| As one can easily guess this is all about politics and the forthcoming 2010 gubernatorial election. Perry hopes to hold his conservative base by demonizing Kay Bailey Hutchison as a Washington insider. Hutchison voted against the stimulus bill as most U.S. Republicans did.
So much for addressing the needs of jobless folks here who are quickly running out of benefits.
According to a Governor who is actually concerned about the unemployed in his state:
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat who chairs the National Governors Association, called Perry's decision to reject the unemployment funds "stunning."
"It's a terrible call. It is based on politics," he said, adding that while the federal stimulus does require some states to add coverage, it doesn't require the changes to be permanent. Lawmakers could roll back the expansion in two years, though they are often reluctant to take away benefits from voters.
"How do you sit across the table from a part-time worker working three part-time jobs, doing his best to keep his family afloat, didn't get health care, didn't get anything for it, all three of his jobs collapsing?" said Rendell, meeting with reporters in Washington.
"What does that make you? Does that make you a good Christian?" he asked. "There comes a time when the hurt that individuals are facing becomes paramount over whether I'm going to have a budget problem three years down the road."
OK so what else is new? We've seen this movie before. We all know by now that most Texas Republican lawmakers have unveiled contempt for most of their suffering and disenfranchised constituents. We also know that many, if not most Texas Republicans and some Democratic politicians, too, work hard and long for their fat cat donors.
Perry is more or less telling the unemployed to go straight to hell, live in a tent somewhere, if you happen to have one, eat dirt and die if need be.
Serious campaign finance reform is well overdue but somehow we seem to be mired forever in this ugly and abusive cycle of fat cat/donor/lobbyist/corporate interest produced misery. Where are our ethical, religious and esteemed leaders? I mean, after all, Texas is proud of its fine Christian majority in which so many passionately acknowledge their belief in the teachings and message of Jesus Christ.
Governor Rendall has a point. What would Jesus have done, Guv?
Just asking.
Phillip Martin over at BOR has posted a series of excellent articles about both Perry and Hutchison.
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