Tuesday, February 24, 2009
In golf, it’s a gimme. In hoops, it’s a slam dunk. In baseball, it’s a gopher pitch.
Each is a can’t-miss opportunity.
Don’t look now, but Texas has a $550 million gimme putt set up near the cup. And — is that a fairway wood Rick Perry has pulled out, with Republican cohorts saying, “Knock that sucker into the swamp”?
At issue is money in the economic stimulus package Texas will lose if it won’t give an inch on miserly policies on unemployment compensation.
Yes, half a billion dollars to help Texans and to shore up the state’s unemployment trust fund. We can’t have that.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says the same. So does Mississippi’s Haley Barbour. What they mean is — hey, we have our jobs. What use is this to us?
Ah, but Governor, even you could find yourself unemployed.
Honestly, this dispute is over something so minor, relative to benefits to the states, that heads should be examined.
The biggest sticking point, apparently, is granting pro-rated unemployment payments to people who must fall back on part-time jobs when their full-time jobs evaporate. Texas doesn’t do that now.
A few other changes would be required, but they aren’t oppressive. Opponents of accepting the money say that once the money goes away the state will have to raise taxes on employers to make up the difference. Not so. If the state wants to return to its hard-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge ways once the stimulus money dries up, no one can stop it.
The fact is that because Texas has done so little to keep pace with its needs, its unemployment kitty is in dire straits. In other words, the stimulus money is manna from heaven, and not a moment too soon.
All things considered, this is a slam dunk — one for which the federal government has supplied a mini-trampoline.
But it’s quite a leap on elephant feet.
We’ve seen this behavior before, sadly.
In 2003 the newly GOP-controlled Texas Legislature painted a masterpiece in false economy when it threw up roadblocks to enrolling in or keeping eligibility for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
This is a program for which the federal government kicks in $2.52 for every dollar a state spends.
Under that formula, in 2003 Texas forfeited $958 million, which other states gladly raked in. So doing, those states spared themselves unnecessary costs when the preventive care embodied by CHIP kept children out of emergency rooms and in school.
Don’t look now, but the federal government has set up another gimme putt mere centimeters from Texas’ cup — a dramatic expansion of CHIP.
Will Texas take full advantage of it? Or will it find some reason to rationalize more obstinacy — maybe so as not to spoil its No. 1 ranking for highest percentage of uninsured citizens. Point of pride, you know.
It’s fascinating to see the split among Republican governors about federal assistance in hard times. Republicans like California’s Arnold Schwarzenegger and Florida’s Charlie Crist are looking at their states’ needs and saying, “People are hurting. This will help. We’ll take it.”
Meanwhile, figures like Perry, Jindal and Barber (oh, and don’t forget Alaska’s chief moose hunter) are auditioning for the next call for “Dancing With the Anti-Government Stars.”
They might impress the judges. You bet. Everyone looks good in sequins.
Yeah, well, if a comptroller’s forecast holds, 111,000 Texans will lose their jobs in the next calendar sweep.
Et tu, Governor?
John Young’s column appears Thursday, Sunday and occasionally Tuesday. E-mail: jyoung@wacotrib.com.
Comments
By Waco TruthSquad
Feb 25, 2009 11:13 PM | Link to this
I disagree strongly with "KDF" on the issue of "state's rights".
State representatives have historically passed horrible legislation that has stolen most of the people's rights.
States that believed that slavery was OK and had to have the snot kicked out of them to stop it, is one good example.
State's rights is states wrongs if you ask me. Pennsylvania has just certified an eleven year old boy (5th grader) as an adult.
No matter how horrible the crime, an eleven year old boy is NOT an adult..no way...no how...This is another example of state's rights.
Texas rebelled against Mexico over the issue of slavery after Mexico's Santa Anna abolished it...Texicans went to war over it.
