Wouldn't that be nice?
Republican governors from the states of Alaska, Idaho, Louisiana, MIssissippi, South Carolina and Texas have "threatened" to reject stimulus money. I propose that the governors of these states go whole hog and pledge to remove themselves from the welfare rolls of the federal goverment entirely. More below.
From 2000 - 2005 these states have all (except Texas) received more money back from the federal government than they paid in, as follows: From 2000 through 2005 Alaska received a whopping $1.71 from the Federal Goverment for every tax dollar it sent to Washington, Idaho received1.26 for every dollar sent in, Louisiana, an embarrasing $1.78, Mississippi $2.02 and South Carolina $1.33. Only Texas sends slightly more to the Federal Government than it receives.
These states are content to play other states for suckers. They refuse to raise taxes on their own citizens and get away with it because they know that every years a portion of their deficit will be paid by the blue sucker states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, etc. which impose high taxes on their higher income residents to finance the poor performers. It's time these states committed to pulling their own weight.
I therefore propose that Republican Governors sign the following pledge.
For example, Governor Jindal can sign on:
"I Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana, hereby pledge to remove my State, the State of Louisiana, from the roll of Federal debtor states. I acknowledge that my state receives approximately $1.78 from the Federal Government for every dollar sent to the Federal goverment by Louisiana taxpayers. I also hereby acknowledge that this is an unfair, unacceptable state of affairs and that other states should no longer be required to perpetually finance my state's irresponsible deficit spending.
I therefore hereby commit to cut my State's dependence on the Federal goverment in half by the end of President Obama's first term in office and to finally end my state's dependence on the largesse of taxpayers of other states by the end of President Obama's second term. I am aware that cutting my state's dependence on federal welfare will require me to slash my state's budget, raise taxes on my citizens, and require my state's neediest citizens to suffer, but I feel that it is my duty as a Republican Governor to live true to Republican values of cutting spending and limiting the size and influence of the Federal Goverment.
Signed: ________________________________
Governor Bobby Jindal
How about it Governors?