Strings attached? Jindal, legislature to decide if state will accept stimulus (Louisiana)

[funkybutt]

Source: WWLTV.com - New Orleans

BATON ROUGE, La. – You would think with Louisiana staring at a possible $2 billion budget shortfall next year, Governor Bobby Jindal would anxious to get a hold of the state's nearly $4 billion cut of the federal stimulus package.
Video: Watch the Story

But, instead, the republican governor appears to be a bit weary of democrats bearing gifts -- especially when he's set to give the GOP response to President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address.

-snip-

State House Speaker Jim Tucker says the governor is just being cautious, not playing politics.

-snip-

"He needs to take this $4 billion," said Rep. Walker Hines, D-New Orleans. "He needs to put it in our economy. This will improve the quality of life for many in Louisiana. It will create jobs. It will do some really great things that cannot be done without that money."

Read more: http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl021609cbstimulusjindal.22935ced.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. piyush is nothing more then a conniving lil weasel

I chuckle that his state of the speech rebuttal will be given during Mardi Gras night. No doubt the fiscal health of the nation will be on everyone's mind in the quarter. I hope he and palin team up in 2012 and permanently end both of their careers.

[funkybutt]

2. Hey BOSS!

Good to see ya!

:hi:

[BOSSHOG]

8. Hi Sweety

Great to see a post of yours. Hope you are well.

[WriteDown]

6. I'll be there....

Wonder if I can catch it on Bourbon St. Haha.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. and perhaps even bring an end to the repukes...

[Milspec]

13. I agree

have a heart.

[annabanana]

3. Go ahead, Bobby. . refuse the money!

I'm sure all of Louisiana will back you up on this. .
:rofl:

[jpak]

4. He'll take the cash and then talk trash - just like the rest of the idiot republics

But if he refuses the $$$, he can give to the State of Maine - I need my road fixed...

:evilgrin:

[abluelady]

5. I Agree With Him

I think every single republican governor or state with republican congressmen who voted against the stimulus should ensure their states take no money. Let them show their true beliefs. Let the people in their states see what they aren't getting as a result of not taking the package.

Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the United States. It is absolutely amazing to me that there are any republicans living there. The people who voted for Jindal and Vitter are just plain pathetic. Certainly an example of those who vote against their best interests.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. There was a great suggestion a couple of days ago that the plan be an opt in type

of deal If you do not opt in...you don't get any money. No problem.....since it is usually the states that pay the least to the Federal govt that get the most from it.
I would like to see each and every Representative have to say yes or no for money to their district. Let's see how THAT affects their re-election chances.
Amazing how the repukes don't want to spent "Their tax dollar" on everyone else...but when it comes to spending it on themselves and THEIR constituents...that is a whole different story.

[Karenina]

19. Excellent !!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[alsame]

7. Lose/lose for Jindal, If he takes the money, it's hypocrisy. If he

doesn't, he's hurting the people in his state. Must suck to be him

:nopity:

[BrklynLiberal]

10. K&R

[LiberalFighter]

11. If he refuses this funding then they should refuse all federal funding.

And we should federalize a 20 mile swath along both sides of the Mississippi as it is vital to the interests of the USA.

[Demit]

14. He's weary? Or wary? Or maybe he's just wooly. Republicans do get wooly.

[Elidor]

15. Kabuki

If Jindal turns it down, the state legislature gets to control the money. There is no way that even a moran like Jindal is going to let $4 billion slip through his fingers. Does he expect anyone to take this seriously?

[Magleetis]

16. Everything he does

is a calculated move to make himself look good for a pres run in 2012. He is a fast talking snake that would have us all thumping the bible like the right wing christian extremest that he is. FUBJ.

[Mz Pip]

17. Good. I'd like to see

more of this. All those GOP congresscritters who voted against the stimulus need to go back to their districts and insist that they decline the funding.

However, some of them are going back crowing to their constituents how much money will be coming in from the bill they refused to support.

Elections have consequences and these GOP morans need to feel some of the heat. They want to have it both ways.

[radfringe]

18. fine, don't take it - more for the rest of us

hope more NOPers refuse the money, then we can redistribute it to remaining areas for more job creating projects

on edit: I have no doubt that after this theater of a political stunts that Louisianna will take the money.

If Jindal does refuse the money -here's the commercial the Dems should run all over the state

scenes of various stimulus projects being worked on, people being hired for jobs etc. Voice over highlighting all of this

followed by:

"If your state is benefiting from the Stimulus package - raise your hand! NOT SO FAST LOUISIANNA! Your Governor decided not to participate. Your Governor decided that you are on your own rather than go against the wishes of the Republican Party leadership. Maybe it's time for you to decide you need a new governor. One that puts YOU first and not politics."

[KamaAina]

20. The real news here: Nagin said something intelligent!

:wow:

This has not happened since a week or two after the Federal Flood. Be careful -- your cochon de lait po'boy may be about to sprout wings...

In the meantime, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin says he'll take whatever the state turns down.

"There's many aspects of this from transportation to light rail systems to energy efficiency grants to CDGB money," said Nagin. "It should benefit the city of New Orleans significantly."

Alas, no pix, so we don't get to see what he looks like without a loafer wedged in his mouth!

[KamaAina]

21. Worth a thousand words...

okay, here's a few more:

http://adrastos.blog-city.com/loser.htm

PBJ fails to exorcise loser demon from Walnuts. Photo by John McCusker....

I realize that the MSM loves having Walnuts back in his role as "noble loser" but past Presidential losers were stigmatized and marginalized; even Al Gore. Was that fair? No but it wasn't as ridiculous as the slobbering over McCain. Get a room, boys, STFU and let the recovery begin. If anything there's not enough stimulative spending in the Obama package BUT it's a good start and they got the thing through Congress in record time. It usually takes Congress more than a month to pass uncontroversial legislation, or gas for that matter, yet I heard reporters saying shit like "Obama's package has finally passed." I hope the President has learned that the GOP's idea of "bi-partianship" involves surrender. It's time to let Rahm be Rahmbo again. Frak bi-partianship on GOP terms and frak the press for drooling over a drooling old economic imbecile like Senator Walnuts.

[KamaAina]

22. In other Piyush news, his creationism jones just cost NOLA a convention

and you'll never guess where they're having it instead...

Salt Lake City! :rofl:

You just can't make this stuff up...

http://righthandthief.blogspot.com

The Executive Committee of The Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology wrote to Gov. Jindal informing him that they would hold their 2011 conference in Salt Lake City instead of New Orleans "in large part" because "of the official position of the state in weakening science education and specifically attacking evolution in science curricula".

The front page of the Society's web site says "No Thanks, New Orleans" and links to their letter to Jindal. PZ Meyers laments that he won't be able to spend five days in New Orleans at the conference with the other 2000 attendees. Prof. Barbara Forrest notes that the Jindal administration and the Legislature were repeatedly warned about the economic damage that would result from this anti-science legislation. So they must take full responsibility for this embarrassing travesty.

Indignant letter to Piyush here:

http://www.sicb.org/resources/LouisianaLetterJindal.pdf

[Best_man23]

23. Dont accept it LA

There are many other states who can use the extra $$$ from the stimulus.

[tooeyeten]

24. Another Republican fool

Looking forward to another Democratic win.