The Stimulus Bill Circus
So let me get this straight, after eight years of creating the biggest budget deficits in US history, the Republican Party is offended because the stimulus package is too big, at least in part due to the fact they (the Republicans) insisted on tacking on $30 billion in tax cuts. As a result, they are going to force the Democrats to knock out $110 billion in education, infrastructure and budget relief to the states. BUDGET RELIEF TO THE STATES! This money would be guaranteed to be spent immediately due to massive state budget shortfalls.
It seems the Republicans, despite rhetoric to the contrary prefer a big federally-mandated tax cuts (which incidentally generally forces states to do the same) to allowing the states to determine how best to spend the money on their own.
Of course, the Republican Governors are pissed. They are facing massive budget short falls largely through no fault of their own.
$600 billion went to find WMDs that everyone pretty well knew weren’t there. $700 billion went to bail out wreckless and greedy financial institutions. Saving the states from budgetary disasters and rebuilding schools doesn’t seem like it should be controversal at this point.
I think the Republican Governors should start their own party. To quote Brad Delong:
Raze the Republican Party to the ground. Plough it under. Scatter salt in the furrows so it can never grow back. We need another, very different opposition party to face the Democrats. We need it now.
The time for bi-partisan outreach is past. If the party won’t play, they have to pay.