In his State of The State address last week, Governor Riley urged lawmakers to approve a budget independent of any Federal stimulus program because of the uncertainty of that assistance.
"...we cannot wait on Washington. We must do what is best for Alabama today. When or if the stimulus package arrives, we will have time to make adjustments. But this should not be an excuse to go on a spending spree. The budgets I'm presenting call on you to take a conservative approach to spending."
"Spending Spree"? Not likely. The money that may come to the state would only prevent catastrophic cuts and huge layoffs. Riley does want the Federal help...despite the fact that all but one member of the state's entire congressional delegation opposes it (Only Democratic Rep. Artur Davis supports it). Senator Richard Shelby had been a point man against the package, but according to Sean Riley in the Press-Register, it was Alabama other Republican Senator who blasted it in a news conference today..."Indeed, the financial soul of this country may be at stake," Jeff Sessions told reporters. Ironically, The Governor has bragged about the state's balanced budget, which is required by the 1901 Constitution, even though accepting the Federal Stimulus money would be an end-run around that prohibition. More irony: The U.S. Senate version of the stimulus measure, the one advocated by Sessions and Shelby, cuts aids to the states by some 40-Billion Dollars. It's Riley vs Shelby-Sessions! Did President Obama help sell the package during his news conference tonight? Perhaps, but don't expect any changes in votes from our delegation.
UPDATE: Dave White has a Wednesday story quoting Sen. Shelby: The states should not depend on the Federal Government for funding. AND, Gov, Riley is now criticising the Senate package because it has a "Buy American" provision. He says that will hurt Alabama's foreign companies like ThyssenKrupp, the steel firm building a plant in Mobile County.
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