Schwarzenegger To GOP Governors: Give Me Your Unwanted Stimulus Money

While some Republican governors with presidential ambitions struggle to balance their state's budgetary needs with their own ideological opposition to the stimulus package, others don't find themselves feeling nearly as constrained.

Appearing on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger giddily embraced the idea that more money would be available for California should his GOP colleagues -- like Govs. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana -- refuse stimulus funds.

"Well, Governor Sanford says that he does not want to take the federal stimulus package money. And I'll say to him, I'll take it," Schwarzenegger said. "I'm more than happy to take his money or any other governor in this country that doesn't want to take this money. I'll take it, because we in California need it. I think it's a terrific package. I think if you ask a thousand people for their opinion, what is their ideal stimulus package, you will have a thousand different answers. So everyone's is a little different. I think he's done a great job and I think California benefits tremendously from that $80 billion of tax benefits there, for around $35 billion. There are other advantages: $45 billion of money that go to transportation, to education, to health care, all those different areas. There's even some money that could benefit our revenues or, I should say, our budget itself...."

Schwarzenegger, of course, faces sharply different circumstances than some of his Republican brethren, not least because he is constitutionally restricted from running for the White House. The governor just went through a messy and dramatic budget process in which he was forced to raise income and sales taxes and slash spending in a variety of places.

Other governors face similar, albeit smaller economic crises. And, when it comes to the stimulus, they are trying to walk the difficult line between fiscal conservatism and budgetary needs. Gov. Jindal announced this past week that he will take some portion of federal funds but would decline stimulus money that would expand state unemployment insurance coverage.

Comments

[tdubssurf]

It has been estimated that California could receive more than $25 billion (the Greater Los Angeles Area receiving around $6 billion) of the nearly $800 billion in aid, made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA. More than $70 billion of the bill has been directed towards investment in renewable, and green technologi­es...

http://www.caivp.org/article/taxes/2009/2/24/california-gets-stimulatedor-does-it

[breakroomlive]

A Conservative listener calls a Progressive TV show to discuss the Stimulus Bill, hilarity ensues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H156Rrc0iL4

[lbrillante]

I am happy to see some real republican leaders put the people they serve above party politics. I am completely disgusted and outraged that so many republican politicians are taking no responsibility for the mess they helped to create and instead are 'taking positions' in their hopes for some policital gain. This type of policitian is going to become a dinasaur of the past and soon based on what the american people have been witnessing.

[iride]

A few Repubs still want to be employed in 2 to 4 years if this even appears to work a little bit.

[SnapShots]

I have a new respect for Arnie after his conversation with Stephanopoulos today.

One day years ago, I was at his Venice restaurant for lunch when he arrived and sat at the next table. I don't get star-struck, nor do the folks I was with, so we just went on with our lunch.

If that were to happen today, I'd shake his hand and thank him for talking common sense.

Good job, Arnie.

[CaptainVideo]

There is a provision in the stimulus package that if a Governor has not accepted the money within 45 days, it goes to the state legislature. It will be great if the state legislatures undercut and embarass the political Scrooge governors who are willing to shaft their people in order to try to pander to the Republican party's base.

[SnapShots]

Good one, slugger. You hit that one out of the park.

[soiloecho]

Jindal an Sanford and the rest should just give the states that need this money. Maybe their states are just fine en we don't know about. Hey, they r the governors.­...

[lynettema]

Arnold also said today that the Republicans needed to listen to the people and set their ideology aside. Seem to be a Republican that is getting the message of the last election.

[CaptainVideo]

In order to win in the Repubican primaries they need to listen to the Republican base, not the political mainstream. That explains why they are acting like Ebeneezer Scrooge.

Hopefully this will get them defeated in the general election.

[Phalanxman]

"And your clothes and your motor-cyle­."

[o4tuna]

I admire him, just for the simple fact that he isn't saying stupid stuff like the congressional repubs and some other repub govs. He is sticking to the business at hand. I wish the rest of them would follow his example. He may not be everyone's ideal, but he is head and shoulders above the rest of them.

[CaptainVideo]

The fact that Schwartzenegger cannot run for President is undoubtedly a significant factor here. Maybe what we need is a constitutional amendment forbidding any governor from running for President. Then maybe governors will not be so willing to sacrifice the welfare of their state to play politics.

