- Joined
- Nov 24, 2009
- Messages
- 5,758
- Reaction score
- 2,094
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Centrist
Aid money tests GOP governors eyeing 2012 - Politics - msnbc.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Another helping of federal aid to shore up battered state budgets might be tough to swallow for Republican governors who may challenge President Barack Obama in two years. They can take the money or make a stand.
The aid package enacted last week requires governors to sign off before their states can receive a share of the $16 billion in federal medical assistance money. The bill contained another $10 billion that school districts will get no matter what.
The situation is most taxing on GOP governors who are possible 2012 presidential candidates, such as Indiana's Mitch Daniels, Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty and Mississippi's Haley Barbour. They have railed against Washington spending. Taking the money opens them up to charges of hypocrisy, but rejecting it deprives their states of tens of millions of dollars.
snip
Democratic state Rep. Erin Murphy said she is frustrated that there's any hesitation on Pawlenty's part given Minnesota's shaky budget situation. Pawlenty's administration is considering taking out short-term loans to pay bills in a timely fashion.
"His political future or Minnesota's financial future" is how Murphy framed the decision. "His ability to say he's not taking federal money is a strong selling point in Iowa, but it is a risky decision for Minnesota's fiscal future," she said.
In Mississippi, Barbour called the federal bill "terrible legislation" within hours of its passage. On Friday, spokesman Dan Turner said Barbour's administration plans to apply for the money despite his misgivings.
snip
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Another helping of federal aid to shore up battered state budgets might be tough to swallow for Republican governors who may challenge President Barack Obama in two years. They can take the money or make a stand.
The aid package enacted last week requires governors to sign off before their states can receive a share of the $16 billion in federal medical assistance money. The bill contained another $10 billion that school districts will get no matter what.
The situation is most taxing on GOP governors who are possible 2012 presidential candidates, such as Indiana's Mitch Daniels, Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty and Mississippi's Haley Barbour. They have railed against Washington spending. Taking the money opens them up to charges of hypocrisy, but rejecting it deprives their states of tens of millions of dollars.
snip
Democratic state Rep. Erin Murphy said she is frustrated that there's any hesitation on Pawlenty's part given Minnesota's shaky budget situation. Pawlenty's administration is considering taking out short-term loans to pay bills in a timely fashion.
"His political future or Minnesota's financial future" is how Murphy framed the decision. "His ability to say he's not taking federal money is a strong selling point in Iowa, but it is a risky decision for Minnesota's fiscal future," she said.
In Mississippi, Barbour called the federal bill "terrible legislation" within hours of its passage. On Friday, spokesman Dan Turner said Barbour's administration plans to apply for the money despite his misgivings.
snip