'Stimulus' whether you like it or not

Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger joked this weekend about the few state governors who have put forth the possibility that they might reject money from the federal "economic stimulus" bill. "I just hope they give me their funding," he said. And after seeing the massive shortfalls the California government is expecting in the next few years — maybe as much as $40 billion — it'd be hard to blame him for saying so.

But there are six governors who are not so enthusiastic about state welfare. Governors Mark Sanford (South Carolina), Rick Perry (Texas), Haley Barbour (Mississippi), Bobby Jindal (Louisiana), Sarah Palin (Alaska) and Butch Otter (Idaho) all have indicated severe reservations about the money. They seem especially concerned about the strings that will (no doubt) be attached to it.

These are six states whose budget woes are milder than most. The governors are all Republicans, and at least four of them have been described as ambitious — and possible 2012 presidential candidates. So it's easy for big-spenders throughout the country to harass these governors, to question their motivations, and to belittle the cavalierity of their principle because they are not in dire need.

Their opponents have accused them of political opportunism and even racism. Rep. James Clyburn (D—S.C.) said such thoughts were a "slap in the face of African-Americans." (This is the "bipartisan" nature of the Democratic majority in Congress: You disagree with us? You must hate black people.)

But the (much) larger point is, governors and legislatures in these states have towed the line. They're considering not taking the money because they don't need it, not the other way around.

They ought to be congratulated and rewarded, not denigrated as anti-black. Those states have balanced their budgets. They've made sure to not accept financial obligations they cannot keep. They've acted responsibly.

Meanwhile, California and other states have not. Most have spent money on, for example, the California Integrated Waste Management Board. If ever there was an Orwellian commission, it is the CIWMB. Schwarzenegger just appointed the crooked former state senator Carole Migden to that board, a post which will pay her $132,000 a year.

Schwarzenegger himself says the board is a waste and ought to be abolished.

The biggest problem is, even if those state governments decide to decline their allotted sums of the federal "stimulus" money, taxpayers in them will be as responsible for paying it off as taxpayers in California.

So while those few state governments who don't spend too much money on too many stupid things are considering turning down money from the federal government, the greedy and inept majority of state governments are slopping at the trough and laughing about it.