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DEL.ICIO.USRiver of billions could change flow of power
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When it comes to the $819 billion economic stimulus package working its way through Congress, Georgia Republicans find themselves in an awkward position.
Their formal representatives in Washington, most particularly in the U.S. House, have washed their hands of such spending.
It is a matter of philosophy that Republican leaders in the state Capitol are obliged to follow, even as they acknowledge that the money President Obama intends to send Georgia’s way would ease a serious budget crisis.
One state away, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen declared the stimulus package would “substantially” mitigate his state’s need to wield the cleaver. As a Democrat, he is allowed to say such things.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle is a Republican, and wants to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue after 2010. “There are no Santa Clauses for grown folks,” Cagle said. “The reality is, Georgia does not need to be dependent upon the federal government for filling our budget deficit.”
That said, if Cagle finds a few presents under his tree, he will not give them back, acknowledging the “huge bump” that could come from an increase in federal Medicaid spending.
Yet for Republicans in Georgia, the stimulus package represents more than a mild case of ideological dissonance. Obama’s river of billions could significantly enhance Democratic clout in the Capitol, and diminish that of our GOP governor.
This week, House Democrats intend to press Speaker Glenn Richardson to stretch out the current session of the Legislature out, to give federal stimulus dollars a chance to reach the state.
“We’re supposed to get with the Speaker and talk about slowing it down,” said House Minority Leader Dubose Porter of Dublin, another likely candidate for governor.
State Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus, the House caucus chairman, is suggesting that Perdue call a bipartisan “summit” to determine where increased federal spending might overlap with holes in the state budget — and help avoid indirect property tax increases recommended by the governor, as well as fee increases for hospitals and health insurers.
Whether GOP leaders will entertain either invitation isn’t the point. Democrats are declaring that they have a better sense of where and when stimulus cash will flow.
In Washington, above any other Democrat from Georgia, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop has become the go-to guy — because of his ties to Obama and his seat on the House Appropriations Committee.
When the GOP-dominated state transportation board makes its visit to Washington next week, to see what goodies might be available, it will make a show of meeting with the entire Georgia congressional delegation.
But the sessions with Bishop — and Democratic colleagues Hank Johnson, John Lewis and David Scott — will be the ones that count.
Bishop is among those working hard to make sure that a large chunk of the stimulus money — perhaps as much as half — is kept out of the hands of certain Republican governors.
Democrats like Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis want no middle-man.
“There was a concern. How do we make sure that the stimulus money gets to our constituents and is not peeled off by the governors of another party for their own agenda?” Bishop said. “We’re concerned that the distribution be done fairly and in places where there’s the greatest need.”
So local governments and school boards could have direct access to much of the federal money, at times competing with state governments.
Democrats in Washington have even dangled serious temptation in front of Georgia’s Republican-controlled Legislature, at Perdue’s expense.
Bishop said the stimulus version passed by the U.S. House has a provision that would permit state lawmakers to independently seek some of the federal largess, if a governor decides he doesn’t want what Santa Claus offers.
In Georgia’s case, that could weaken one of the governor’s crucial powers. Right now, he’s the only one who can determine how much money will flow into state coffers — and thus how much can be spent.
Comments
By Little Miss Sunshine
February 1, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this
Republicans want it both ways - they want to reep the rewards of the stimulus, but they don’t want to vote for it and then there is also the point that you know if this was being proposed by President Bush (or another Republican President) when they had a high approval rating that Republicans would jump right on it. Sorry Pubs, but you can’t have it both ways … you need to stop playing politics and do what is best for Georgia.
By Csquared
February 1, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this
keeping stimulus money from perdue is a great idea. otherwise we might have another round of GO FISH. who needs that?
By Can't Fix Stupid
February 1, 2009 6:30 PM | Link to this
I thought the purpose of the so-called stimulus bill was to boost Americans—not Democrats. But we know that’s not true.
This idiotic bill is pure pork—typical of Democrats who tax and spend when they get power. As PrezBo’s chief-of-staff said: “We shouldn’t let a good crisis go to waste.”
Obama has been in office less than a month and has already proposed spending that exceeds 15% of our nation’s GDP.
Welfare anybody? The gravy train has arrived.
By ExRepublican
February 1, 2009 7:10 PM | Link to this
Well I hope it does (Change the flow of power in Georgia, that is). Maybe Georgians will finally see how bad an idea it was to re-elect Saxby. It’s a shame Georgia is Represented in the US Senate by two Republicans who believe their job is to undo government. Their mantra of less-government is another way of saying buyer-beware (because the government agencies whose job it is to regulate food and product safety are going to be too weak to protect you). The only way to protect yourself these days is after the damage is done thru litigation. But I guess that’s the Republican way. Reactive, NOT pro-active.
By O'Toule
February 1, 2009 7:30 PM | Link to this
This is the worst federal(Dems) and state (Repubs) governments we have ever seen! I want to keep my money because I earned it! This “stimulus” plan is repulsive.
By Yep
February 1, 2009 8:18 PM | Link to this
Pure and simple. Dems want to buy votes. Reps want to stand alone. Choose your side. Do you want to be a fat cow or a stand alone, autonomous individual?
By TW
February 1, 2009 8:18 PM | Link to this
Why don’t the Republicans introduce legislation to grant those states opposed to the bail-out the authority to refuse their portion?
Because not only are the Republican incompetent, selfish little men - they are also full of crap.
