Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA FINDS SUPPORT AMONG REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS


UPDATE BELOW

Unlike their counterparts in Congress, governors are required to balance budgets. President Obama is finding support among many Republican governors--especially from two states with huge budget shortfalls: California and Florida. A blogfriend of mine who lives in Texas has posted in comments here on "Progressive Eruptions" that Gov. Perry of Texas has talked out of both sides of his mouth--condemning the stimpak at the same time he anticipates the funds to help his state's budget shortfalls.


The Congressional Repubs would rather listen to a radio talk-show comedian than to the men and women who actually govern.




All of this points to the complete disconnect [and cynicism] of almost all the Republicans in Congress [only three Republican senators voted for the stimpak]--they've placed their party above their country.





More from today's NYTimes:





WASHINGTON — President Obama must wish governors could vote in Congress: While just three of the 219 Republican lawmakers backed the $787 billion economic recovery plan that he is signing into law on Tuesday, that trifling total would have been several times greater if support among the 22 Republican state executives counted.

[skip]

“It really is a matter of perspective,” Mr. Crist said in an interview. “As a governor, the pragmatism that you have to exercise because of the constitutional obligation to balance your budget is a very compelling pull” generally.




With Florida facing a projected $5 billion shortfall in a $66 billion budget, and social costs rising, the stimulus package “helps plug that hole,” Mr. Crist said, “but it also helps us meet the needs of the people in a very difficult economic time.”

[skip]

Recently, Governors Schwarzenegger, Crist, Douglas and Rell joined 14 Democratic governors in signing a letter to Mr. Obama lauding his economic plan. Other Republicans would have signed on, said a person familiar with the letter’s drafting, but for party pressure in their states.




The National Governors Association sent a bipartisan letter of support to Congressional leaders of both parties, signed by its Democratic chairman, Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Douglas, its Republican vice chairman. “The combination of funds for Medicaid, education and other essential services is critical for governors as they work to manage the downturn in their states and improve government for the long term,” it said.



Privately, Republicans favorably contrasted Mr. Obama with the outgoing Republican president, George W. Bush, according to two participants.





Though Mr. Bush had been a governor — in good economic times — his relations with state executives were distant at best. Amid a downturn early in the decade, he unsuccessfully opposed $20 billion for the states. Last fall, he resisted some Republicans’ pleas for aid.





Mr. Douglas in January sought a meeting with the new administration at the White House office that is a liaison to governors. Instead, he got an Oval Office meeting with Mr. Obama.




When reporters briefly came in — the two men flanked the fireplace just as presidents and foreign heads of state typically do — Mr. Douglas praised Mr. Obama for his leadership. The stimulus bill “might be a little different” if he had written it, the Republican said. “But the essence of a recovery package is essential to get our nation’s economy moving.”

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While the irrelevant Congressional Republicans fiddle with Aerosmith tunes and crow about being losers, the Republican governors of 22 states are working with President Obama to deal with our economic crisis--they are the real examples of bipartisanship.

Bob Herbert tells us why we are so lucky to have President Obama.

11 comments:

Arthurstone said...

Proposition 13 works.

The gift that keeps on giving.

And giving.

And giving.

Anonymous said...

Every day I am thankful to have a thoughtful, intelligent and articulate President. I still get goosebumps when I hear "President Obama". It's the end of a long nightmare.

Joe "Truth 101" Kelly said...

How big is California's budget deficit again Arthur?

Unknown said...

And yet the Republicans keep saying this plan is not going to help.
And yet only 3 Republicans in both the House and Senate voted for the plan.
Republican governors were asking Bush for help.
Republicans went quickly to their constituents, to say help is on the way.
They will be quicker to start asking when will the financial crisis end. I give it 3 months before Republicans ask for the Presidents head, because our financial problems are not solved yet.
Just more proof that Republicans are professional hypocrites.

dmarks said...

Proposition 13 does not "give". It merely blunts the greed of government.

Arthurstone said...

Truth101 wondered:

'How big is California's budget deficit again Arthur?'

$42B and counting.

The 'greedy' types who work and pay toward a common good which provides decent schools, good roads, bridges and hospitals, schools and university can just lump it.

And thanks dmarks for once again illustrating just how 'simple' it is.

For some.

It's always amusing how those who have benefited the most from what we as a society have accomplished together funding and building infrastructure, schools, universities and providing for the common security have decided enough is enough and by golly 'I'm not paying anymore'.

Unless it's for military expansion of course.

Proposition 13 is a perfect tool for that crowd. And we have an anti-tax demagogue of our own here in Washington state making a very good living introducing one 'anti-tax' initiative after another.

http://www.permanent-offense.org/

More angry middle class mediocrities hard at work to ensure no one else can enjoy the benefits & opportunities seemingly wasted on them.

Cheers!

Joe "Truth 101" Kelly said...

You cause me great confusion sometimes Arthur. Just to clear this up, if my taxes go up 10 or 20 a week instead of the useless $8 a week decrease I'm supposed to get, I don't care. Nobody will ever lower my taxes enough for me to really notice. I do notice 12 my federal govenment's 12 trillion dollar debt and my states 9 billion dollar debt. I'll skip a trip to Taco Bell a week to pay this stuff off. Hell. I won't skip anything. If you can't afford $8 a week you have bigger problems than deciding Taco Bell or Arby's.

dmarks said...

Prop. 13 allows for taxes to increase. It has nothing to do with the "common good" especially when revenues to the named things increase over time.

Does anyone have any hard information about California's revenue trends?

"have decided enough is enough and by golly 'I'm not paying anymore'."

I've never seen that happen. But what happens is that tax rates soar, and people can see the money going to millionaire government employees and sports stadiums.

Proposition 13 is the perfect tool to keep that kind of greed and waste down.

The Washington State idea sounds like a great idea.

If you are so concerned about the "common good", do something about the real problem: overspending.

Arthurstone said...

'millionaire government employees'

Right.

I'm with you on stadiums though. We had two forced on us, voted down a third and 'lost' an NBA team.

Still roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, universities, things which define the common good continue to erode while we refuse to pay the costs of mainaining them.

Truth101 is spot on. The GOP tax cutts are useless and mere political posturing. We need to step up and pay to keep this nation what it claims to be.

Handsome B. Wonderful said...

I'll listen to the Republicans complaints on this recovery plan when they refuse the money to be given to their home states.

I bet you not one Governor, House Rep. or Senator refuses the cash.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Gov. Jindal of Louisiana said he'd take a look at all the provisions before he accepts the money.

His state is hurting really, really bad.

Let's see if he refuses rescue money.