From Melinda Deslatte of the Associated Press:
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.'"
3 comments:
Man, I wish they would. The Dems would chalk it up to ideology, and hopefully find a collective backbone and go on the offensive.
I'd wager that at least half of those governors would be out of a public job.
How will we know if the stimulus can work if we don't even give it a chance?
Your right. Wether or not they believe the stimulus to be right and just, turning down funding for your constituents is an outright wrong, especially where it can help. My own summation of all of this would be to label it typical political grandstanding.
And I heard that included in the bill is a clause that states even if the Governors refuse to accept the money, the state legislatures can vote to accept it.
Power to the people.
Post a Comment