(CNN) - In a budget proposal released Friday afternoon, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal indicated he is only rejecting $98 million of the federal stimulus funds due his state.
That figure is far less than the $700 million South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has indicated he may reject if the federal government does not allow Sanford to use that money to pay down his state's debt.
Jindal, an early GOP critic of the stimulus bill, is specifically rejecting funds aimed at expanding unemployment benefits on the belief his state would have to pick up the tab on the provision in two years.
In the budget proposal released Friday, Jindal emphasized the money he is accepting is temporary and a means to ultimately cutting spending.
"It is very important to understand…that federal stimulus funds are temporary funds. As such, they cannot be thought of as a permanent part of our state’s budget," he said Friday, adding, "Federal stimulus funds give us time to reform how the state runs so we can cut spending, ensure we are spending efficiently, and live within our means."
Jindal's announcement also comes a day after Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he would reject the $555 million in federal funds direct to his state to expand unemployment benefits.
From CNN Politics
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Americans can du ana thang! What a stooger. He made Palin look smart.
Congratulations on rejecting like .0000005% of the socialist money giveaway Bobby. That'll show those unemployed workers.
They don't like the unemployed??? Or do they figure that being unemployed is somehow the fault of the laid-off workers??? How totally bizarre!
So nice of these fine republican gentlemen to let their unemployed workers suffer.
So, if you live in one of these Red states and you lost your job because of the Bush economy and your unemployment benefits can not be paid how are you supposed to feed your family or even have gas money to look for another job?
What are these men thinking? Can they really be that cruel to want to make Obama look bad at the expense of the citizens?
If this was not coming from the Republicans it would truly be unbelievable.
Hmm...good luck with your future employment, Govenah's!
I'm so glad I don't live in SC, TX or LA.
Don't even get started talking about this hell hole of a state. It makes South Carolina look like Hawaii. Why are the most backward states in the union rejecting the very aid they have needed since reconstruction. I know your backward, I know you have more toes then teeth, but why don't you try to get up off the cracker barrel and see what the rest of the world has been doing since 1965. Take the money and build your state up from the dirt.
You don't want Alabama to get ahead of you do you?
These governors in these states want their cake and eat it too. When GWB was running things for 8 years, not hardly any complaints came
from these leaders. Now the opposition party is in charge and there's
nothing but this is wrong, that's wrong. They're right, that's why we have PRESIDENT OBAMA, he's already righting the wrong from the
last 8 years, none of these GOP governors turned down stimulus funding the last two presidential terms until now. Interesting.
Hopefully these politcs before the people will catch up to them at the polls.
SHAME!
Hypocrite, reject all the money or shut-up.
If these clowns weren't idiots an used the stimulus monies WISELY instead of padding their buddies pockets some of these states could not have an unemployment problem in 2 years.
Elephants just have never been hungry before. I think when you lost your job, you run up to the Board and call in Executive CEO privilege and ask for 100 million bonuses. If you are a regular citizen, you run up and ask for $10.00 a month paycheck and you're denied! Good job!! Such fairness...
Mr Jindal (SINCE BOBBY IS NOT REALLY YOUR FIRST NAME), you are so out of touch with the people of your state. This is about the PEOPLE NOT POLITICS. YOU AND YOUR FELLOW OTHER REPUB SENATOR WHO ARE TURNING DOWN MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THEIR STATE ARE WRONG. The people who elected YOU deserve more than that. Katrina was a complete disaster in more than the desvastation, a total screw up in response. For those so called republican conservatives who bash President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for wasting money traveling while the economy is in the tank need to remember, WHERE WAS BUSH,CHENEY,CANDOLESA RICE WHEN KATRINA HIT, ON VACATION.
Take the money guys – Obama will have everyone employed by 2011 or so when the money runs dry and you will have surplus of state unemployment funds to boot. Its a perfect world isn't it?
Besides – who is saying you have to continue anything once the money is gone? When the federal money is gone – return to the present levels......kinda like us American working guys do – spend only what we have........well guess government won't ever be like that.
all three should become unemployed and live and pay bills on
the unemployment check.not easy.Maybe Texas will be out of
Perryville era shortly..Not much good can be said about Perrry in Texas.. The unemployed in all three states should called their
Govenor.s office and let them know how they feel and that they need help.
All three are playinfg politics as usual for Perry anyway
This is the guy who said Americans Can Do Anything! The GOP will be in the wilderness for a while. Palin, Jindal and Steele oh my!
Those that turn away the help their state so desparately needs wil be heading out this next election. Their constituants will give them the Boot! Republicans have lost their way and don't know how to get back on message. We are ONE NATION and as soon as the Republicans can get on board the sooner we can correct the Huge mess they have left for the rest of us.
If they are going to reject any of it...let them reject ALL of it....send it to a state that is grateful for the help for it's people. Then let the govenors that rejected the stimulus get booted out by the every day citizens that these govenors ignored for their own political goals.
Bobby, Mark, Rick –three musketeers
John, Mitchell,Cantor-birds of the feathers
-Six losers to add to the list of many more. Rethugs
What's wrong with these southern governors, their people are hurting and it seems they could care less, SHAME ON THEM.
Sad situation. But this is where attitude and leadership tests each leader of their respective state. While people like Rahm is enjoying his White House Job, you scrap for money to pay your mortgages. I would take it or or put a certain amount on hold and use as necessary just in case unemployment may be for a while longer than predicted.
Good for you Mr. Jindal!!! I have much respect for you.
They want their residents to believe down the line (once Obama supposedly "owns" the economy) that it is Obama's fault.
Not theirs.