Amid rumors that Republican Governors Barbour, Sanford, Perry, Otter and Palin will decline portions of the stimulus package intended for their states, Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal became the first to officially announce his intentions to say no.
Mr. Jindal cited his concerns regarding potential burdens caused by the expanding of unemployment compensation benefits to people who do not normally qualify for help. The governor is fearful that employers will endure a higher tax burden down the road when federal assistance involving unemployment benefits runs out. His objection to the provision is shared by the pro-business lobbying organization, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
“The federal money in this bill will run out in less than three years for this benefit and our businesses would then be stuck paying the bill,” explained Jindal.
Gov. Jindal does support several aspects of the plan including the raising of unemployment benefits by $25 through 2010 and a $430 million infrastructure investment targeted for Louisiana.
A similar concern involving future tax burdens is held by neighboring state Governor, Haley Barbour of Mississippi. Mr. Barbour may be obliged to go along with investment designations for his state’s troubled education system. Services, including education, have suffered in Mississippi since Gov. Barbour slashed funding to all state agencies by 3.2 percent due to the recession.
Sighting similar fears and overall issues with the size and scope of the package, Governors Mark Sanford (SC), Rick Perry (TX), Butch Otter (ID) and former Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin (AK) have all stated their general opposition to the package because of a belief that it will expand government and further grow the country’s debt.
Not coincidentally, all of the previously mentioned governors, except for Gov. Otter, have their eyes focused on the Republican nomination in 2012. Gov. Jindal will be giving the GOP rebuttal to President Obama’s first State of the Union address next week. Gov. Sanford, the Head of the Republican Governors Association, is well thought of in conservative circles. Gov Perry is a big state governor who has formed an interesting alliance with Gov. Palin, who seems poised to follow her celebrity into the 2012 primary. Gov. Barbour could wind up on any Republican nominees short list for Vice President based on both geography and ideology.
These Republican governors represent a further to the right section of the party intent on reclaiming power by referring back to the old GOP standards of less government, fiscal responsibility and lower taxes. This branch of the party appears to battling with centrist Republican governors like Gov. Charlie Crist (FL) and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA) who have come out in strong support of the President’s plan. Mr. Crist is also a potential candidate in 2012 because of his immense popularity in the always crucial state of Florida.
It looks as if the further right faction of the GOP has chosen a path of opposition regarding their strategy for 2012. They seem to believe that if the economy recovers, President Obama will receive all the credit. But, if the economy has not improved by the end of Mr. Obama’s first term, this group has drawn a line in the sand and they will be waiting breathlessly to exclaim to the country, “I told you so.” This is in contrast to Gov. Crist, who appears to be following the trend towards civility and bipartisanship.
Only time will tell which approach is the correct way forward for the Republicans. One potential problem the “I told you so” crowd could run into is a loss in popularity within their home states. If the economy improves, their constituents may come to the conclusion that this group was part of the problem, not the solution. And, if the economy continues to tank, it is possible that these folks could be blamed for not doing enough to aid in the rebound. Remember, it is very hard for a politician to run for national office if they are not popular within their home state.
Comments
Interesting piece. Generally, I can't get too excited about this stimulus bill, but if I were the governor of a state, and the Federal Government wanted to give my state hundreds of millions of tax dollars, I would certainly take it.
Gov. Jindal is going to refuse billions in unemployment insurance benefits in the midst of the greatest economic meltdown since the Great Depression when his state is suffering and New Orleans is still reeling from the after effects of Hurricane Katrina? Does that sound like a responsible governor to anybody else out there because it sure doesn't to me. There is also money in this stimulus bill for Louisiana and Mississippi waterway improvements (i.e. levees), which I suppose are also out of the question. Anyone who would put his presidential ambitions ahead of the state he is supposed to be governing does not belong in the Governor's Mansion. The good news is that the state legislature can overrule the governor's decision and take the funds anyway. The bad news is that those states are stuck with someone in office whose ambitions and his party run more deeply than what is best for the people of his state.
Jindal trying to position himself for 2012 but it won't work. We won't make the same mistake dems did and nominate a muslim who claims to be Christian. Jindal is the media darling but he'll never get nominated. PALIN 2012!
