Stimulus money: Texas shouldn't shy away from 'handout'
February 6, 2009
Regardless of his feelings about the stimulus, Perry should request funding if the package is passed by Congress, signed by the president and becomes law. The governor's office has indicated that if the Senate passes the stimulus measure, Perry will seek money for the state.
Written by Editorial, The El Paso Times
Rhetoric and emotion are running high when it comes to the huge economic stimulus package being created in Congress.
Part of the controversy surrounds giving some of the stimulus money to individual states. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been strongly opposed to creating the package, which currently sits in the U.S. Senate and is at least $900 billion. He and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford co-wrote a Wall Street Journal column in December accusing the feds of creating a "bailout mentality" in the country and leading the country into huge debt.
While those are valid concerns, some Texas legislators fear that if the stimulus package passes the Senate -- a version already has been approved by the House -- Perry won't ask for any of the money.
Regardless of his feelings about the stimulus, Perry should request funding if the package is passed by Congress, signed by the president and becomes law. The governor's office has indicated that if the Senate passes the stimulus measure, Perry will seek money for the state.
But just in case, state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, is writing legislation that would allow lawmakers in the Lege to ask for stimulus money, bypassing the governor. That's a good political tool to have in case it's needed.
If the state gets the money, and that's not yet a sure thing, expenditure of that money should be closely monitored and there should be completely transparent public accountability.
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