Americans for Tax Reform applauds Gov. Mark Sanford’s decision to not accept the money from the Pelosi-Obama-Reid trillion dollar spending and debt package as offered, and to instead apply for a federal waiver to use $700 million in stimulus funds he is given control over to pay down the state’s debt, rather than spend on local programs. Critics of the package have been pointing out that the federal money isn’t “free” but comes with strings attached, and would place long-term liabilities on the states, as for example the requirement to extend unemployment benefits.
The reason we think it is not in our best interest to spend these monies lies in the fact that when one is in a hole the first order of business is to stop digging.
Says Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform:
Governor Sanford is demonstrating real leadership on this issue – and I would hope more governors would join him in rejecting the poison pill the federal government is sending them.
The states are already suffering from chronic overspending, and while now would be the time to tighten the fiscal belt for state governments, this one-time cash infusion comes with strings attached and only adds fuel to the fire in creating more long-term liabilities. As Gov. Sanford says – it is time to stop digging. Hopefully the Legislature will join Sanford in putting the shovels down.
For a PDF version of the press release click here.