Nice state you got there, Kyl …
posted at 12:14 pm on July 15, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Barack Obama and his administration don’t mind playing hardball on the stimulus package, as Jake Tapper reports. Yesterday, Senator Jon Kyl suggested that not only should Congress refuse to consider a second stimulus package, they should bring the current Porkulus to a halt before it wastes even more money. Rather than make a reasoned argument for their stimulus package, however, the White House threatened to choke Arizona’s federal funds in retaliation:
On This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said of the $787 billion stimulus package, “the reality is it hasn’t helped yet. Only about 6.8 percent of the money has actually been spent. What I proposed is, after you complete the contracts that are already committed, the things that are in the pipeline, stop it.”
A day later, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer received letters from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar all pointing out the billions headed to Arizona.
Kyl “publicly questioned whether the stimulus is working and stated that he wants to cancel projects that aren’t presently underway,” LaHood wrote to Brewer, a Republican. “I believe the stimulus has been very effective in creating job opportunities throughout the country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know.”
Talk about an empty threat! The Obama administration encouraged South Carolina’s legislature to take Governor Mark Sanford to court to force him to accept Porkulus funds. Now they want to posture with Arizonans that criticism of their fiscal policies will result in punitive action against Arizona alone. I guess the Democrats don’t plan to compete for Arizona’s electoral votes in 2012.
Their logic could use some assistance as well. LaHood notes that of the $48 billion in infrastructure spending in the bill, Arizona will eventually get $520 million. First, a quick calculation shows that as somewhat less than 1/50th (or 1/57th) of the funds, meaning Arizonans won’t get the same share as other states. Also, I’m not sure if anyone at the White House realizes this quite yet, but all of that money comes from Arizona in the first place — and taxpayers all over the nation. They’re not promising some vast new wealth; they’re promising to return our money back to ourselves, with a hefty chunk of it removed to pay for the bureaucrats that manage it.
This does demonstrate quite nicely the problem with an overreaching federal government, and especially an overreaching executive branch. It sucks money out of the states, and then it plays favorites on returning some percentage to them. That’s not new to the Obama administration, but they seem pretty cavalier about letting their extortion show.
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feel the unity
rob verdi on July 15, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Well, as an Arizonan, I take that threat personally.
F U Obama and all your thugs. I’m letting Brewer know what I think she should to.
redshirt on July 15, 2009 at 12:17 PM
ted c on July 15, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Has anyone checked with the Chinese to see where they’d like their money spent?
mankai on July 15, 2009 at 12:17 PM
You better HOPE he doesn’t CHANGE his mind.
NeighborhoodCatLady on July 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Look, Ed. I agree with you. But come on. Don’t be silly in thinking that AZ should get equal funds to say, California or Florida.
Even advertisers for products don’t spend the same dollar amount in AZ as they would in FL or CA. If you don’t understand why, I’m sorry.
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM
If AZ doesn’t get stimulus money, they should get federal tax rebates. It’s unfair to make them pay for other states who can’t manage their budgets.
alliebobbitt on July 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM
They probably haven’t had that briefing yet. But once they do, it will come as a tremendous shock to them.
myrenovations on July 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Yep. This is, without any question, what the Constitution calls “high crimes and misdemeanors”.
Orange. Jumpsuits.
progressoverpeace on July 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM
I bet the idiots at partially-federally-funded-Arizona State feel REEEALLLY proud for giving Obama an “honorary degree” after all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
battleoflepanto1571 on July 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Why would they? They have John McCain to get out those Dem voters.
Knucklehead on July 15, 2009 at 12:18 PM
No, they don’t plan to compete. That election will be fixed or canceled due to the crisis they are creating.
Daggett on July 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I thought the strong arm thuggery was the job of the Czars…?
d1carter on July 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
HOPE AND F*CKING CHANGE!!!
blatantblue on July 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
That money didn’t come from us, it came from China. Assuming Obama doesn’t turn us into a banana republic begging loans from the IMF, then it will have to be paid back, but that will be something our grandchildren will have to deal with and, last I checked, they’re not of voting age.
Kafir on July 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Nice. ThugBama is at it again, Chicago style.
WordsMatter on July 15, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Using OUR borrowed money to seize control of every state. From Stimulus, to Healthcare, to Cap and Trade, their diabolical plan is pure genius.
marklmail on July 15, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Obama “Thugatics” at its finest.
Wolftech on July 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Why not?
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Actually, if this nation manages to survive the Washington junta (which I doubt), the best course for us to just default on our debt.
progressoverpeace on July 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Population?
