Texas' Perry Joins the Anti-Stimulus Governors

The Dallas Morning News reports:

Gov. Rick Perry, joining a handful of his fellow Southern Republican leaders, said Thursday that he was rejecting $556 million in federal stimulus money for unemployed Texans because it had too many strings attached.

He said the federal provisions would require unprecedented changes in state rules on who is eligible for unemployment payments. He also argued that the funds – which Democrats say would update benefits so that more women, elderly and student workers could qualify – would place additional burdens on businesses, leaving them to pay the added costs when the federal money ran out.

Instead, businesses should be able to use the money to create jobs, Perry said.

"That is why I am so concerned about the belief that has gained a foothold in our national consciousness that the best and only way to solve our nation's problems is to drown them with taxpayer dollars," said Perry, announcing his decision at a Houston hardware store.

Governor Perry was also on Fox News yesterday discussing his objections to the plan. Perry’s best argument was simply that Texas is the number one job creating state in the nation and that these funds would hurt the state’s businesses now and into the future. Perry was quick to emphasize that his state’s comparative well-being was created “in spite of Washington” and certainly not because of the federal government’s help.