Being that the GOP just spent eight long years in Bush’s butt, they’d be doing us all a favor if they’d crawl back up there and retire to TX with him.
By fed up
February 1, 2009 8:37 PM | Link to this
Sorry but the dems and the repubs are full of crp. The stimulus is nothing but a spending bill full of things that will NOT create any kind of jobs, maybe some work, but not jobs. If, it is passed which can be done with or without the repubs, it’s going to be up to the dems as to who gets what? That’s even crazier than the “stimulus” bill itself.
By hop
February 1, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this
the ajc is showing it’s true colors thinking giving money away is the answer.
the true test is turning the economy around with incentives for the private sector,not creating pork barrel programs that have little incentive for job creation.
it did not work with jimmy carter,and it will not work for obama
lastly,if this is true that this shame of a program is directed to local black democrats by-passing state leaders elected by the people. people in georgia will not stand for this type of reverse discrimination with this racist move.
this will show a very negative side of the obama adminstration and will further divide this nation.
By hop
February 1, 2009 8:40 PM | Link to this
the ajc is showing it’s true colors thinking giving money away is the answer.
the true test is turning the economy around with incentives for the private sector,not creating pork barrel programs that have little incentive for job creation.
it did not work with jimmy carter,and it will not work for obama
lastly,if this is true that this shame of a program is directed to local black democrats by-passing state leaders elected by the people. people in georgia will not stand for this type of reverse discrimination with this racist move.
this will show a very negative side of the obama adminstration and will further divide this nation.
By MAB
February 1, 2009 8:42 PM | Link to this
TM, your mom must be so proud. What a trash mouth you are. Bush derangement syndrome is alive and well, that’s plain to see. Just because the money gets spent in any one particular state doesn’t make it right. The whole pork spending bill is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s political pay-back, and the republicans are right to oppose it. Time will show what a bad bill it is. Unfortunately, the public has a short memory for this sort of thing.
By Ray
February 1, 2009 8:53 PM | Link to this
-Only a fool would continue to listen to the GOP. We trusted them for two terms and they trashed our economy. They are nothing but the worthless bigots they’ve always been. How sad there are people stupid enough to think the GOP cares about anybody but the very rich. Maybe that’s why the states with the highest test scores are all blue states.
-The South was alot better before we traded southern hospitality for redneck trash.
By fed up
February 1, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this
Sorry to disappoint all of you on here that think that the dems have all the answers, they don’t. They are all a bunch of crooks, on both sides of the aisles. The same people who helped screw up this economy, again on both sides of the aisles, are the ones that are supposed to fix it. Come on get real.
By Enoch McCarter
February 1, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this
You are whistling past the graveyard if you think that letting Shirley have direct access to federal money around the state government will do anything for Democrats in this state. People all over America don’t see this bill as a stimulus package but as a giant barbecue bacon pork roll. Letting the city of Atlanta feast on the spoils is a double win for the Republicans. Shirley will waste the money and whack off the rest of the state in the process Stupidity and greed are the gift that keeps on giving.
By Den
February 1, 2009 10:26 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe some of the lame comments here. Seems to me the repubs are really angry that it’s the demos turn to screw the country. What selfish j*******.
By Uni
February 1, 2009 11:24 PM | Link to this
That Casey Cagle sure is a smart one! Where did he get his college degree? Guess he never had the experience of doing homework, so you can’t really blame him for not doing it now. This money is meant to stimulate the economy and will be directed to specific programs. It’s not going to fund Sonny’s next trip to China or pay for Karen Handel’s state airplane.
By MDS
February 1, 2009 11:34 PM | Link to this
Republicans didn’t object when Bush pushed for economic stimulus! They need to stop trying to hinder the process. This is only part of the lords will he said, “those that were last shall be first and those that were first shall be last.” But in the sense that “EVERYONE” should have equal opportunity at life and prosperity what not only America should be like but the world, as he is the first “World President”! So stop the fighting and get with the program and you will see that this is a plan of inclusion and not exclusion, which is the plan that has us in these situations.
By Printwerx@yahoo.com
February 2, 2009 2:32 AM | Link to this
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By gabby
February 2, 2009 6:41 AM | Link to this
If opposing this spending bill makes me redneck trash then i’m glad to be redneck trash. who are you going to blame four years from now when this spending bill has not worked. Will you still be blaming bush. the main cause of this recession can be blamed the housing bubble bursting. This problem can clearly be laid at the feet of some of the leaders of the democrat party. They are Mr.Clinton,Dodd,Franks and others who forced banks to make homeloans to people who clearly could not make the payments to begin with. There is and est. 18.5 million homes vacant today so this problem will not be solved by this spending bill.You can spend your way out of this problem. Tax cuts across the board would be start and then really and truely cutting govertment spending would star us on the road to recovery.
By giddy
February 2, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
gabby,
How long do you plan to blame Clinton. Doesn’t your remark about others blaming Bush four years from now sound rather odd given that you are blaming the president from 8 years past? Just out of curiosity, how does someone force another person to sign on the dotted line for a loan. Is it a hidden gun? Does someone hold their pet dog hostage until they sign? What?
By Evolution Explained
February 2, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this
NO, tshirt hack, the line is, “I got your stimulous package….RIGHT HERE” with an arrow pointing down toward the weenie.
Or, your woman can wear the “I got stiffed by the socialist” tshirt as you both gain cat calls, bronz cheers, and of course, proposals from passers-by.