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Hey Arizona, you’re my b*tch. Do you want your piece of cheese or not? Cause I can give all the money, that’s rightfully yours in the first place, to New Mexico. How do ya like them apples? I thought so, STFU and get back in line.
Smell the freedom.
NickelAndDime on July 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Too late!
Fallen Sparrow on July 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Ed,
Ramirez has to do a cartoon with your heading. Godfather style.
shick on July 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.
Speakup on July 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Wonder if DHS chief Janet Napolitano agrees with Obama’s hardball tactics?
jon1979 on July 15, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I remember the good old days… about 6 months ago… I used to point and laugh at people that called Obama the anti-Christ.
Now… not so sure.
BPD on July 15, 2009 at 12:23 PM
The governor should say, Keep the damn money, but don’t raise our taxes either!
llano on July 15, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Go to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour’s homepage and watch his YouTube (that I saw last night) on the front page, that is about 2 minutes long. He talks about Obama, Cap and Trade, and what is in store for his state (and the country) should we not put a stop to this man. I enjoyed it tremendously, but I suppose Gov. Barbour isn’t the “thread magnet” Palin, Romney, and Huckabee are.
Marcus on July 15, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Da Chicaga waaaay
SDarchitect on July 15, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Well, when you consider that half of California is on welfare and don’t pay taxes to begin with…..
Guardian on July 15, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Even if you take Arizona’s GDP ($210,235,000,000) and divide it by US GDP (~ $11.5 Trillion) you end up wit 1.8% of US GDP comes from Arizona. Arizona should get this much of the $48 billion in infrastructure spending in the bill. If AZ did, they would receive $875 Million. They are getting screwed anyway you cut it.
Source of data is here.
WashJeff on July 15, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Thug.
Firebird on July 15, 2009 at 12:25 PM
If Texas leaves, I vote we go with them!
The witch they intend to put on SCOTUS denies the 2nd Amendment and they want to turn Health Care into a Soylent Green Factory.
A Pox on ALL their houses.
Firefly56 on July 15, 2009 at 12:25 PM
A shark attacks and bites because it’s a shark. A thug threatens because well, it’s a thug.
Obama/Rahm/Axelrod … your thugs working hard for you!
darwin on July 15, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Thugs.
conservative pilgrim on July 15, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Hey Arizona….sit down and shut up…we won
Signed, Obama
*
Now you begin to see why Palin had to resign, if she took to the road and criticized the federal administration, Alaska would be cut off.
right2bright on July 15, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Politics, Chicago style. Just like when Barry met with House Democrats and made a comment that “We won’t forget” when talking about those who voted against Crap and Tax.
GarandFan on July 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM
good point
Guardian on July 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Let’s hope Kyl blasts back and calls it our for EXACTLY what this is!!
Let America know what this WH is all about.
katy on July 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM
It’s irrelevant. Think of yourself marking a widget to AZ and CA.
Are you doing to spend $1 million in CA and $1 million in AZ for advertising? Of course not.
You’d spend maybe $1.8 in Ca and $0.2 million in AZ. Just based upon population, alone. Market density, population density. Lots of things come into play.
I’m just saying that of xx dollars, every state should get xx/50. That’s retarded.
There are lots of reasons to oppose this thing; lets not latch into things that make no sense. And this (xx/50) makes no sense.
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Population? That’s OUR money they are talking about. All 50 states should be equal. To even fathom to extort any state who doesn’t fall in line is criminal. And, the most populated states are also the most liberal and criminal. Plus, with their socialist legislatures, they have created thier own fiscal woes. Why punish more fiscally responsible state governments.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM
our=out
katy on July 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM
John McCain was unavailable for comment due to his previous committment of attending the daily Obama ring kissing ceremony.
Fletch54 on July 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Call their bluff, Kyl! Tell them they can shove their stimulus but in return, Arizona will cease to forward their money to the Feds.
BacaDog on July 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Yours is better then mine… Just add “WE WON”…
right2bright on July 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM
they will do it anyway, as the means of putting pressure on her
runner on July 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM
http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state has a page where you can take a looksee at some of the insanity that states submitted for their wish lists. Save it till after lunch.
Tony Soprano lives and breathes in D.C. To threaten a senator, wow. People that live in AZ should send this to everyone, make it go viral.
24K lady on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
No part of Socialism is EVER optional. That’s the whole point of the system.
logis on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Even on a GDP basis AZ is getting screwed. See me comment at 12:25PM.
