Gov. Daniels isn't going to follow the example of some Republican governors and simply refuse at least part of the federal stimulus package:
Daniels went on to say that he didn't want to get wrapped up in the partisan bashing of the $787 billion package, saying his job simply was to find ways to best use the money to benefit the state. Still, he said he understood the critics' positions.
I'm so sorry I've been so negative about the stimulus package. If I'd known about the brilliant strategy being considered to implement it, I'd have been on board long ago:
President Obama has turned to his own vice president to oversee implementation of the $787 billion economic stimulus package, part of which will be available this week for state Medicaid programs.
We can't let Illinois politicians have all the headline-grabbing fun:
A prominent Republican comes to the right conclusion about Cuba, and it happens to be Richard Lugar:
Finally, a state that's more stubborn than Indiana:
New Hampshire lawmakers are voting on a bill that would require all adults to wear seat belts and fine those who don't, but not everyone's happy about that.
Live Free Or Wear Seat Belts?
Oh, this is rich:
Speaking in the East Room of the White House to more than 70 mayors, President Obama cautioned them about wasteful spending.
"I want to be clear about this: we cannot tolerate business as usual, not in Washington, not in our State Capitols, not in America's cities and towns," he said. "We will use the new tools that the Recovery Act gives us to watch the taxpayers' money with more rigor and transparency than ever."
Common sense from Michael Kinsley:
But even if the stimulus is a magnificent success, the money still has to be paid back. The plan of record apparently is that we keep borrowing, spending and stimulating, faster and faster, until suddenly, on some signal from heaven or Timothy Geithner, we all stop spending and start saving in recordbreaking amounts. Oh sure, that will work.
One of Gov. Daniels' pet projects, the elimination of township government, is all but dead in this session of the General Assembly, and Sen. Connie Lawson, who led the fight on the governor's behalf, has an explanation:
Lawson blamed the defeat in large part on a lack of political will.
If you're still having trouble grasping how much $787 billion is, here's a nifty rundown on some of "What the stimulus package could buy." It could, for example, pay every U.S. elementary school teacher's salary for 11 years. Or it could buy more than 45 million Pontiac G5s. This is my favorite:
Over 19.6 billion digital TV converter box coupons
Oh, no, something strange is happening to me. I feel like I must have sinned, but only against myself. Have I been this way before, I wonder? As long as I stay with members of my own group caste, I think everything will be fine. What will -- Dear God! get that hamburger away from me!
