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 THEY KNOW, TOO, THAT THE POWER TO DECIDE HOW THAT MONEY SHALL BE SPENT IS WITHDRAWN FROM THEM AND EXERCISED BY SOME PLANNING BOARD DEEP IN THE CAVERNS OF ONE Of THE FEDERAL AGENCIES.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?
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