The feds never would admit that withholding highway funding or FEMA aid could ever be construed as punitive.
Extortion, you mean. And since it would cross multiple state lines could be considered both federal and criminal. And because there'd be at least 48 instances of it: possibly violative of RICO... but that is assuming, of course, that the federal government is actually capable of doing something illegal; Fast & Furious is proof enough that the mere act of the Federal government doing it makes it legal -- I mean otherwise it would be: 1) the violation of export laws, 2) the violation of treaty w/ Mexico, 3) an unauthorized act of war against Mexico, 4) state sponsored terrorism, and 5) treason.
But, F&F is obviously none of those; why if it were that would prove that the government has huge amounts of corruption. And America is the least corrupt government on Earth, by virtue of being in America!
[/cynic][/sarc]
Be sure Obama will exact a price. He invigorates himself with retribution. He is a monster.