[arasina]

Have state Governors forgotten how to govern without the assistance of Big Federal Daddy? What innovative solutions do these whiners have to bring to the table?

[joesnuffy]

When a grown spoiled child cant/wont live within its means...it goes crying to the parent for mo money When its govt. they raise taxes and buy a bigger justice thug dept.

[irish_lad]

I closely monitor state budgets and know that most states are in dire financial straits. Many states have already cut programs, and the next step is to cut into the bone rather than the fat. California is facing a $35 billion shortfall, and Texas is $10 billion. These aren't small number folks.

I am a die-hard Bush republican, but I also know that without some aid from the Feds, further cuts will lead to further economic contraction at the state level, thus prolonging an already slow recovery.

The problem is two-fold at the state level. Econcomic forecasts (and thus budgets) were predicated on an improving economy. For instance, Connecticut is facing a severe shortfall and will likely layoff about 3,600 state workers. The reason is that a large revenue item in their budget is the tax on capital gains from many wealthy residents. Since the market has tanked, no capital gains means budget problems. The other problem is that states, when times were good, foolishly increased spending on social programs above practical rates. They will cut those but the revenue shortfalls may force states to make cuts that WILL hurt many people (especially the elderly and children who are the biggest recipients of state aid).

So what to do? Federal loan guarantees to states that implement fiscal discipline in spending. Some states will be forced to raise taxes and fees to balance their spending. This problem will not get much better until the economy gets a lot better.

[Contra]

Yeah, the federal government is obligated to bail the states out for their fiscal irresponsibility. This is about a mayor, not a governor, but it shows the arrogance. Mayor Martin O'Malley of Baltimore, MD claims he has spent $11 million dollars on Homeland Security and "only" been reimbursed by the feds for $1 million. Him and his former police chief have been heavily criticizing President Bush every chance they get for not giving them more money and not making the homeland safe enough, etc. He even did the Democratic radio response one Saturday that was a total hit piece against the President. You know, the typical liberal democratic line of BS. Now if I'm President Bush I don't give O'Malley anything after this, in fact, I look for ways to screw him over. I hope President Bush uses reward and punishment the same way Clinton did and screws the Democrats good. My guess is he plays that game very well.

[Willie Green]

Have state Governors forgotten how to govern without the assistance of Big Federal Daddy?

Governors = spineless piglets sucking at the federal teat.

[angry elephant]

Have state Governors forgotten how to govern without the assistance of Big Federal Daddy? What innovative solutions do these whiners have to bring to the table?

Our Washington governor Gary Locke, who is the first quoted, has never known how to govern. He has bloated the state payroll, run Boeing out, and generally been anti-business. Now he wants to whine about how broke we are.

[philetus]

"Have state Governors forgotten how to govern without the assistance of Big Federal Daddy?"

If, they try to "govern without the assistance of Big Federal Daddy", they would be forced to give up all their pork, perks, and peckadillos.

[CyberAnt]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Did anybody see Gebhardt on MTP this morning - I gave up after about 1 minute of his diatribe. All he had to say was that the states were dying and Bush was not paying attention. Also he said several times (which must be the new talking point), Bush is just not up to the job of being President.

And ... of course Timmy only slightly challenged that statement.

That makes my blood boil so bad - I just couldn't watch.