Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been one of most vocal critics of the federal porkulus package, so it was a shock to see headlines screaming that Perry was asking President Obama for a big slice. Is it time to pounce on this breach of fiscal faith?
As it turns out, Perry is telling the president pretty much the same thing he’s been saying in recent weeks: Texas will take the one-time spending, but will pass on funds that expand government or require state dollars when the fed money goes away.
The only difference here is that Perry put it in a letter to the president. As quoted by the Dallas Morning News, Perry writes “there are better ways to reinvigorate our economy and believe [the stimulus bill] will burden future generations with unprecedented levels of debt.”
Under the pork-package, the states had to respond, and now lawmakers and the governor have 120 days to figure out how to spend the cash.
