Richert: Grab For Fair Porkulus Share

I don’t think Idaho political leaders want to think strategically about a bunch of money they really don’t want. They don’t like the idea of a federal deficit-busting stimulus bill. They don’t want a bunch of one-time federal dollars — with whatever strings that may come with them. They would just as soon set their own budgets, spartan as they may be, with money collected and paid at the state level. There was a thanks-but-no-thanks subtext to the message delivered Thursday, when House Speaker Lawerence Denney and Senate President Pro Tem Robert Geddes spoke at an Idaho Press Club luncheon. It’s a little bit of fiscal conservatism and independent-minded suspiciousness about the federal government, rolled into one. Fair enough. But let’s not let ideology get in the way of pragmatism/ Kevin Richert , Idaho Statesman. More here .

Question: Should Idaho political leaders jettison their ideology and grab their fair share of the bloated federal porkulus package?