Jim Kouri
Taxpayers tell Congress: No state bailouts!
FacebookTwitter
By Jim Kouri
November 18, 2008

As Congress reconvened on Monday for a lame-duck session, lawmakers no doubt are being inundated with requests for more federal giveaways on the taxpayer's dime — the latest of which is a new spending plan that would provide bailout funds to states and localities.

In its latest effort to stop "bailout mania," the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) has led a coalition of 59 grassroots organizations representing millions of taxpayers in opposing the plan.

"State and local government budgets should not be balanced on the backs of federal taxpayers," the signatories wrote in a letter to Congress today. "Doing so would set a horrible precedent, discourage responsible budgeting in the future, and place a greater strain on America's hard-working families and businesses."

The letter was supported by national organizations such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Americans for Prosperity, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, and Reason Foundation, as well as state-level groups such as the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (CA), Florida Taxpayers Union, and Illinois Policy Center.

State outlays have seen unsustainable growth over the past decade: Spending is up 124 percent over where it was 10 years ago, and state debt has increased by 95 percent. "Clearly, some states and localities allowed themselves to be caught up in the borrow-and-spend mania," the signatories note. "Now that the economic picture doesn't look as rosy as it once did, some want to continue this upward spiral on the federal taxpayer's dime. We believe that if troubled state and local entities seek lasting relief and stability, they should restructure their activities the way millions of families have had to restructure their budgets."

The letter concludes with a statement from South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who, in testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee on October 29, 2008, urged Congress to "accept that there may be better routes to recovery than a blanket bailout, including offering states like mine more in the way of flexibility and freedom from federal mandates instead of a bag of money with strings attached."

The letter also quotes Dr. Richard Vedder, a member of NTU's Board of Directors and ALEC's Board of Scholars, who said, "A federal bailout is the wrong solution to the wrong problem."

"We concur that reducing expensive mandates — which have cost states $131 billion over the past four years — would be one way the federal government could reduce pressure on state and local governments without spending more taxpayer dollars," the signatories conclude.

For more information, visit www.ntu.org or www.beyondbailouts.org.

© Jim Kouri

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)


Jim Kouri

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police... (more)

Subscribe

Receive future articles by Jim Kouri: Click here

More by this author

September 10, 2017
Trump Justice: 'Dreamer' wanted for murder nabbed by feds in NJ and extradited


July 26, 2017
NJ 12-year-old's suicide a plea for cyber-bullying law: GOP candidate Heather Darling


June 12, 2017
Obama hampered law enforcement investigation of Iranian terrorism funding


June 2, 2017
Prez of Young Democrats and Mayor de Blasio staffer busted for kiddie porn; one victim 6-mos. old


May 29, 2017
The conservative approach to taxation and a healthy business climate


May 24, 2017
U.S. intelligence reports warn of cyber "Cold War"


March 3, 2017
Media attack Trump's terrorism expert Dr. Sebastian Gorka


December 23, 2016
Trump's border wall: The bill was passed and signed into law


December 22, 2016
Dem lawmakers demand commission to probe Trump-Russia conspiracy


December 14, 2016
Outraged Vets: VA hospital death touted as proof of Obama and Democrats indifference


More articles

 

Stephen Stone
HAPPY EASTER: A message to all who love our country and want to help save it

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
FLASHBACK to 2020: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Jerry Newcombe
That pesky First Amendment

Michael Bresciani
Bring back a trusted, America-loving patriot with a proven record, or drink cackling Kamala’s Kool Aid and die

Curtis Dahlgren
Will there be better times, or what? Signs of hope

Cliff Kincaid
Holocaust survivor warns of world war

Tom DeWeese
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are beginning to crumble – none too soon

Cherie Zaslawsky
Kopy Kat Kamala

Marsha West
Who are the Emergent Church leaders and where are they now?

Tom DeWeese
What city planners are really planning and how to challenge it

Robert Meyer
Abortion on demand: Sacrament of the Democratic Party

Joan Swirsky
Suicidal Jews

Jerry Newcombe
A nation in need of true revival

Pete Riehm
'A new way forward'—or 'a fighter?'
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites