Yesterday, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter signed Executive Order 2009-06, which creates a “stimulus executive committee” that will be appointed by Otter to review state agency information and make recommendations within 30 days on how to best use the federal money designated for Idaho in the federal law. Those recommendations will be due by the close of business on March 19. (http://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/press/pr2009/prfeb09/pr_007.html )
My understanding is that Idaho is set to receive about $1,000,000,000.00 – that’s $1 Billion. Now, several state agencies and local governments are lining up to get “their” share of the monies. Meanwhile, other states such as Louisiana and Texas have publicly stated their opposition to the package, and plan to decline the designated monies for their states. Why would any state even consider declining such windfalls? Well, aside other obvious problems with the so-called “stimulus” package, if Idaho or any other state accepts the money (and my bet is Idaho surely will), that state looses a bit of self–respect and what little sovereignty states have left.
Nonetheless, Idaho could use the money. Transportation, state infrastructure and education could all use the money. Many Idahoans would like to see Idaho get its piece of the pie, and let’s admit it – we’d all like a piece. But at what cost? The money comes with strings attached and leaves our children in further debt. If we accept, are we selling out? Are we selling our souls and signing a deal with the devil?
What say you? If you were an elected official right now, serving in Boise, how would you vote? Would you raise your voice in support or opposition?
(Just for numbers: the final package is in the area of $787 billion, which breaks down to $2,588.31 per person in the US. If the package were divided equally amongst the states, and not rewarding “blue states” over “red states” – Idaho would receive $3,944,104,060.2 – almost $4 billion.)
Also, be sure to visit the poll to the right of the page.
Popularity: 8%
Related posts:
- Who should we trust to stimulate the economy – Obama, Congress, State Government, Wall Street or ourselves?
- Obama Shreds Constitution With Executive Order
- The Otter Oddity: The Stimulus Bill in Idaho Going to Waste
- Measure passes the Idaho House to consolidate elections – education associations in opposition.
- Sheriff Obama…
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
:@:)
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you answered your own question Mr Plumber. “At what cost”? Accepting this money will not be worth it in the long run and Idahoans will be the ones footing the bill for decades to come in order to pay it off. Mainly in higher taxes. The economy will improve eventually, we just have to bide our time and stop giving in to all the stimulus hype. There’s no such thing as a “free lunch”. We’re digging our own graves by accepting this money imo.
I have mixed feelings about this too ya’ll. At least some of this money is directly helping the states (who can’t run a deficit) and building and repairing infrastructure.
As far as the infrastructure part, previous generations have gone into debt building our infrastructure (sewers, highways, bridges, schools, data lines, etc.) and that infrastructure gives capitalism a chance to thrive and current and new industries a chance to make profits and create jobs. Historically, a society will take its infrastructure and natural surroundings for granted because it’s “always been there” since the day a younger generation was born. This makes it difficult for the human mind to conceive of it ever being gone. Similarly, it was difficult to imagine the twin towers being gone – that’s a much smaller example compared to the major infrastructure systems that our society is built on. If we were fish, only a few of us would have enough awareness to know what water is, and not take it for granted.
Anyway, if we’re going to go into debt that future generations will have to pay, let’s at least build something they will benefit from – instead of just going into endless debt rebuilding a country in the Middle East that we destroyed. It’s the difference between good debt and bad debt (or at least bad debt and not as bad debt).
So yes, we will and should accept it – we’re in no position not to as long as the “strings” involve anything that helps the state of Idaho instead of just more money to rebuild Iraq, then I’m all for Idaho getting some of its money back! We’d be fools not to and it would be only hurting future generations of Idahoans to turn down our own tax money because of some sort of ideological short term principal.
I’d like to know what some you think in your reasoning that “we (Idaho) deserves this money”? How do you come to that conclusion? Just because the govt is handing out money we need to take it? Their handing out years of debt plain and simple. Good or bad it makes no difference. Debt is debt is debt!
Don’t kid yourselves people. Even before this stimulus package, Idaho was a ward of the federal government. We’ve been on welfare for many years, getting $1.21 back for every tax dollar paid out.
If Gov. Otter and our so-called “fiscally conservative” republican politicians are so all-fired opposed to President Obama’s economic recovery plan, they HAVE TO refuse the money. Otherwise, they have about as much credibility on fiscal conservatism as A-Rod has on steroids.
Make no mistake about it, republicans like Risch (who’s been making a total fool of himself in the media lately) and Otter and Crapo and Simpson want to go back to the bad old days of GWB. They expound a lot about the evils of Obama’s plan, attacking him after a dismal 8 years of Bush-Republican economics. And while they’re certainly entitled to their hollow rhetoric, it may behove them all to remember that attacking Obama’s plan isn’t an alternative plan. And neither is dredging up hoary old gripes about the New Deal.
I’m still wading through this and trying to understand the whole thing, so my reasoning may be flawed and by tomorrow or next week, I may change my mind and do a complete about-face. If Idaho should refuse the money, I don’t think when it comes to payback time that we are going to be let off the hook, I am betting that we will be paying back our equal share just like every other state. I am also betting that payback will be in the form of each person paying so many dollars in taxes; so how are they going to determine who does not need to pay back any? I’m getting tripped up in my thinking here, but why should we have to payback what California, Oregon, Washington, or any of the other states reaped the benefits from when we didn’t get any of the “bennies”? Yeah, the total debt will be that much less, but other states will have better infrastructures, etc. than Idaho; so maybe we should accept the money and use it where it is needed.
I did indicate that I reserve the right to change my mind after I understand the whole thing a little better didn’t I? But for right now, I am in line with Sarah J and think we should take the money.
Idaho Native – I’m still trying to sort it out myself and can relate to the uncomfortable process you describe!
As for paying to benefit other states, I prefer not to keep score there since we indirectly benefit MUCH more from the tax base of California, NY, etc. than they benefit from our tax revenue. It’s always give and take of course…hence the whole “United” States thing, as opposed to be separate states (countries).
Well, let’s see. Our roads need repairs. Our schools are falling apart. Many of our kids are going to school hungry. One out of four of my neighbors either cannot find work at all or cannot find enough to pay the bills. Lord help them if they get sick or get into an accident.
Is this really a time to rely on the bankrupt ideology that got us into this mess? When Rush comes on hit the mute button!
Oh … don’t pay much attention to a few extremist Republican politicians posturing for their hardcore political base. They’ll take the money because they’ve got budget holes to plug and besides their Legislatures can override them.
Even though every single Republican in the House and all but three in the Senate voted against the stimulus package most are now brazenly trying to take credit for.
If we don’t take the money, we’ll miss out and some larger state will take our share. damned if you do damned if don’t
My thoughts exactly, PoBug.
If we don’t take the money, where will it go? I’m pretty sure it will not be used to help pay the deficit, it will just go to someone else and we’ll be paying it back anyway.