Mar 17 2009
stimulus: WWBD what would barry do?
I’m sure I’ve made it clear that the stimulus package was a terrible idea. We can’t borrow from our grandchildren to get ourselves out of debt. That argument is water under the bridge. Congress passed the uberspending bill, and me must move on to the debate as to what we need to do now. When these chickens come home to roost, and the will, all of our taxes will escalate. South Carolina can’t refuse the money and then ask the Feds to exempt South Carolinians from future Federal Tax increases. Also, any money we turn down, is to be dispersed to accepting states.
I’ve never owned a horse, but I’ve been told that the least expense of owning a horse is the purchase. From what I can tell, because of the strings attached, it costs us more money to accept the money. Kind of like accepting a horse would cost you.
So what is the legislature to do from this point forward? Last week, the South Carolina House passed its version of the budget including the stimulus money as if it were here. The budget we take up in the Senate will have the stimulus money in it.
As you know, Congress made a provision for legislatures to over ride any Governor that refuses to accept the stolen cash. This was an amendment of our own, Rep. Jim Clyburn.
There was a resolution introduced in the Senate last week by Sen. Hugh Leatherman (Florence) S. 577 doing just that…asking for the money should the Governor refuse it. Ya’ll know I can’t support this resolution.
I’ve cosponsored a resolution refusing all stimulus money with Sen. Lee Bright. I doubt the success of this bill, but you know, where just agreeing with Sen. Barry Goldwater on his assessment of federal aid: HAVE LONG SINCE SEEN THROUGH THE SPURIOUS SUGGESTION THAT FEDERAL AID COMES “FREE.” THEY KNOW THAT THE MONEY COMES OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS, AND THAT IT IS RETURNED TO THEM MINUS A BROKERS’ FEE TAKEN BY THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY. THEY KNOW, TOO, THAT THE POWER TO DECIDE HOW THAT MONEY SHALL BE SPENT IS WITHDRAWN FROM THEM AND EXERCISED BY SOME PLANNING BOARD DEEP IN THE CAVERNS OF ONE Of THE FEDERAL AGENCIES. THEY UNDERSTAND THIS REPRESENTS A GREAT AND PERHAPS IRREPARABLE LOSS – NOT ONLY IN THEIR WEALTH, BUT IN THEIR PRICELESS LIBERTY.” Conscience of a Conservative
May favorite idea is to take the money while adjusting state spending enough to match the pilfered funds with tax cuts. Target these tax cuts to the corporate level and we’ll see jobs spouting up all over this state. If we can figure out a way to do this, I’ll offer it up as an amendment on either the debate of S. 577 or during the appropriations debate. Which way to ya’ll think would be best?
Mar 21, 2009 @ 07:51:33
You’re seeing the sequel right now.
Mar 20, 2009 @ 21:58:56
good point. Carter did suck…a lot
Mar 19, 2009 @ 14:13:56
I don’t know if you recall, Gene, but Reagan inherited an economy in trouble too. It was a return to the old, timeless principles of capitalism that pulled us out of that hole, under his leadership. It will work again if we give it a chance.
Mar 19, 2009 @ 09:18:54
Gene, why do we need new ideas when the old ones have always worked whenever we try them? Let well enough alone! It’s a departure from the old ideas of Reagan to new ideas of Clinton that has gotten us in this mess to start with.
Senator Bryant, your idea is absolutely brilliant. I think that would be the best thing to do if we have to take the money, but I think that we need to unite behind our Governor come what may, if he decides to refuse the money. And I think that that would be the best plan after all. By standing together, we can get through this economic crisis without Federal “help” being forced on us. Our freedom is priceless, and tyranny will cost us more than we can afford.
Mar 19, 2009 @ 08:03:27
I didn’t mean to say “not taxing” as in not taxing them at all, just that the current stimulus package provides tax cuts, or doesn’t raise the current taxes of the majority of the people.
Mar 19, 2009 @ 08:01:52
“P. S. The answer is leave more money with the people who earn it. They just might hire somebody.”
Absolutely right, and the people who earn it might also be able to spend it, thereby allowing people that they buy stuff from to hire more people. People don’t just hire more people because they want to or because they get a big tax cut. By allowing the stimulus package to create more jobs, and by not taxing the majority of people, (i.e. lower middle, middle class) it might just actually help get us out of this mess. I’m not saying it’s a cure-all or it’s even perfect, but if we don’t recognize that in some cases it might be best to come down off the ideology mountain and let the government help some people, who in better times wouldn’t want or need that help.
Mar 19, 2009 @ 07:23:07
Gene, your rush to return your master’s service has apparently left you blurry-eyed. You need a final dot (four total) when you end a sentence with an ellipses.
Get some sleep. This won’t be a cakewalk.
P. S. The answer is leave more money with the people who earn it. They just might hire somebody.
Mar 18, 2009 @ 21:27:17
Kevin, your first paragraph alone is proof we need to spend more on education in this state. Please learn how to properly write English, I beg you…
The problem with you GOP guys is you have no new ideas, Goldwater and Reagan — form some ideas of your own guys. I’d like to hear what you geniuses plan to do do help end this recession, and the wrong answer is “do nothing”…
Mar 18, 2009 @ 19:50:07
Tremendous idea, Senator Bryant! Will y’all be able to do that without the Obama administration stopping you? If you can find a way to do that without having the Federal government prevent your spending the money that way (as they did Gov. Sanford’s plan to pay off state debt), it would be an absolutely wonderful plan.
But, the IDEAL thing is to reject the funds to start with. Stand by the Governor! He’s fighting for our grandchildren!
Mar 17, 2009 @ 19:36:26
“co-sponsoring a bill to refuse all stimulus $$$”
Oy…where to begin
1) The stimulus is being paid for with federal tax dollars so S. Carolinians will pay for it even if we don’t get a dime.
2) SC has the 2nd highest unemployment rate in the nation. Will you allow unemployment benefits to dry up? Can you offer a way to maintain benefits w/o the funds? (I’m employed)
3) Public schools plannning on laying off over 1,000 teachers if funding doesn’t reach them. How do you think that’ll effect our grand kids? What kind of future will that give them?
I appreciate that you took a principled position and you’re sticking to it, but I firmly disagree.
Mar 17, 2009 @ 13:11:29
kevin, let’s say someone steals your grandchildren’s identity and steals their money. go ahead and take your fair share. that’s what constituent is asking you to do.
Mar 17, 2009 @ 07:04:18
“I’ve never owned a horse, but I’ve been told that the least expense of owning a horse is the purchase. From what I can tell, because of the strings attached, it costs us more money to accept the money. Kind of like accepting a horse would cost you.”
Genius!
Mar 17, 2009 @ 04:39:18
Isn’t it Strom Thurmond who believed in low taxes and tax cuts but if a pig is to be cut up he still wants his ham?
We all have to pay taxes even on a federal level. While I applaud your endevor to return tax dollars to the people that pay them don’t you think it wise to get every dollar offered back. It is going to some state somewhere, why not ours.
I’m not asking you to stop your quest toward lower taxes, I’m just asking you to consider getting as much as we can until you can accomplish your goals.
As far as the video clip you offered, isn’t it King Solomon that said “Moderation in all things”?