Tennessee Democrat governor skeptical of porkulus $$$

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 25, 2009 12:00 PM

Where’s House Majority Whip James Clyburn? I’m sure he’ll be along any minute now to lump Tennessee Dem. Gov. Phil Bredesen in with all the other bigoted GOP governors who have spurned stimulus money.

RAAAAAAACIST!

Tennessee could reject a portion of the $787 billion economic stimulus package out of concerns that it would force the state to raise taxes on businesses in the future.

At the National Governors Association meetings in Washington, D.C., Gov. Phil Bredesen said this week that he might turn down relief for unemployed workers worth an estimated $143 million because of conditions placed on the money by Congress.

The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers, but in addition, lawmakers want states to expand the pool of people who can apply for benefits. That would put more pressure on an unemployment trust fund that is already trying to stave off insolvency.

“We are evaluating this piece of money, whether it makes sense for us to take it,” Bredesen said in an interview Monday with the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “We’re in the position of going back to our legislature this year for changes in our tax structure just to keep our fund whole, and taking it to a new level may be too much of a lift for the legislature this spring.”

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Posted in: fiscal stimulus

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Comments


  1. #1
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:03 pm, Misscheryl said:

    I just e-mailed my governor and suggested maybe we turn down money from the stimulus joke because the strings that are attached make it, well…not so attractive for Oklahoma

  2. #2
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:04 pm, letget said:

    Good for him. I wish more governor’s would read and understand what this will do to their states in the future.
    L

  3. #3
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:08 pm, cpodug said:

    Well, looks like Gov. Bredesen is going to be severely punished for not toeing the party line. He may be forced to switch parties if he keeps this up.

    “The Emperor has no clothes!”

  4. #4
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Joy said:

    WHAT??

    This eventually has to be paid for??

    I did not know that, did you? /sarc

  5. #5
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:13 pm, maine yankee said:

    “NO PORK FOR YOU—TWO WEEKS !!!”

  6. #6
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:18 pm, Misscheryl said:

    Now this is funny. The dems fighting amongst themselves.

    Byrd: Obama in power grab

    here’s the link:
    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19303.html

  7. #7
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:21 pm, sonofdy said:

    A little off topic.

    The dow says to obama, STFU.

  8. #8
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:22 pm, Misscheryl said:

    :21 pm, sonofdy said:
    A little off topic.

    The dow says to obama, STFU

    roflmao!!!

  9. #9
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:34 pm, Fineous Reese said:

    “shut the fuhrer up”? that’s fitting enough :)

  10. #10
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, Salt said:

    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:21 pm, sonofdy said:

    A little off topic.

    The dow says to obama, STFU.

    Not to worry, sonofdy. President Obama will claim he inherited any negative outcomes well into his fourth year. If he can conveniently forget that Democrats took over Congress in 2006 and not 2008, he’s got at least 2 years on this denial pattern.

  11. #11
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, dan708 said:

    The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers, but in addition, lawmakers want states to expand the pool of people who can apply for benefits. That would put more pressure on an unemployment trust fund that is already trying to stave off insolvency.

    Wow, a Dem governor with a INDEPENDENT SENSE OF JUDGMENT? Will wonders never cease? I hope PA Gov. Ed “Big Machine” Rendell is taking notes.

  12. #12
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:39 pm, John Deaux said:

    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:11 pm, Joy said:
    WHAT??

    This eventually has to be paid for??

    I did not know that, did you? /sarc

    Yeah, but it’s paid for by the government, not us.

    /lgm

  13. #13
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:41 pm, dan708 said:

    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, Salt said:
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:21 pm, sonofdy said:

    A little off topic.

    The dow says to obama, STFU.

    Not to worry, sonofdy. President Obama will claim he inherited any negative outcomes well into his fourth year. If he can conveniently forget that Democrats took over Congress in 2006 and not 2008, he’s got at least 2 years on this denial pattern.

    Of course, the bigger question is, will THE VOTERS remember that the Dems took Congress in ’06? Stay tuned.

  14. #14
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:54 pm, twiggman said:

    Now that people are starting to read this piece of crap, they say….wow it says that….We can’t do that…

  15. #15
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:55 pm, Hangfire said:

    If I can blame Johnson and Carter for most of America’s ills, the Dems can blame Bush till the subsidized cows come home.

  16. #16
    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:58 pm, cabrerski said:

    STFU (Obama definitions) –

    Stand Together For Underachievements
    Sit Tight For Understatements
    Sh*t To Fill Underwear
    Shove The Face Underwater (the original waterboarding)

    and of course,

    Steal The Future Unconditionally

  17. #17
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:02 pm, nail49 said:

    The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers

    But those of us actually working, paying taxes and contributing to the economy in a meaningful way get only $13/week in tax cuts. And that drops to $8/week next year!

  18. #18
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:05 pm, RedDog said:

    Finally, leaders from both parties are standing up to these thug-fools in Washington.

  19. #19
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:10 pm, sonofdy said:

    The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers

    waahooo

    yay

    snore…

  20. #20
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:12 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    On February 25th, 2009 at 12:21 pm, sonofdy said:

    A little off topic.

    The dow says to obama, STFU.

