Articles

Embattled Governors Caught Up In Debates Over Stimulus Funds

by Beth Fouhy

Posted on February 21, 2009 – Lakeland Laegder

WASHINGTON | The nation's governors Saturday welcomed money headingtheir way from President Obama's economic stimulus plan, but said itwas only a down payment on improving dire fiscal conditions in theirstates.

Most also played down criticism of the plan by a handful ofRepublicans, who have said they may reject some of the stimulus funds.

Leadersof most of the 50 states and U.S. territories were attending thethree-day winter meeting of the National Governors Association inWashington. The meeting focused on the need for infrastructureimprovement, which is expected to absorb much of the stimulus fundingdirected to states.

Florida GOP Gov. Charlie Crist, a potential2012 presidential contender and strong supporter of the stimulus plan,said the criticism leveled by other Republicans wasn't rooted inpolitics.

"I don't know that it's a partisan issue. It'sdifferent people, different CEOs - governors - who have a differentperspective on how it would impact their states," Crist said in aninterview.

"I know it has a positive impact on Florida. A lot ofthat money has been paid to the federal treasury by my fellowFloridians and they deserve to get it back."

Several of thegovernors were escaping drama in their own states, including CaliforniaGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who signed the state's overduebudget last week after a bruising battle with lawmakers over how toplug the state's mammoth $41 billion budget hole.

Another wasnewly minted Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois, the formerlieutenant governor promoted after his predecessor, Democrat RodBlagojevich, was impeached and removed for trying to sell Obama'sformer Senate seat for cash and favors. Friday, Quinn called on Obama'ssuccessor, Roland Burris, to resign after Burris acknowledged he hadtried to raise money for Blagojevich, who appointed Burris to the seat.

Thefederal stimulus money remained the central focus for most governors.Most said it was hardly a bailout and that they were still facingpainful cuts to state services.

For the most part, governorsdownplayed an apparent split in Republican ranks over the stimulusplan, which will send billions to states for education, health care andtransportation. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a likely 2012 presidentialcontender, has said he would reject a portion of the money aimed atexpanding state unemployment insurance.

Mississippi Gov. HaleyBarbour has said he may do so as well, as has South Carolina Gov. MarkSanford. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has also criticized the stimulus, buttraveled to Washington last month to press for Alaska's share of themoney.

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