Perry formally requests stimulus dollars

[sonias]

Postcards from the Lege -Statesman 2/18/09
Perry formally requests stimulus dollars

By Jason Embry | Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Gov. Rick Perry sent a letter to President Barack Obama today formally requesting economic-stimulus dollars for Texas.

Here’s the key paragraph: “On behalf of the people of Texas, please allow this letter to certify that we will accept the funds in H.R. 1 and use them to promote economic growth and create jobs in a fiscally responsible manner that is in the best interest of Texas taxpayers. I remain opposed to using these funds to expand existing government programs, burdening the state with ongoing expenditures long after the funding has dried up.”

There has been a ton of talk about whether Perry would seek the money, even though he’s never said outright that he would not. With this letter, he seems to be trying to maintain the same position he stated Tuesday — he’ll gladly take stimulus dollars for what he considers one-time expenses, but doesn’t want to use that money for recurring expenses that the state will have to cut in two years or step in and pay for with state money.

(snip from Perry's letter)
I continue to believe the best way to stimulate the economy is the approach we are taking here in Texas. As a result of low taxes, controlled government spending and a predictable regulatory climate, nearly 80 percent of all jobs created in the United States were created in Texas; the vast majority of these were private sector jobs. Just last week, Texas was ranked the top exporting state in the nation for the seventh year in a row.

Grandstanding at its worst!

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

1. What.an.asshole

he knew if he didn't take the money he'd get an asskicking from all sides in 2010.

dg

[kentauros]

2. And here I was defending Texas' honor (again) from the bashers in LBN

over Perry being a governor of one of the five states not accepting the money ;)

I guess the following thread in LBN is no longer current then?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3745873


Mind if I cross post with your link? :)

[sonias]

4. You always have permission kentauros

Feel free to fight the above ground war - fire away!

:hi:


Sonia

[kentauros]

5. Thanks Sonia!

:hi:

And, as expected, no reply.
They don't like it when Texans are right or debate intelligently :P

[WolverineDG]

6. Funny how the asshats cut & run

when the real Texans show up. ;)

dg

[babylonsister]

3. All that mindless bluster for nothing, as predicted. nt

[Sailing]

7. 80% ??????

Must be a hell of a high turnover rate they have inflicted on Texans to achieve that kind of number.

Texas shall now be known as the "Turnover State"

[sonias]

8. Good point

Turnover state. I just thought it was a typo at first - you know Perry being full of hot air claiming "all the US jobs are belong to us in Texas".

It still doesn't' right true. I don't believe that 80% of any portion of the US jobs, new this year, last year or even in the past 5 years have been created in Texas. Certainly he can't be taking credit for soldiers who just happen to come through Texas - on their way to Iraq & Afghanistan.

:shrug:


Sonia

[Why Syzygy]

9. Prison guards?

Doesn't he have to use some of the money for immediate relief? I'm sure that boosting jobs is good for everyone. But, everyone isn't able to work.

And, IIRC, Texas is NOT one of the states that receives more money than it produces. Correct?

[sonias]

10. You are correct

According to http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/02/20/gop_governors/index1.html">Salon Magazine

GOP governors take the (stimulus) money and run
For higher office, and away from their earlier statements about how much they hate the whole idea of the stimulus.
By Mike Madden, Gabriel Winant
(snip)
Gov. Rick Perry, Texas

Show me the money: $16,231,325,000

(snip)

Why am I saying this? Perry is probably more worried about next year than he is about 2012; he faces a likely primary challenge from Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. He wound up taking the money, but making clear how opposed he is to federal spending will probably come in handy if he does have to fend off KBH -- who, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, could be vulnerable on questions of fiscal discipline.

(snip)

Does my state need the money? Texas doesn't face a budget shortfall for fiscal year 2009, though it may for fiscal year 2010, and its unemployment rate of 6 percent is lower than the national average. But the White House estimates the stimulus will create 269,000 jobs there.

Does my state already get more money from the federal government than it sends to the federal government? No. Texas gets $.94 for every dollar it pays in. Rank: 35

Sonia