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GOP governors consider turning down stimulus money [EDIT]

Triad

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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.'"
GOP governors consider turning down stimulus money


Most likely they will all accept parts of it but not all of it.
Not a single Democrat of course.
 
Re: Some Governors may reject some of the pork.

I guess dealing with the subject matter presented is too much of a bother...


Excluding me calling it pork there is no bashing. Just a link to an article.

No economist are mentioned because the article is not dealing with them. Besides anyone can find an "economist" that will say what they want to hear. Making it pretty pointless to cite one.
 
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Re: Some Governors may reject some of the pork.

Seems like a pretty crappy idea, unless one was simply trying to burnish their conservative credentials for a bigger run in 2010 or 2012.
 
Re: Some Governors may reject some of the pork.

Seems like a pretty crappy idea, unless one was simply trying to burnish their conservative credentials for a bigger run in 2010 or 2012.

Burnishing is a form of pottery decoration in which the surface of the pot is polished, using a hard smooth surface such as a wooden or bone spatula, smooth stones, plastic, or even glass bulbs, while it still is in a leathery 'green' state, i.e. before firing. After firing, the surface is extremely shiny. Often the whole outer surface of the pot is thus decorated, but in certain ceramic traditions there is 'pattern burnishing' where the outside and, in the case of open bowls, the inside, are decorated with burnished patterns in which some areas are left matte.
 
Re: Some Governors may reject some of the pork.

Money is not free.
Taking it will be regarded by the giver as accepting the conditions of its giving.
That cost may be too high.



If anyone thinks an a single penny of the money in that bill is not attached to conditions and political strings..then just wow....:doh
 
Re: Some Governors may reject some of the pork.

Why are they even 'considering' this? Why aren't they just 'rejecting' it already?
 
Re: Some Governors may reject some of the pork.

Money is not free.
Taking it will be regarded by the giver as accepting the conditions of its giving.
That cost may be too high.



If anyone thinks an a single penny of the money in that bill is not attached to conditions and political strings..then just wow....:doh

Such as?

...
 
Re: Some Governors may reject some of the pork.

Money is not free.
Taking it will be regarded by the giver as accepting the conditions of its giving.
That cost may be too high.



If anyone thinks an a single penny of the money in that bill is not attached to conditions and political strings..then just wow....:doh

Now where would you get that idea?:roll:
Obama has been very hands-off with the economy and private businesses.
 
I surely hope they do. More money to the "real America" (TM Sarah Palin). Then again those GOP governors who have been quote are governors of some the most backward states in the US, so no wonder.....;) Yea Louisiana needs no help to take it out of the bottom of most statistics.. yea.. right. Hey, here is a thought, take all the money for reconstruction from Katrina and Rita out of the state, since they want to go it alone...
 
I surely hope they do. More money to the "real America" (TM Sarah Palin). Then again those GOP governors who have been quote are governors of some the most backward states in the US, so no wonder.....;) Yea Louisiana needs no help to take it out of the bottom of most statistics.. yea.. right. Hey, here is a thought, take all the money for reconstruction from Katrina and Rita out of the state, since they want to go it alone...

Before you go on to bashing southern states, have a look at where the EU giants stack up as US states.
Don't worry, it was done by a bunch of Swedes who were curious.
Are you?

http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf
See where the Top EU countries would rank as US States

Pete: Hey'awl, can I cawl ya Bubba?
 
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By voting against the stimulus, Republican lawmakers are on record that their constituents don't need it.
 
By voting against the stimulus, Republican lawmakers are on record that their constituents don't need it.

I think Obama voters should increase their tax burden by 50%, and let those that didn't vote Obama get a tax cut.

Why should we have to pay for their stupidity?
What? Their base doesn't pay that much in taxes?:shock:

And when taxes are too low, as they always bitch, they can pay extra. Nobody is stopping them.

But what happens?
They nominate Tax Cheats for Cabinet positions.
Or they write-off used underwear.
Or give .00001% of their income to charity.

Anybody see a disconnect here?

Can we officially label Daschle, Geithner and Killefer "Unpatriotic"?
 
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Before you go on to bashing southern states, have a look at where the EU giants stack up as US states.
Don't worry, it was done by a bunch of Swedes who were curious.
Are you?

http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf
See where the Top EU countries would rank as US States

Pete: Hey'awl, can I cawl ya Bubba?