[hortonhearsawho2]

But sarah is so much fun...

[wanttruth]

The GOP governors refusing the money know their state legislatures will likely override them. They're going on the record as 'objecting' to gain some political points and raise their profiles for the 2012 election.

By the way, Arnold and Charlie are playing too, Arnold seems to be looking past the CA governorship to possibly the Senate. He's banking on voters forgetting that he raised their taxes and the deficit. He's gaining political captial for being willing to back President Obama's plan. He's also making sure that he gets credit for 'fighting hard' to get more money for his state. Furthermore, if Arnold can get himself elected to the Senate, he would be in a good position to run for President if the Republicans are successful in changing the eligibility rules.

Charlie may be making a pitch for the Presidency too. He's trying to position himself as the 'non-idealogical' choice for voters looking for a break from the extremes. He could be a threat to President Obama in 2012 simply because he appeals to some of the same voters. He could end of splitting the moderate vote with President Obama helping himself or another the GOP candidate having a better chance to win. Think, Ross Perot, Bill Clinton, George Bush.

[CaptainVideo]

Neither Arnold nor Charlie will be able to win in the Republican primaries, which are dominated by hard line conservative voters.

[zannamar]

Or they could both be realists. Both California and Florida have the largest budget shortfalls right now. They are trying to save their state governments. I personally am not ready to second guess their motives, give them a break and let them do their jobs. Both of these states were also the hardest hit from the housing market bust.

[SparkyDash]

Arnold is my Governor and as a California Dem. I'm pretty proud of him. I don't agree with everything he says or does, but he put our state first, above party politics. He has a very complex state to run (unless you're here, trust me, you don't know...you just think you do) and a Legislature just as complex and frustrating.

He's business-savvy, and has fought to place California ahead of other states in green energy and technology. Arnie works bipartisan well, getting slammed by Repubs frequently.

Crist has my respect too. Both of these gentlemen have made the few pseudo anti-stimulus gop governors look ridiculous as it forced them to reveal what most of us already know: All governors.­..repub and otherwise.­..will accept stimulus money; the handful who say they will refuse part of the stimulus will use it as a talking point for future political campaign runs.

Arnold and Crist put their states first and made those few repub govs look the fools that they are...that in itself is worth the price of admission.

[Skeetshooter]

Jindal says he will reject additional unemployment funding, one of the single most stimulative portion of his state's portion of the stimulus money. His proud display of ignorance will harm tens out thousands of Louisiana's citizens to further his own presidential aspirations.

If he makes good on this, his self serving act will be remembered by those who will suffer needlessly in the years to come. Lets hope that when the 2012 elections roll around, his buzzards come home to roost.

[zannamar]

isn't it telling that the governor's of poorest states with the lowest education levels are turning down the money. The keep them ignorant strategy is in full force.

[Angelaaaa]

So, what we are saying is that, if you take out the political imperatives associated with being a possible presidential candidate, governors will actually do what is best for their voters. Hmmm, I think the point here is only vote for state candidates who have no presidential ambitions whatsoever - migrants, ugly people, that guy with the unfortunate stutter, the confirmed spinster with the devoted female companion - if they are presidential poison, we want them.

[Deadmoose]

Why did they recall the man that Arnold replaced. Was that Gray Davis?

[mamacat]

He didn't have the machismo of the Terminator, and Californians wanted a sexy man for governor.
Officially, the rallying cry for his impeachment was because he raised the annual tax on cars.

[SparkyDash]

that (tax is a bad word, right?) and other issues with budget, etc. Arnold happended to be there at the right time with the right words and right image when the recall of Mr. Davis came up. Arnie honestly, like most, thought Calif. could be easily governed..­.alas not true. He found out soon enough of course, and Davis is smiling I'm sure, but busy with other things.

I hope we as a state get rid of the 2/3 vote to pass a budget or raise a tax. We simply get stuck at budget time as you can imagine. We are one of only 3 states I believe that have that 2/3 vote issue.

[Davonne Rushing]

It's Republicans like Schwarzenegger and Charlie Chris who I truly respect because they put the needs of their people first.