So. I have expressed discontent with Palin. This Glenn Beck segment has chipped away at that a little… It’s hard not to love her fiscally responsible instincts.
Listen to this segment:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7K7reT4W58&eurl=http://angela-stevens.com/archives/obama-should-follow-sarah-palins-example/&feature=player_embedded]
She pretty much sums it up with this:
“Responsible reductions and prudent use of reserve funds that we had set aside for tougher times will help us weather the storm,” Palin added. “I am committed to working with the legislature to make wise budget decisions and continue to invest in infrastructure that will help develop our resources and our communities.”
Imagine that. When you make good budget choices, you could have a SURPLUS? How about saving money you don’t need at that moment instead of making up new projects to spend it on? “But Palin is an evil polar bear killing wolf hunting right-wing fascist who destroys the planet. And she’s stupid!” No. It’s not an accident that Alaska is doing so well. Say what you want, but Palin is using the resources her state has, and while California has to issue IOUs to it’s people while it cries for federal money, Alaska has money in the bank.
According to Stimulus Watch, California is receiving $23,194,447,831 in stimulus funds. Florida is receiving $15,644,718,723, which is like, reason #438765 to kick Charlie Crist out of the GOP. Alaska? $415,682,000. That’s 17.9% of what California is receiving. To break it down some more, Florida received nearly $1000 per person to Alaska’s $605 per person. California received nearly $700 per person. Even Louisiana, still rebuilding from Katrina, comes in over $20/person below California. Bobby Jindal refused funds above and beyond those that are normal yearly subsidies from the feds.
“Well, let’s be clear. The best thing that Washington could do to help Louisiana and all of our states with our budgets is to get this economy moving again. I think we just have a fundamental disagreement here. I don’t think the best way to do that is for the government to tax and borrow more money. I think the best thing they could’ve done, for example, was to cut taxes on things like capital gains, the lower tax brackets, to get the private sector spending again.”
Have I mentioned that I love Bobby Jindal?
Dems, of course not happy. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley:
“All of us are committed to working with President Obama to pull our nation’s ecoomy out of the ditch that George W. Bush ran it into,” O’Malley said. “If some of the fringe governors don’t want to do that, they need to step aside and not stand in the way of the nation’s interests.”
Right. Roll over and shut up GOP. Stop thinking.
GOP governors in on the stimulus revolt, if only against social programs: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Idaho Gov. Butch Otter.
Two of their concerns: The restrictions on some of the money could further crimp state budgets, and programs created or expanded with stimulus funds may have to be cut once the stimulus funds are depleted.
It’s called “common sense”. I’m glad there are still a few that use it.
