Feb 19, 2009 5:50 pm US/Central
If MN Wants Stimulus Money, Gov. Must Ask For It
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Lawmakers are expecting to get about $4 billion from that bill. But before the state sees any of it, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is going to have to ask for it, which is not an easy thing to do.
CBS
The new economic stimulus bill aimed at creating new jobs and includes a tax cut for all working Americans also divvies up some money for state government... including Minnesota.
Lawmakers are expecting to get about $4 billion from that bill. But before the state sees any of it, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is going to have to ask for it, which is not an easy thing to do.
Minnesota's $4 billion in stimulus money, and the jobs that come with it, are not automatic. The state must formally request the money within 45 days, a potentially awkward position for Pawlenty, who opposes the stimulus.
"I supported
a stimulus package, not this one though," he said.
Pawlenty said Obama's stimulus package is NOT a good bill. He said it contains wasteful spending, won't create enough jobs and it's not bi-partisan.
"When they don't have the money, they're borrowing it from the Chinese, they didn't focus it on tax cuts and bread and butter infrastructure, and they turned it into a big 'spend-a'palooza' then I'm going to say I don't like that. And I think that's OK. That's my job," he said.
"For the betterment of Minnesotans I think the governor should say yes," said Democratic House Speaker Margaret Kelliher.
She said Pawlenty wants it both ways -- opposing the package, but taking the money.
However, just in case the governor says no, Kelliher said the legislature is prepared to override him.
"Do I wish that George W. Bush had had the country in a better position in terms of our debt level? Absolutely. I do agree with the governor on that, if that's what he is saying," said Kelliher.
For the record, Pawlenty said he does not agree with Republicans, including talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who say they hope Obama fails. And because he said Minnesota pays more in taxes to the federal government than it gets back, he said he does intend to ask for the money.
There are other Republican governors who don't like the stimulus package, and at least on governor said he won't take the money. But legislatures can overrule the governor.
The fine print in the stimulus bill includes language giving legislatures all over the country the power to get the money themselves if the governors refuses. And in Minnesota, Democratic lawmakers are preparing such a resolution to do it, just in case Pawlenty won't.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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