Texas governor considering political suicide

In Texas politics there is a phrase for leaving federal money on the table: "political suicide"

By now everyone has heard the news that Governor Rick Perry of Texas (a.k.a. Governor Goodhair), along with several other southern Republican governors, is considering rejecting part of the stimulus package that would provide $555 million in unemployment benefits for out-of-work Texans.

What might not be as widely known is that the Texas Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund is broke (roughly $447 million in the hole) because of the Guv's short-sightedness in suspending the employer tax early last year. It will automatically raise taxes on employers later this year (not a good idea in a downturn) if nothing is done about the shortfall.

Also perhaps not as well known is that the Guv has been living in a $9900/mth McMansion at taxpayers' expense (the governor's mansion was first being rehabilitated, then was partially destroyed by fire).

So the good governor is living high on the hog, all the while thinking about turning away federal funding for those who have lost their jobs during the worst economic depression we've seen in 60 years! And of course everyone knows that unemployment benefits are among the best economic stimulus there is because, well, there is no one more likely to spend money than someone without a job!

Texas taxpayers will end up paying for the federal stimulus regardless of whether the governor takes it or not. It's our money, Guv, not yours!

One last fact, in case you didn't know: Texas is usually dead last in per capita state spending. That's right, we are the cheapest state in the union!

Put it all together, and it explains why there is a long-standing phrase for Texas politicians who leave federal money on the table: it's called "political suicide."

So, I'm really conflicted here.

Our governor stands at the precipice, and I want to shout "Jum..."

But there are so many tens of thousands of people who need that money desperately.

He's raising the hemlock to his lips, about to quench his thirst with Guyana punch, and I want to say "Cheers!"

But I just can't bring myself to urge him on..

[this entry cross-posted at DailyKOS, where it received about 600 more comments than it got here]