Great find Zimmer !!

So Pete, how do you think Louisiana stacks up against Spain and the rest of your precious EU countries now?? At least you are among the 11% of Spaniards that own a computer, or are you using a computer at school? :lol:

Your roasted crow is almost ready for you to eat.
 
Before you go on to bashing southern states, have a look at where the EU giants stack up as US states.
Don't worry, it was done by a bunch of Swedes who were curious.
Are you?

http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf
See where the Top EU countries would rank as US States

Pete: Hey'awl, can I cawl ya Bubba?

So you are saying that because we are discussing the US, that you have to inflict Europe into the debate? Are you some how ashamed over the "poor" states because some of them have GOP Governors? Or do you deny that Louisiana is considered a "poor" state? In 2007 the per captia GDP of Louisiana was 35K US. That is under the US average is it not? What about a place like Arkansas (27.7k) and Mississippi (24.4k).. are they not even less well off? So you really think that Mississippi will say no to a government hand out because the governor is a Republican? Considering how the GOP representatives in Congress have flipped 180% and are doing everything to get government bailout money for their districts, then I highly doubt that the Governors will be stupid enough to say no to any thing in the stimulus package that is coming there way.

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 02/13/2009 | GOP lawmakers tout projects in the stimulus bill they opposed

As for your link. Interesting out of date information. The numbers are a decade old for god sake. Also again what does it have to do with the discussion!? If you want to discuss economic numbers between the US-US states-Europe- European states, start a thread! I will be glad to join you there.
 
Great find Zimmer !!

So Pete, how do you think Louisiana stacks up against Spain and the rest of your precious EU countries now?? At least you are among the 11% of Spaniards that own a computer, or are you using a computer at school? :lol:

Your roasted crow is almost ready for you to eat.

Hey, Spain is in the relative dark ages when it comes to information technology, I have never denied that. However now days it is not far off the US in certain areas, and that is impressive considering it is still hard to get a freaking phone here.

However, again the numbers are freaking 10 years old, a lot of things have changed during the last decade. Not to mention there is very little source material in the article, but hey..

Again if you want to discuss the statistical differences on various subjects between the US and Europe, start a thread and I will join you.
 
Surely each governor has to look at the stimulus money and make sure it is all consistent with the long term plans of the state. Or projects that are useless to the state.
 
Hmmm....

What happens if they do reject the money, and their economies (states) recover at about the same pace or faster than the rest of the "stimulus" nation?

States can enact their own forms of stimulus through municipal bond auctions, which have recently become quite popular. Except for California:mrgreen:

Although i highly doubt you will see localized governments issuing bonds to "save the whales"....
 
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I surely hope they do. More money to the "real America" (TM Sarah Palin). Then again those GOP governors who have been quote are governors of some the most backward states in the US, so no wonder.....;) Yea Louisiana needs no help to take it out of the bottom of most statistics.. yea.. right. Hey, here is a thought, take all the money for reconstruction from Katrina and Rita out of the state, since they want to go it alone...

Yes, we do have some backwards-assed, ignorant individuals living here in Louisiana (they usually either vote for those with D's by their names or they, themselves, have D's by their names). It was an ego boost to this Louisianian when I toured parts of Europe 2 years ago and realized that Louisiana was much more advanced (relative to Europe) than I thought! Now, my recent trip to Mexico and Guatemala did show me that there are many who live in standards lower than southern Europe. Don't worry, Obama is working on bringing us down so that we can eventually look up to you European Unionites (is that a legit word?). But, I digress, back to the subject at hand...

I do agree that those true Republican governors who really want to do the right thing should just reject the tainted federal money and not posture for media attention (Dems won't give up free money even for the attention). Rick Perry of Texas does not surprise me by agreeing to take some money - I have always thought of him as a Bush-like RINO who sucks up too much to liberals. I don't know how my true conservative Texas buddies can stand to have him as their governor (okay, admittedly, I didn't commit suicide while liberal Democrat Blanco helped to destroy Louisiana for 4 years).

And, concerning your ignorant Katrina statement... while I do not agree with the huge sums of post-Katrina money requested from the feds by those of the Mary Landrieu (D) ilk, I do feel that the federal government and some local politicians let New Orleans area residents down by not ensuring that levees actually lived up to their design standards (and tax dollars that were spent). Of course, now we find that after years of politicizing and poor engineering, the Corps of Engineers has probably been a leading reason for many areas flooded by Katrina as well as devastating midwestern floods.
 
