Tenn. Governor: "I'm On Obama's Short List for HHS - But Won't Take Stimulus Money"

[K Gardner]

(alternate title: Let Them Starve)

My brother was laid off from his job of 15 years last week. His medical insurance for his family ends this week and it will be several weeks before he can draw his whopping $275.00 (maximum) benefit from Tennessee's Unemployment Plan. He was advised by the Dept of Human Services yesterday to apply for the state's 'medicaid' insurance because, in their words, "it doesn't look like our governor is going to accept the money that would have allowed you to afford Cobra."

So, I looked it up and was shocked to see it was true, but even MORE shocked to see that our disgusting POS governor thinks he is going to be in Obama's CABINET ??? Are you freaking KIDDING ME??!!

Would it even make any difference if we wrote someone and asked this man NOT be considered for Obama's Cabinet?? Who would we write? This is just insanity.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/02/24/tennessees-democratic-governor-weighs-rejecting-stimulus-funds/

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen says he’s still among the top candidates for a post in the Obama cabinet, but that hasn’t discouraged him from possibly rejecting some of the stimulus money that President Barack Obama is sending his way.

Bredesen, who says he is “on a fairly short list” of candidates for health and human services secretary, told a Chattanooga paper that he is considering turning down federal funds for unemployment insurance included in the economic recovery package signed by the president last week.

He would be the first Democrat to refuse part of the stimulus for states, joining Republican governors like South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal, who is giving the GOP response to Obama’s economic address this evening.

Bredesen is concerned that accepting $141 million for Tennessee’s unemployment insurance would force the state to expand the program and leave state taxpayers with the bill in two years’ time.

“We are evaluating this piece of money, whether it makes sense for us to take it,” he said. “We may well be one of the states that say we can’t take on that portion of it.” In testimony before Congress today, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said it would “reduce the stimulus effect of the package” to leave the unemployment funds unspent. But Bredesen still likes his chances of joining the Obama administration after a breaking with the president on the high-profile issue.

[liberal N proud]

1. Sure you are you fucking asshole

He wants to ride the fence.

[WI_DEM]

2. Good grief, we don't need this guy as hhs. I'm pretty sure it won't be Howard Dean

though it deserves to be, but if it's not I'd take Sebiluis before this guy.

[K Gardner]

4. This DINO is not even in the same LEAGUE as Howard Dean OR Sebelius !

[OHdem10]

3. Now does everyone understand why for the most part Southern

States are some of poorest States? Economic Fundamentalism.

[Justitia]

5. Any pol calling himself a DEM threatening to turn away the help, should be taken to the woodshed.

Please tell me this guy has no chance for any position at the federal level.

[K Gardner]

6. I haven't heard any names tossed out.. surely this can't be serious. n/t

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Don't these numbnuts realize that unemployment is very stimulative

One unemployment dollar comes back as about $1.65 to the economy, with much of the excess staying in the state where it was spent. Don't they have any economists that can explain to them that they will probably come out ahead if they accept the stim money, even if it means expanding a state program?