I encourage the governor of Louisiana not to take any federal money. After complaining loudly about the stimulus package, it would be hypocritical of him to do so. After all, even though he was elected and is paid to serve the citizens of Louisiana, what he is really serving are his political aspirations. Now aspirations may be a challenging word for the citizens of a state that consistently ranks in the in the bottom 5% educationally, so, let me clarify. The governor is only using Louisiana as a stepping stone. He wants to be president and he is perfectly willing step on the citizens of his state to make that happen.
So the person who took an oath to the citizens of Louisiana; a state with a failed education system, with the second worst health ranking in the nation last year, rated one of the 10 most dangerous states in the union, with crumbling infrastructure, with massive pollution from oil refineries, with an enormous welfare recipient population, doesn’t want any federal money. And not because Louisiana doesn’t need it, but because he is a political tool of the talk radio republicans who promote ignorance, intolerance, and divisiveness. They are a group that would sit back and watch this nation drown economically; the same way they let New Orleans drown in flood waters; in order to take back political power.
They don’t serve the majority of the people in this country. They serve the wealthiest 1 percent. The 1 percent that during the Bush years acquired as much wealth as the bottom 50% of Americans. In a nation of approximately 300 million, that means that the richest 3 million Americans have as much money as the poorest 150 million. And that happened because they were given huge tax breaks, which the Republicans like the governor would like to continue because they get big campaign contributions from them.
Not surprisingly, members of this rich minority who have benefited so much from the Republicans include radio talk show hosts who pretend to be one of the people, but who laugh all the way to the bank; at their listeners who are fooled into supporting policies that harm their own families. It also includes many evangelical Christian church ministers who distract their members by encouraging them to spend their time and energy focusing on the sins of others while ignoring Jesus’ message of love, tolerance, mercy, and compassion. Like the wall street leadership they serve, they preach the message that greed is good, and those who covet money should be admired.
The governor and the extremely wealthy minority he serves have nearly run this nation into the ground because their greed is so insatiable. They don’t care about the rest of us. We are like so many bugs, scurrying around trying just to survive the devastation that they have unleashed upon us.
"Only time will tell which approach is the correct way forward for the Republicans."
WRONG. I don't need time to tell. Limited government and individual responsibility is the only solution to our problems.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA) and Gov. Crist are begging for funds because their states are at the head of the housing foreclosure disaster that helped cause this economy meltdown.
Gov. Schwarzenegger state is bankrupt and the man is down right pathetic. California stands for everything that is wrong in our country. The state is a joke and should not get a penny.
Gov. Crist is out there kissing up to Obama in hopes of saving his political career. Florida is a mess.
Gov. Jindal is turning down some funds, big deal the state is still getting billions.
You can tell a lot about a writer in the way he presents the text like “Gov. Palin, who seems poised to follow her celebrity into the 2012 primary.” Like that is her record. No mention that when oil prices were high that the Governor pushed the legislators to put billions in reserves accounts for a rainy day. The legislators would have spent most of it. You see back then the Guv had an approval rating around 85-90 and the Guv willed the power. This was before the corrupt MSM trashed her all in the name of Obama. Her ratings are now around 63 because the ADN newspaper is in bed with outside. The leeches continue to spin the stories and leave out the facts. What the hell they lie outright they these people have no shame.
Alaska has 7+ billions in reserves to help them through the next couple of years if need be. They also have 1 billion for education and another billion will go in the education fund this year. Palin has already cut millions from this year’s budget and put a freeze on government hiring and most of government spending. There is no foreclosure rate in Alaska. The Guv has already reduced 2010 spending plan by 445 millioin but the writer says Palin seems posed to follow her celebrity into 2012.
Gov. Palin is an accomplished CEO but “Gov. Palin, who seems poised to follow her celebrity into the 2012 primary is how the CORRUPT MSM will continue to define her.”
Luke Brady said: "WRONG. I don't need time to tell. Limited government and individual responsibility is the only solution to our problems. "
Like the last eight years with Bush?
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!