    Not really that far off topic-and funny 2 :)

  21. #21
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:14 pm, kthomas8268 said:

    Yep I guess they are finally getting through reading this spending bill and getting down to the nitty gritty…

    I emailed my governor’s office asking if the increase in unemployment benefits was something long term and they replied that it was just through 2009 and kinda dodged the question if our state would have to keep it going after fed money runs out. I don’t think they know … yet. Our governor (Indiana) is fiscally conservative.

  22. #22
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:19 pm, kthomas8268 said:

    But those of us actually working, paying taxes and contributing to the economy in a meaningful way get only $13/week in tax cuts. And that drops to $8/week next year!

    ARRRGGGGHHHH

  23. #23
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:22 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Well, at the next Democrat Party picnic, we know who will be sharing a table alone with Joe Lieberman.

    Welcome to the Leper Colony Governor. We conservatives salute your intellectual integrity.

  24. #24
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:33 pm, teachem2 said:

    Living here in TN, I can say confidently that Gov. Bredeson is more conservative than any of the recent Republican governors we’ve had. I voted for Bredeson in the last election because he cut the TennCare entitlement instead of raising taxes. He doesn’t even draw a salary for his positon as governor.

  25. #25
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:39 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    nail49 said:

    The stimulus package would also raise unemployment benefits by $25 a week for all workers

    But those of us actually working, paying taxes and contributing to the economy in a meaningful way get only $13/week in tax cuts. And that drops to $8/week next year!

    That’s right. This isn’t a stimulus package. It’s a marketing plan for the DNC. Or as I read in the NY Post yesterday…

    The Great Vote Buying Act of 2009

  26. #26
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:42 pm, dbsmith1720 said:

    The stimulus package would also give money to the states to shore up their unemployment funds. The Republican governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina have already committed to turning down unemployment assistance because of strings attached to the money.

    Guess the party! While he hasn’t committed a crime, his party is never mentioned! But the govenors who have come out against the funding are labeled republicans!

  27. #27
    On February 25th, 2009 at 1:45 pm, akoypinoy said:

    Haven’t heard anything from our governor (FL) but looking at the wish list that Fl has, second only to CA, I doubt it if he will refuse any part of the pork stimulus bill when there’s a big shortfall in funds for education and other state programs. Guess, Florida is going down that slippery road to a nanny state.

  28. #28
    On February 25th, 2009 at 2:02 pm, txvet2 said:

    Lesson for Republicans: Democrats are winning formerly Republican states because THEY’RE RUNNING TO THE RIGHT OF YOU!!!!!!!

  29. #29
    On February 25th, 2009 at 3:06 pm, flmom said:

    akoypinoy said:

    Crist can’t wait to get his grubby fingers on it. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article975537.ece

  30. #30
    On February 25th, 2009 at 4:32 pm, mattm said:

    Now why can’t my Republican Governor (Rell CT) Do the same.

  31. #31
    On February 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pm, Paul Revere said:

    I guess Tennessee elects democrat governors the same way North Carolina does. They have Memphis and Nashville, we have Durham, Greensboro and Charlotte.

  32. #32
    On February 25th, 2009 at 4:45 pm, PatriotRider said:

    What? A crap sandwhich smells like…well….ummmmm, CRAP when you stop to smell the ingredients?! Apparently that’s what these morons are finding out when they finally get around to reading what they heroicly passed through and signed. I hope Darwin was right.

  33. #33
    On February 25th, 2009 at 5:25 pm, thejim said:

    Paul Revere is correct, both TN and NC are primarily Conservative with the exceptions of the communities that he noted. [I claim both States as home] Our local TN Democrat congressman voted against the pork bill on the first round, couldn’t withstand his party leadership pressure on the final reading. It’s going to be a long four years!

  34. #34
    On February 25th, 2009 at 10:03 pm, txvet2 said:

    On February 25th, 2009 at 5:25 pm, thejim said:

    Paul Revere is correct, both TN and NC are primarily Conservative with the exceptions of the communities that he noted.

    Don’t feel lonesome. The same situation prevails throughout the country – even in the bluest of states.

  35. #35
    On February 26th, 2009 at 12:30 am, bayou22 said:

    Living here in TN, I can say confidently that Gov. Bredeson is more conservative than any of the recent Republican governors we’ve had. I voted for Bredeson in the last election because he cut the TennCare entitlement instead of raising taxes. He doesn’t even draw a salary for his positon as governor.

    I lived in TN during the election for Bredesen. He’s a pretty common sense guy, and I (as a Republican) voted for him. Main reason is that the GOP fielded a candidate on the platform of “He’s not Bredesen!”… weak.

    Anyways, Bredesen isn’t all that bad as far as Dems go. Shame he has a party at all because he’s often relatively independent. Gotta keep an eye on him with that state income tax though…

    Davidson County and Shelby County in TN are a lot like whatever county Durham is in and Mecklenburg in NC. The white liberals are the ones who tilt those blue. Virtually the rest of both states are red. Population centers rule.

  36. #36
    On February 26th, 2009 at 5:44 am, graysonret said:

    Listening to the news this morning (something I have to suffer through), I was reminded by a reporter that the President only proposes the budget. The congress “controls the purse strings”. This same reporter and news agency were hollering, not too long ago, about Bush’s budget and Bush’s “tax cuts”. I guess they think I’m an idiot, or one of their “dumbed down” listeners. The hypocrisy is obvious.

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