That's right! Most of our brave Alamo warriors were unknowingly fighting for their independence from Mexico, so a few evil schmucks would be able to keep slavery as an institution in Texas
By JC Hedj
Feb 25, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this
and the Band played on....the same tune over and over and over and over again.
Rick Perry...Kaye Bailey Hitchinson...blah blah blah
Professional Politicians being re-elected to positions of power by the misguided and misled.The alleged intellectuals of the USA.
Not once do you mention Health Care for bread winners only SCHIP.
You never ever mention the repeal of all Trade policies that are against American Workers...NAFTA , CAFTA and WTO ( this demands the exportation of thousands of American jobs each in order to maintain membership ). Where is your opposition to the repael of E-Verify ?
Not once do you mention the abolishment of the current crop of lawyers in both the State and Federal Government. You continue to play the same song over and over and over again and wonder why no new results are ever produced.
When are you going to realize that the two political parties are really ONE political Party and you keep them there .
The problem lies not within the government it lies with you !
By KDF
Feb 24, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this
John V mentions corporate giants as bad things. Well, for the most part he is correct. But does he realise that the Federal Government is a corporate giant unto itself??? I'm a strong believer in State's rights, the way our country was founded. Federal "blackmail" through the years has been awful. "If you don't follow us we won't give you money to fix your highways."
And for Mr. John Young, I never know what to expect from you. Socialism appears to run strong in you heart. My interpretation is the larger the government, the worse the government. <
By John Vickrey
Feb 24, 2009 10:18 AM | Link to this
Robbie says the independent spirit of Texas will live on. It will live on as the rich get richer and the poorer get poorer. Funds for programs that help children and those that are mentally and physically challenged will continue to be drained.That's just one of many areas hit by hard times, since the Republicans have taken over in Texas.Perry and others like him will continue to fight for the corporate giants that helped put him in office. Meanwhile, hardworking people of this state will continue to not get the representation they deserve. Your fearless leaders in Washington put us into this economic mess, a mess that has certainly affected Texas. I guess you have not seen the many layoffs that have occurred here in Texas. Anyway, I am glad that new leadership has come, and that they are willing to give a hand to a state that desperately needs it.Unfortunately, Perry and his cronies may keep this potential help from happening.
By Will
Feb 24, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, Robbie, SCHIP expansion is a big fave of Senator Hutchison's. She voted with the Democrats and some other "moderate" Republican Senators just a couple of weeks ago for a massive expansion of the program.
By Will
Feb 24, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, Robbie, SCHIP expansion is a big fave of Senator Hutchison's. She voted with the Democrats and some other "moderate" Republican Senators just a couple of weeks ago for a massive expansion of the program.
By Robbie
Feb 24, 2009 8:40 AM | Link to this
In all likelyhood, the only replacement for Governor Perry could be Governor Kay Bailey Hutchison. Kudos to the both of them for being in a position to oppose this barrel of pork.
Your "expansion" of SCHIP includes the coverage of dependent children up to the age of 30. Freakin 30! Get a life! It also defines financial hardship as a family making $80,000/yr. Really? I love to struggle like that! The expansion is a joke, and it is a way for the Democrats in charge to build a constituency of government dependents. What is government going to do for me, right? No more patriotic statement has ever been uttered.
Texas is better than that. Texas will not stoop to the level of supplying government dependency upon Texans. The independant spirit of the Texan lives on. Governor Perry and the Texas Congress has created an atmosphere of employment and growth. They have resisted the temptation to tax growth, and by doing so, have welcomed in companies that hire employees and citizens seeking a shelter from a recession that is far worse elsewhere.
Governor Perry and Senator Hutchison are not alone in their opposition to a government-led spend-a-thon. So has the guage of our economy. The markets have taken a nose dive, conumer confidence is an all-time low, production has decreased, and more workers are being let go. Companies can no longer afford to keep them when they have to front the bill of a $787 billion spending bill.
Seems the only thing stimulated by that legislation was a massive sell-off and dumping of employees. Well done.
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