By voting against the stimulus, Republican lawmakers are on record that their constituents don't need it.

Will, I'm not fond of your politics, but, having the good sense of humor that I do, that bumper sticker on your post is hilarious!

You do realize, I hope, that many of the Democrats who voted for the "steal-from-us" package did so only for political expediency. They were scared to death to vote against the Obama-Pelosi-Reid triad! I do see that 7 ballsy Dems did take the bull by the horns and oppose the great Pelosi! I can't wait to see Pennsyvanians oust Specter (Rino-Pa) next time he comes up for reelection.
 
Yes, we do have some backwards-assed, ignorant individuals living here in Louisiana (they usually either vote for those with D's by their names or they, themselves, have D's by their names). It was an ego boost to this Louisianian when I toured parts of Europe 2 years ago and realized that Louisiana was much more advanced (relative to Europe) than I thought! Now, my recent trip to Mexico and Guatemala did show me that there are many who live in standards lower than southern Europe. Don't worry, Obama is working on bringing us down so that we can eventually look up to you European Unionites (is that a legit word?). But, I digress, back to the subject at hand...

I do agree that those true Republican governors who really want to do the right thing should just reject the tainted federal money and not posture for media attention (Dems won't give up free money even for the attention). Rick Perry of Texas does not surprise me by agreeing to take some money - I have always thought of him as a Bush-like RINO who sucks up too much to liberals. I don't know how my true conservative Texas buddies can stand to have him as their governor (okay, admittedly, I didn't commit suicide while liberal Democrat Blanco helped to destroy Louisiana for 4 years).

And, concerning your ignorant Katrina statement... while I do not agree with the huge sums of post-Katrina money requested from the feds by those of the Mary Landrieu (D) ilk, I do feel that the federal government and some local politicians let New Orleans area residents down by not ensuring that levees actually lived up to their design standards (and tax dollars that were spent). Of course, now we find that after years of politicizing and poor engineering, the Corps of Engineers has probably been a leading reason for many areas flooded by Katrina as well as devastating midwestern floods.

Off topic, but when I was in N.O. after Katrina, everyone I talked to didn't have much bad to say about FEMA, but if you wanted a fight on your hands, all you had to do was praise the Corps of Engineers. The people I talked to when I was working in Chalmette hated the Corps with a passion.
 
The people I talked to when I was working in Chalmette hated the Corps with a passion.

The people of Chalmette blame the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MR GO) for the flood. It is a man made canal that the Corps built through Chalmette. Yeah, they hate the Corps.

And thanks for coming and helping! :2wave:
 
I'm not going to guess who does what at the Governor level.

Jindal said his state wouldn't take funds. Perhaps they have the funds earmarked to get the work done and he doesn't want to burden the American taxpayer for pork.

This and it could be a political calculation for 2012, but I don't see him being the type to screw the state (if they were in dire need) for his political future.

Haley Barbour? Doesn't seem to be a pig either.

Time will tell.

So you are saying that because we are discussing the US, that you have to inflict Europe into the debate? Are you some how ashamed over the "poor" states because some of them have GOP Governors? Or do you deny that Louisiana is considered a "poor" state?
The following is a point lost on socialists: There will always be poor.
Average American "poor" is as well off as the average European in what are known as their best countries, strongest economies. It's plain to see, and Europeans who travel know it.

Lack of something as simple as air conditioning in Paris cost 14,000 people their lives, and untold others in Europe. That's the cost of socialism in a nutshell. In Chicago they considered it, and it was, a catastrophe when 600 died of the same cause.

Socialism has its costs.
As for your link. Interesting out of date information.
It's only five years old.
But for the socialists, you folks can take money, sprinkle it around like magic dust and predict what will happen in 10, 20, 50-years. And your predictions are almost always wrong.
Keynes was wrong. Stagflation was never supposed to happen.
Galbraith wrong.
Marx wrong.

von Mises, Hayek, Friedman, have a bit better record. Whether in America, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Chile... free markets and people freed from the shackles of government prosper... lifting all boats.
 
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Socialism causes heat waves.
 
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