Will GOP governors really turn down stimulus money?

[BirminghamExaminer]

Excerpt:

It seems clear that the GOP governors who are talking about turning down the stimulus money are not merely 'playing' politics, but are gambling politics. In the first place, should they decide to turn down the money, state legislators can and most likely will override any ridiculous ideological gesture on the part of the state's governor. Secondly, they are gambling that their ideology is more important to their constituents than federal help is.

Since the November election, the Republican party has struggled to define itself. Some in the party see that the party needs new direction but they are overruled by a party that is quickly becoming known for its propensity to be obstructionist. It's failed policies of the past decade were apparent in the November 4th election. But it appears that they are in the minority and the Republicans are quickly becoming known as the party of "No" and "Do Nothing."

Any governor who turns down stimulus money for his state is most likely committing political suicide. Watching the GOP turning in circles and shouting loudly over the last few weeks, obstructing government intervention in the nation's failing economy is rather like watching a herd of sheep running towards a cliff prepared to jump without recognition of what's happening to them.

To see the rest of the article, please go here and please leave comments if you have time.

[Captain Hilts]

1. If they're stupid they will. This is a good time to point out they already get MORE from Fed. Govt.

than they put in every year.

The Blue states subsidize the Red states.

[Why Syzygy]

2. I want ice cream!

They are like childish spoiled brats refusing a treat because it wasn't their idea!

Political suicide indeed. Let Perry try it. Pathetic.

[GCP]

3. The states will get the money if their state legislators over-rule them

And that will likely happen.
If the stimulus fails they can say they wanted no part of it, and their brain dead followers will lap it up and elect them again.
If the stimulus works, the states will be in better shape and nobody will remember they were against it.

[Siwsan]

4. They're just grandstanding

Opportunistic bastards, that they are. In their version of reality, depriving their citizens of much needed financial help is perceived as heroic.

[Believing Is Art]

5. I expect Palin and Jindal will

They will be overruled by the state legislatures, but they want to say "I said 'Thanks, but no thanks' to the stimulus" when they are campaigning for 2012.

[Bok_Tukalo]

6. Jindal has said no to the unemployment money

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090220/pl_politico/19092

[BirminghamExaminer]

7. His political career might be over

In a state that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and where people are suffering most, I can't believe he will get re-elected. The approval numbers of the Republican congress keep plummeting and support for Obama and the stimulus are on the rise. The GOP governors who do this grandstanding are committing political suicide in my opinion.

Even Republicans have been saying for the last week or so that the GOP would be stupid not to take the money.

[Stinger2]

8. Haley Barbour (R) twisted more words in 5 minutes the a drill on full speed.

They are all going to take the money, Mississippi governor
calls Unemployment Insurance a TAX that’s absurd. 

He says the stimulus has a provision for giving money to
people that don’t want a full time job, again absurd. 

The money is for people working part time that get laid off to
collect compensation like full time workers get respectively.

 Companies like Wal-Mart started the idea of part time workers
so they didn’t pay all the benefits like insurance and or
workman’s comp.

Well, this is what they don’t like, Once the stimulus runs out
they will have to start paying benefits to all workers not
just full time. 

No more screwing part time workers.

Haley Barbour ( R ) twisted more words in 5 minutes the a
drill on full speed.

[Stinger2]

10. GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR ON FOX NEWS

Gov. Barbour: Governors like me are concerned that some of
this money has strings attached requiring a change to state
policy. It would require tax increases. What (a stimulus
package) has got to do is protect the best interests of the
people of Mississippi. This is a bill that is hundreds and
hundreds of pages long, and after the bill, you have agencies
that have to develop guidelines, rules, and regulations. But I
will give you one example of something I’m against Mississippi
taking. There is about $7 billion of unemployment insurance
modernization in the act that would require Mississippi to pay
unemployment compensation to people who are not willing and
able to take a full-time job. We have never paid unemployment
compensation to people unless they are willing and able to
take a full-time job. That is always the lot in most states.
If we were to change that to get our share of federal money,
when the money runs out, it ensures we will have a tax
increase on employers. The unemployment insurance tax in my
state is a state tax on employment. 


http://tinyurl.com/c65tvp 

Republican Governors Urge Congress to Pass Stimulus Bill.
January 31

NEW YORK -- Most Republican governors have broken with their
GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of
President Barack Obama's economic aid plan that would send
billions to states for education, public works and health
care.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/31/republican-governors-urge-congress-pass-stimulus/

Urge Congress to Pass Stimulus Bill, then Vote against it,
Liars and Hypocrites all.

[BirminghamExaminer]

11. For once in this century I'm glad I live in Alabama

at least for a moment or two. Our Republican governor already has the stimulus money figured into our state budget and believe me, we need it.

[FLAprogressive]

9. Charlie Crist won't.