WashJeff on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Chicago style politics
clement on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
New National Anthem:
Come Mr. Tally-man
Tally me banana
BobMbx on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
It’s getting to secession time. The federal government will not be stopped in any other way.
progressoverpeace on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
on one hand you have the feds threatening suits to force states to take the porkulous at the point of a gun, and on the other hand you have the feds threatening to withold porkulous because of comments which they deemed inappropriate. Got it.
gatorboy on July 15, 2009 at 12:29 PM
I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that Transportation Ray LaHood, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar all saw fit to huddle together to blunt the words of a renegade senator. /sarc
don’t thise @ssclowns have anything better to do?
gatorboy on July 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Im in AZ, they can stuff their money,Napolitano left us with a big budget gap to fix also…
we are working on legislation to make SURE our state does not HAVE to comply with Barrys health care and cap and trade plans…
every day I thank Gawd we moved here from NYC….and it is 111 degrees, still I thank the dear Lord…
ginaswo on July 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Secession.
johnsteele on July 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM
best
comment
ever
blatantblue on July 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM
The unions are advertising like crazy here against Kyl.
jgapinoy on July 15, 2009 at 12:32 PM
That’s faulty too, though.
This is for infrastructure (roads, I assume). Does AZ have the road density as other states? Unlikely. But who knows.
I did a quick excel sheet based upon population. AZ has about 2% of the population of the US (6 milion according to google, assuming US has 300 million total people), and from the figures above is receiving ~1% of the money.
But that’s not really Ed’s point. Ed is saying that AZ is 1/50 of the states, so should get 1/50 of the money. It wouldn’t work like that in business, either.
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Seriously, commence the Godfather music and show us the seen of the horse’s head in Kyl’s bed.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”
BuckeyeSam on July 15, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Won’t matter if they compete for them or not. They’re not going to get them. Arizonans are fed up with stupid Liberal Dims and their tax-and-spend-your-way-to-bankruptcy idiocy.
Obama and the rest of those corrupt, third-world thugs in his administration can take that “stimulus” money and shove it where the sun don’t shine.
AZCoyote on July 15, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Yeah you’re right. By the way, can Kansas crash the secesh party? We’re the 13th largest (in land size) state in the union, plus produce the most wheat (second only to Saskatchewan in North America). We have oil and a bunch of abundant resources. Not to mention a hell of a lot of gunowners. Plus if that fails to convince you, we have a great college basketball team.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 15, 2009 at 12:34 PM
No she didn’t, insert last GOP governor here did!
Just like George Ryan did to Blago here in IL.
WashJeff on July 15, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Who will be our Untouchables who will defeat these a**holes?
BuckeyeSam on July 15, 2009 at 12:34 PM
What makes you think they are going to have a choice?
johnsteele on July 15, 2009 at 12:35 PM
lorien: oddly enough, Arizona has almost exactly 1/50th of the population of the U.S.
HTL on July 15, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Yeah that was weird and unexpected. But, again, that’s not the point.
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:36 PM
The 1/50th is very faulty, but GDP, I assume, maps to the amount of federal taxes confiscated from Arizonians and they should receive that proporation in return (ideally a lot less taken in the first place).
WashJeff on July 15, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Sadly, our Untouchables have brought a butter knife to the fight.
myrenovations on July 15, 2009 at 12:37 PM
I love how the Republican Governor Brewer is standing up with Sen. Kyl to the Obama thugs. Obama never should have removed the Dem Governor Napolitano and made her the head of Homeland Security. Hee hee.
Buy Danish on July 15, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Which is what’s funny, I think. Liberals complain that their state (CA residents do it the most) sends more money to the Feds than it gets back. But they vote for people who make sure that trend continues. When, really, they should support people who would keep that money in state – where it could be more efficiently spent, taxed or not taxed or whatever.
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:39 PM
MOB TACTICS = DEMOCRATS (especially of the Chicago flavah).
Lourdes on July 15, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Right. I wonder when the supremes are getting involved in any of this…or perhaps we could get some senators on the news screeching (or at least tweeting) about the illegality of pretty much everything these thugs are doing/contemplating?
WHY ARE PEOPLE ASLEEP?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????
Mommypundit on July 15, 2009 at 12:40 PM
An IRS audit for those laughing at his mad pitching skillz may soon be in order.
JammieWearingFool on July 15, 2009 at 12:40 PM
One of these States is going to give Barry the finger, along with a bus ticket to the Fed judge who tries to enforce Barrylaw. What then? There are not enough Federal Marshals to pack up a State’s government. Does the call go out to the NG or the RA? Will they answer the phone?
Limerick on July 15, 2009 at 12:41 PM
More thuggery from King Barry Hussain. Just another reason to buy 1,000 more rounds of 7.62 and cache it in a 2 foot sealed section of PVC pipe.
