBHBvcwM3BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA2dvcGdvdmVybm9ycw--

GOP governors consider turning down stimulus money

AP – In a Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 file photo, Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry, center, speaks while Lt. … BATON ROUGE, La. – A handful of Republican governors are considering turning down some money from the federal stimulus package, a move opponents say puts conservative ideology ahead of the needs of constituents struggling with record foreclosures and soaring unemployment.

Though none has outright rejected the money available for education, health care and infrastructure, the governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina and Idaho have all questioned whether the $787 billion bill signed into law this week will even help the economy.

"My concern is there's going to be commitments attached to it that are a mile long," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who considered rejecting some of the money but decided Wednesday to accept it. "We need the freedom to pick and choose. And we need the freedom to say 'No thanks.'"

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the No. 3 House Democrat, said the governors — some of whom are said to be eyeing White House bids in 2012 — are putting their own interests first.

"No community or constituent should be denied recovery assistance due to their governor's political ideology or political aspirations," Clyburn said Wednesday.

In fact, governors who reject some of the stimulus aid may find themselves overridden by their own legislatures because of language Clyburn included in the bill that allows lawmakers to accept the federal money even if their governors object.

He inserted the provision based on the early and vocal opposition to the stimulus plan by South Carolina's Republican governor, Mark Sanford. But it also means governors like Sanford and Louisiana's Bobby Jindal — a GOP up-and-comer often mentioned as a potential 2012 presidential candidate — can burnish their conservative credentials, knowing all the while that their legislatures can accept the money anyway.

Personally I think the stimulous package should be 'All or Nothing'. If these assisine governors think they can do it without President Obama's help then fine - let them do it on their own without ANY Stimulus package money. Give that money to states where the governor knows a good deal and wants to help the people of their state.

Fortunately there is a provision in the bill that allows state lawmakers to override their governors; however, if the state congresses also rejected then all the money should be taken away. Perhaps there could be a provision setup that would allow individuals to receive assistance without their state government's help.

And then the voters need to remember the assholes that rejected this money and dump their asses to the curb when the next election comes around for them.

[bdamomma]

1. I hope their constituents realize how criminal these governors are.

bringing down their own people and institutions in their own states, there will be a civil disorder.

[tekisui]

2. If they couldn't be overridden, it would make a good petri dish experiment.

We could see which states rebound and which ones continue to slide. But, I don't want to see any state or any people fail, regardless of how bone-headed their puke reps are.

[Brewman_Jax]

3. Not likely

a repub would no more turn down the money than a druggie refusing a hit. They'll make a big scene and act mad and outraged over it, but they'll take the money.

[LynneSin]

4. Yes it's all for show

but if this plan is successful(and I'm crossing my fingers that it is), I hope that at election time their opponents campaign on the concept that these republicans wanted to reject the stimulus plan even if they ultimately accepted the money.