Standing Up for Federalism

Harry: I can't believe we drove around all day, and there's not a single job in this town. There is nothing, nada, zip!

Lloyd: Yeah! Unless you want to work 40 hours a week! 

Several Republican governors (and at least one Democrat) are being ripped for saying they plan to refuse to accept hundreds of millions from Obama's "stimulus" bill to pay more unemployment benefits. Why on earth would they turn down all that money when they could use it to help the unemployed? Aren't they just being partisan (with the exception of Phil Bredersen - Democrat from Tennessee)?

They are rejecting the money because in exchange for the temporary funding, they will be required to permanently change their unemployment laws which will increase state taxes on businesses. For example, most states pay unemployment while they try to help you find a job, but you have to be willing to accept a full time job to stay on unemployment. The "stimulus" bill forces state governments to pay unemployment to many more people than they currently do, including to people unwilling to work full time. The bill also requires the state to pay people who quit their jobs because they moved and no longer want to make the commute. 

It's not hard to see that this will mean much higher payroll taxes, which discourages firms from hiring. This expansion of unemployment benefits also encourages people not to work. This is a classic example of how Washington usurps power from local government. They offer money (acquired by taxing the state's citizens) to the states with strings attached. "You can have your this money if you do what we say." Kudos to Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour, Phil Brederson and others who are standing up for federalism and common sense. 

More Judicial Activism

Justice Kennedy sided with the liberal Supreme Court Justices in a 5-4 ruling, striking down a Louisiana law allowing the death penalty for child rapists. Whether or not you favor the death penalty in this situation (or at all) is not the point. There is no constitutional ground for this decision. These justices didn't like a law put in place by the people of Louisiana, so they issued a decree to force their view upon Louisiana and the rest of the country. Kennedy wrote that "the death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child." According to you! The people of Louisiana feel otherwise:

"The opinion reads more like an out-of-control legislative debate than a constitutional analysis," said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican. "One thing is clear: The five members of the court who issued the opinion do not share the same 'standards of decency' as the people of Louisiana."

According to these justices, the constitution prohibits the execution of child rapists. I wonder if the right to kill unborn children is in the same section.

McCain's VP

Conan O'Brien: "John McCain invited Louisiana's governor, Florida's governor and Mitt Romney to a barbecue at his home in Arizona because he wants to choose one of them to be his running mate. McCain says he got the idea to choose his running mate this way by watching 'Flavor of Love.'"

I'm guessing Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is still in the mix as well, but he has a wedding to attend this weekend. So we have a 50/50 chance of getting a conservative on the ticket. Pawlenty and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist are McCain Republicans while Romney and Bobby Jindal have good full-spectrum conservative credentials. Jindal is generating a lot of excitement, but is only 36 and is serving his first term as Louisiana Gov. Having a young, energetic minority on the ticket could counter Obama and it's not like the Obama camp can challenge him on lack of experience. However, I think Romney is the best choice (I'm sure you're all shocked). Romney's business experience will play well as the economy becomes one of the top issues in the campaign. It's possible that McCain will only serve one term, so his VP would be set up nicely for 2012. Hopefully McCain will reject the centrist Republicans and finally reach out to the base by giving a rose to Romney or Jindal.