That’s what America is turning into. The federal government is dangling a $150 billion gigantic carrot in front of the governors to lure them into becoming the big spending, big government monsters Washington has already turned into.
These Governors — Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Butch Otter of Idaho, Rick Perry of Texas and Mark Sanford of South Carolina — all have the same objection: The tens of billions of dollars of aid for health care, welfare and education will disappear in two years and leave states with no way to finance the expanded programs. Mr. Perry sent a letter to President Obama last week warning that Texas may refuse certain stimulus funds. “If this money expands entitlements, we will not accept it. This is exactly how addicts get hooked on drugs,” he says.
These governors deserve applause for thinking long term. The “free money” from the federal government may seem like sweet relief in the short run, but it’s really a trap to make states more dependent on Washington. Just like an addictive drug, as Gov. Perry puts it succinctly.