You know… for the rifle that I accidentally dropped off the side of my boat fishing last summer. Damn shame.
Quote: “Sucks to be
ArizonaAmerica.”The Ronin Edge on July 15, 2009 at 12:41 PM
lorien: I think my point was that Ed’s 1/50 number for Arizona’s share of the loot was actually correct, although you can tell from his 1/57 joke that it was just purely by accident.
HTL on July 15, 2009 at 12:42 PM
If a state refuses to receive federal funds, would its residents be immune from federal taxes?
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Obama is a criminal, and should be treated as such. Extortion is a crime. Take him, and his minions to court.
capejasmine on July 15, 2009 at 12:42 PM
I assume that a seceding bloc will include a swath through the midwest. It will take pretty much all of the energy/commodity producers, which will leave remaining states taht are ttally dependent on others for everything – except for a state like California, that has tons of resources, but won’t let anyone get them or use them.
Liberal cities are going to see what their existence really depends on.
progressoverpeace on July 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Darth Obama:
“I am altering the deal, pray I don’t alter it any further.”
TheMightyMonarch on July 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM
And basing it all on politics and not need. AZ has done nothing wrong other than to be a red state in the midst of Obama’s thuggery. The filthy liar steals all this money and then expects the states to be grateful for whatever portion of the whole he feels they deserve.
Hate to say it but the Obama dictatorship is as bad as I thought it would be. Partial blame does have an Arizona connection in the fact that John McCain didn’t try to fight Obama’s ideas when he presented Obama-lite as the alternative to the filthy liar who won the White House.
highhopes on July 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Each state that really cares should bail out of the bail out, and immediately pass state laws that protect their citizen’s 2nd amendment rights and additionally protect them from the threats readily used by the present administration’s thugs.
Those that don’t care aren’t worth saving.
Draw the line-in-the-sand NOW, while there is still time.
Yoop on July 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Good gawd! For an alledged constitutional scholar Obama sure does not have any clue about U.S. history. Most of us don’t normally bend over and take it like the rest of the world. That f–khead could lose 50 states in ‘12. Even with Acorns help.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Liberals only have support in a few major cities, it’s just the population is so dense it warps the rest of the state. If you truly outline the political map, it’s the red areas where everything is produced. The blue areas are users.
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM
My, the Obama Regime is behaving very thuggishly today.
wildcat84 on July 15, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Yep.
progressoverpeace on July 15, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I hope the RNC is making note and saving all these threats the WH is making…they would make for some delicious commercials come election time. A pattern has definitely emerged.
RR
ramrants on July 15, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Thugocracy at work. Luca Brasi, call your office.
CP on July 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
No. In fact, they would probably be taxed at a higher rate.
myrenovations on July 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Isn’t that the whole point of secession – that you don’t have to make offers of tribute anymore? You’re not trying to get IN to anything so much as you’re trying to get OUT.
Grow as much wheat as you want – or as little. All you have to promise is that you won’t make demands on your neighbors. It’s not that hard.
logis on July 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
What’s the difference between a Mafia boss and Obama?
A Mafia boss buys off people with money he actually has.
infidel4life on July 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Oh yeah, Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.
CP on July 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Abandon all hope; ye who think the RNC is paying attention here.
lorien1973 on July 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
The Guard and Reserves are components of the States. They’ll have to try regular Army.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on July 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I like the visual.
These ham fisted tactics cannot go on forever without consequences.
tru2tx on July 15, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Right. It’s hard enough for us to get out of the hole Janet Nappy-tano got us into.
jgapinoy on July 15, 2009 at 12:47 PM
The AZ legislature and Gov Brewer have already earmarked all stimulus funds to be dumped into our 3 billion budget shortfall. So these ’stimulus’ dollars will go to pay for basic state services.
How exactly does that stimulate any new investment or job creation? It will keep the status quo, at best. At worst, it simply continues to feed the beast that Governor Janet Napolitano grew to immense proportions over the past 6 years.
DrW on July 15, 2009 at 12:47 PM
The cities are basically the leeches. Indeed, now that we DONT need to be packed in like sardines in order for people to be able to reach work or services (ie: since the automobile, and since the internet which allows many jobs to be done anywhere) one needs to ponder why we NEED the large cities.
Do we really need these bloated, blighted centers of crime, that consume far more than they create?
Wouldn’t it be better for the environment if we didn’t have dense, dirty population centers?
Or does the left need the large cities because by putting someone in the middle of all that it’s far more likely that they will end up yet another ward of the state?
wildcat84 on July 15, 2009 at 12:47 PM
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