Governor Sonny Perdue is considering leaving some of Georgia’s portion of federal stimulus money on the table. That’s because he doesn’t like some strings that might be attached.
Perdue shares an opinion of some fellow Republican governors that accepting all of a state’s allotment of stimulus funding might not serve the best interests of their residents.
Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley says there are about 50 programs that could get a boost by the roughly $6 billion Georgia would get. But for some areas of need--like more unemployment benefits--it’s not a slam dunk to take the funds:
"If there’s a pot of money that’s available that is going to require us to spend more money down-the-line and raise taxes on Georgians in order to meet those obligations, then that’s something we’re going to take a very hard look at."
Some other Republican governors, like South Carolina’s Mark Sanford, share the concern over unemployment benefits and the stimulus.
Perdue is in Washington D.C. continuing a National Governor’s Association meeting. Today the group is meeting with President Obama. Perdue returns to Georgia mid-week.
Perdue shares an opinion of some fellow Republican governors that accepting all of a state’s allotment of stimulus funding might not serve the best interests of their residents.
Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley says there are about 50 programs that could get a boost by the roughly $6 billion Georgia would get. But for some areas of need--like more unemployment benefits--it’s not a slam dunk to take the funds:
"If there’s a pot of money that’s available that is going to require us to spend more money down-the-line and raise taxes on Georgians in order to meet those obligations, then that’s something we’re going to take a very hard look at."
Some other Republican governors, like South Carolina’s Mark Sanford, share the concern over unemployment benefits and the stimulus.
Perdue is in Washington D.C. continuing a National Governor’s Association meeting. Today the group is meeting with President Obama. Perdue returns to Georgia mid-week.
