State Governors: "you can't tell if it's a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or a liberal'

[Better Believe It]

Governors marching in step over budget woes
'A lot of times, you can't tell if it's a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or a liberal'
By MONICA DAVEY
January 17, 2011

The dismal fiscal situation in many states is forcing governors, despite their party affiliation, toward a consensus on what medicine is needed going forward.

The prescription? Slash spending. Avoid tax increases. Tear up regulations that might drive away business and jobs. Shrink government, even if that means tackling the thorny issues of public employees and their pensions.

“The rhetoric has grown very similar,” said Scott D. Pattison, executive director of the nonpartisan National Association of State Budget Officers. “A lot of times, you can’t tell if it’s a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or a liberal.”

This class of governors arrives in a wave of Republican victories in the 2010 elections for state legislatures and governorships, a trend that may be affecting everyone’s approach. Even in states where the fiscal struggles have been less pronounced, new governors are sounding warnings and talking, again and again, of waste, frugality, simplicity, shared sacrifice and painful choices.

Read the full article at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41114874/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/

[hobbit709]

1. Funny how that slashing spending always affects those with the least to lose.

[leftstreet]

2. Nonsense! Slashing spending on social services is ALWAYS rightwing

As is refusing to tax the rich

[Better Believe It]

4. I agree. So what it the nonsense part, Democrats joining Republicans in proposing service cuts?

Well, many are. That just a fact.

And we are seeing leading Democratic politicians join Republican calls for big cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other vital federal programs.

[leftstreet]

5. It's getting harder and harder for them to maintain the illusion of left vs right

Whenever the UniParty's economic strategy finds the light of day, they pull out social issues to keep up the pretense

:puke: :grr:

[Drale]

3. People are bitching about Quinn here in Illinois

but he standing up for Democratic principals like not punishing people to save money, also I don't know if its a democratic principal but sometimes you need to raise taxes, you just do.

[cali]

6. they didn't mention Vermont's new gov

you can definitely tell that Peter isn't a repub

[ProSense]

7. Therein lies the problem

Governor Corzine was voted out of office because he tried to preserve public services and jobs by adjusting the property tax rebate, lowering the income cap and reducing the amount of the rebate. He was lambasted for doing so, and being a former Goldman CEO didn't help in this climate.

Now NJ has to live with Christie, who is the exact opposite of Corzine and infinitely worse.

When you can't tell if Jerry Brown is a liberal, there's a problem.

[mmonk]

8. Recommended. Negated by Reagan Democrats.