Jindal Signals Louisiana May Not Take Stimulus Money

(CBS)

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate, has suggested his state may not be interested in all of the roughly $4 billion allotted to it in the economic stimulus package to be signed by President Obama today.

"We'll have to review each program, each new dollar to make sure that we understand what are the conditions, what are the strings and see whether it's beneficial for Louisiana to use those dollars," Jindal said, according to CBS affiliate WWLTV.

Jindal is scheduled to give the response to the president's not-exactly-a-state-of-the-union address next Tuesday.

Louisiana reportedly faces a possible $2 billion budget shortfall next year. It has been allocated $538,575,876 for infrastructure spending in the stimulus package, and the White House predicts the bill will create 50,000 jobs in the state.

As WWLTV notes, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has said he'll take any money that Louisiana turns down.

The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, isn't letting up in its criticism of Democrats over the stimulus package. Following the White House's releases trumpeting the bill, the RNC sent an email to reporters offering research on "Democrats' broken pledges on transparency, bipartisanship, pork, and job creation."

The email quotes news stories on order to criticize Democrats for breaking a promise to post the bill online 48 hours in advance of a vote, for not working in a bipartisan manner, for putting out a package "loaded with wasteful earmarks," and for overestimating the bill's job creation potential.

House Republican Leader John Boehner also put out a statemnet hammering the deal.

"The flawed bill the President will sign today is a missed opportunity, one for which our children and grandchildren will pay a hefty price," he said. "It's a raw deal for American families, providing just $1.10 per day in relief for workers while saddling every family with $9,400 in added debt to pay for special-interest programs and pork-barrel projects. It will do little to create jobs, and will do more harm than good to middle-class families and our economy."

[Hawkishlady]

You people are idiots. Can you not read? It says "ALL." He's not sure the state is going to accept ALL of the funds. If the state only NEEDS 2bil of it, then why would we take 4?? It's a loan. It has to be paid back. It will involve raising taxes. Of course, that probably fine for all of you lazyass liberals b/c y'all don't pay taxes anyway.
Jindal is the kinda Republican we need in this country. A REAL Republican. Not some wishy washy moderate like McCain.

[runningralph]

The so called stimulus is a loan from China that will have to be paid back. By refusing to take the money, Louisiana will not have to pay back. Louisiana can keep its' taxes lower and be more attractive to private sector investoes.

[lastudent]

As a Louisianian, I am not proud that Jindal didn't accept the stimulus package. The people in other states that are glad he didn't don't live here and don't know the problems we have. At this current time, I am attending a Univeristy in Baton Rouge and because Jindal has cut funding in education my school had to release a lot of good teachers and cancel a lot of needed classes. I have also heard that there are going to be more budget cuts for next semester. Education should be one of the last things to cut. I am majoring in education and because Louisiana (and it's gov.) can't get it together, I will be moving to another state as soon as I graduate.
I could understand him not accepting the money if our state was finiancially stable, but we (as a state) need the money.

[marcodele]

Why does Bobby need stimulus money? He's still sitting on four billion dollars that was supposed to help those people recovering from Katrina losses.

WTG Bobby! You and Sarah Palin sure know how to suckle the federal teet!

[liberalm0r0n]

Dumb Dems. Read the federal law attached to this money...it requires a permanent increase in unemployment. How are you going to pay for that after the federal money runs out? Raise taxes on the "wealthy" and businesses. Where do you think businesses get those tax dollars from? Thin air? Dumb Dems...as soon as there is a tax hike on businesses they pass it on to the consumers and who shops at Walmart? Dumb, dumb liberals.

[liberalm0r0n]

Hey...liberals, one of your own is refusing it as well. Check out what Tenn. Gov is doing.

Then read what the federal law requires...a permanent change to state unemployment benefits...which means higher taxes.

American Economy Restoration? What are you going to do with your extra $13 per week...I hope you put it towards getting an education. Dumb Dems.

[cindyintulsa]

Let's be sure to remember this stance when he makes a bid for president !

[mrvn33]

He is selfish ,thats what he is ,cutting jobs is a bad idea it going affect police officers,fire men,teachers and other state jobs ,reducing the number police officers on the street and cutting fire men is a very stupid idea, if he thinks gov,t should stay away than he is part of govt so he should resign.

[gtoney]

Those people congratulating Jindal clearly do not live in Louisiana, which is what he's counting on. He's willing to let our state sink to help his politcal fortunes. We can only hope that the Legislature overrides this foolish step by Jindal.

[stacyla1]

Louisiana has an expected $2 billion dollar budget shortfall for the year and is being hit hard by unemployment, yet Jindal is going to turn down this money, which is expected to create 50,000 jobs for our state and instead is planning on cutting at least 2,000 state jobs. Unbelievable. Jindal is clearly more concerned with his political reputation than he is with doing what's best for Louisiana.