Mr. Franken goes to Washington (well, if Governor Pawlenty signs)

The MN Supreme Court ruled in favor of Al Franken, over Norm Coleman. Unanimously.

Hey Governor Pawlenty: Certify Al Franken!

From The Political Carnival

Minnesota Ad: Certify Al Franken

Just Say No: Republican Governors say they will turn some of the stimlus away for their states

January 16, 2008 - Next-gen building materials and safety tech abound in the new St. Anthony Falls Bridge, which will replace the I-35W span that collapsed last year (bottom left) once this winter's pier construction (bottom right) leads to final completion in December. Images Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (plans, construction); ebrandt78/Flickr (collapse) source: Popular Mechanics

Leading the charge is South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford. Fortunately for Sanford, South Carolina's own legislator Democratic Rep. James Clyburn inserted a provision into the the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that enables state legislators to choose to accept funding, thereby overriding a refusal by their own Governor.

"The stimulus is a huge mistake," Sanford told ABC News, "a political promise that's been made but not paid for."

Sanford said he would reject unemployment insurance because of what he said were federal strings attached to it, and also said he would not take $42 million in funding for green buildings. source: ABC News

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour says that he plans to reject the portion of the bill that provides for the extension of unemployment benefits.

"We will not be accepting unemployment insurance money because it requires us to have a significant tax increase in the future," Barbour told ABC. "Most states like Mississippi do not allow people to get unemployment compensation unless they are willing and able to take a full-time job." source: ABC News

Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is just saying no. Ironically, Minnesota was the state that experienced the terrible tragedy of the bridge that collapsed in 2007 [pictured above].

"It's not really a stimulus bill, it's a big spending bill," Minnesota's Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty told ABC. But he added, "We get back only 72 cents for every dollar we send to Washington, so we're going to accept the money." source: ABC News

Although I understand the ideological quandary that the stimulus bill creates for these Republican Governors, it just seems to me that this particular economic environment is not simply a run of the mill recession. It's a bit more dire than that.

To not accept the federal funding doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense at this juncture, especially in light of the fact that more job cuts are expected down the road in nearly ever sector of the economy.

One could assume that the larger part of the picture for these Republicans is that they anticipate political cover by posturing against accepting the stimulus money now, especially in light of the fact that state legislators have the option of voting to accept any funding the Republican Governor deny.

This is a game of hedging their bets, or maybe it's a game of chicken. I'm not sure.

Most but not all GOP Governors break with party on stimulous; Governor Palin pressing for Alaska's share of the package

We don't think it will work, but we'll probably take it.

Some of the GOP Governors are skeptical about the size of the stimulus as well as the spending priorities within the legislation.

I'm sure that someone, perhaps at Daily Kos, will be keeping of list of which of those Governors accept dollars from the stimulus.

NEW YORK - Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama's economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care.

Their state treasuries drained by the financial crisis, governors would welcome the money from Capitol Hill, where GOP lawmakers are more skeptical of Obama's spending priorities.

The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, scheduled meetings in Washington this weekend with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other senators to press for her state's share of the package. source: MSNBC

We don't agree with it, but we'll probably take it.

Governor Palin is in Washington, D.C. to attend the Alfalfa Dinner, which is an annual roast, but is also pressing for her share of the stimulus dough for Alaska.

"She has requested we do not schedule any interviews for her," said Bill McAllister, Palin's communications director. Instead, McAllister said, Palin is traveling to Washington to lobby senators to approve certain infrastructure projects for Alaska in the economic stimulus package. source: CNN

Peon GOP Watch: GOP's very own Pawlenty has 'Pawlenty' of Praise for Barack Obama

MSNBC

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

GOP's Pawlenty praises Obama's positive tone

Possible McCain running mate says people want to follow decent leaders

ARLINGTON, Va. - Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, often mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said Wednesday GOP candidates would do well to adopt a positive tone like that of McCain's Democratic rival Barack Obama. read more here