Barbour mulling saving, not spending, stimulus money

[onpatrol98]

JACKSON — Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and a bipartisan group of Mississippi lawmakers are considering saving, rather than spending, one of the two pots of federal stimulus money Congress recently approved.

Doing so could make it easier for officials to craft a state budget during the 2011 election-year session when most lawmakers are either seeking another term or running for higher office, and when Barbour — a potential 2012 presidential candidate — is wrapping up his final year as governor.

Lawmakers said yesterday that the state still plans to spend $97.8 million of education stimulus money this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/09/barbour-mulling-saving-not-spending-stimulus-money/

[EXneoCON]

1. Gov. Sanford of SC spouted off....

...about doing the exact same thing several months ago.



Last month he quietly accepted and dispersed the funds for use.:+

[Mikeystyle]

2. GOP stimulus love fest exposed

Despite their public condemnations of the economic stimulus plan approved last year, hundreds of Republican officials have been discovered holding secret crushes on this legislation, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The plan was approved with near-unanimous opposition from Republican lawmakers, yet interviews with Republican staffers, leaked documents and even public statements indicate that members of the GOP have been gushing over the stimulus since its inception.

Hints of a Republican love affair with the stimulus surfaced last week when a notebook owned by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) was found in the hallway outside his Congressional office.

“Oh Stimulus, I watch you all the time from my desk and in the hallway but you don’t seem to know I’m alive. I’ve handed out the big checks that you made to my constituents and taken credit for your success, but you just don’t seem to notice,” one of the passages read. “I know you’ve created jobs in my state and in my district but I just can’t bear to admit it. Why can’t other legislation be just like you.”

(continued….)
http://www.thechicagodope.com/2010/10/04/gop-stimulus-love-fest-exposed/