Got to Pick a Pocket or Two
By John Hood, April 21, 2011
RALEIGH – Consider some of the stories making news in North Carolina in the past few weeks:
• Gov. Bev Perdue seeks a disaster declaration to make the state eligible for federal recovery funds in the aftermath of devastating tornadoes.
• Some Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly try to block North Carolina’s participation in a federal high-speed rail program they view as fiscally irresponsible.
• The GOP legislature passes a bill that both extends jobless benefits and approves a continuing resolution to keep state government operating past July 1 if there is no signed state budget. Perdue vetoes the bill, arguing that she shouldn’t have to agree to future state budget cuts in exchange for extending federally funded benefits.
Although these are separate events, they do have a common theme: the pursuit of federal funds for North Carolina projects. As Washington’s role in public finance has continued to expand, it’s difficult to find any state or local issue that isn’t touched by it. For almost every major state program – public schools, colleges, Medicaid, and transportation – federal funds play a large and growing role.
As a result, federal politician and bureaucrats have gained power at the expense of state and local ones. That, in turn, has accentuated the influence of special-interest groups – for whom it is less expensive to wield influence over central authorities in Washington than over dozens or hundreds of separate jurisdictions – and diminished the influence of average taxpayers.
Furthermore, the entire political debate has been distorted by the myth of “federal” funding. In a financial sense, there is no such thing. It is metaphysically impossible for “Washington” to fund “the states” with revenue that is not raised in the states, either immediately in taxes or by future taxes to pay off today’s federal borrowing.
In the case of the budgetary showdown between Perdue and the Republican legislature, for example, the governor and her allies insisted that there was no logical relationship between jobless benefits, extensions of which would be financed with federal funds, and balancing the state budget. They saw the legislation combining the two issues as little more than political blackmail.
Republicans didn’t see it that way. Yes, they were seeking to exercise some leverage over Perdue, who has been on a veto streak lately. But they also rejected the notion that extending North Carolina’s jobless benefits would have no impact on North Carolina taxpayers.
For one thing, the federal funding for extended benefits is a temporary feature of past stimulus legislation, not a permanent policy. In 2012, that extra federal funding disappears. A vote to extend benefits today could become a precedent for 2012 extensions that would have a fiscal impact on state government.
More importantly, however, all North Carolina taxpayers are also federal taxpayers, by definition. Directly or indirectly, they bear the incidence of federal taxes that flow to Washington and then (sometimes) flow back to North Carolina, albeit with a substantial debit for shipping and handling charges.
The “federal” funding for extended jobless benefits in North Carolina won’t come from New York or California. Those states also have unemployed workers receiving benefits. The funding will come from North Carolina. It will come out of the same pockets of the same households and businesses that would also be asked to pay higher taxes if Perdue’s state budget plan prevails over the GOP alternative.
That’s the connection. Perdue and her defenders seem to believe that if they insist loudly enough on the distinction between my left pocket and my right pocket, I’ll forget that both pockets are on the same pair of pants – and that regardless of which pocket gets picked, the money comes from the same bank account.
As I have previously observed, when politicians promise to fight harder to bring more “federal” dollars back to North Carolina, that’s like responding to chronic shoplifting or embezzlement at your store by hiring thieves to steal money from other stores. It would be better to hire guards to protect our own stuff in the first place.
That’s what North Carolina’s elected representatives ought to be doing.
Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation
http://www.carolinajournal.com/jhdailyjournal/display_jhdailyjournal.html?id=7667
Showing posts with label federal funding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label federal funding. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Message from Susan B. Anthony A National Pro-Life Group
Wed, November 3, 2010
It's Not Over, The Fight is Just Beginning
Dear Conservative Friend,
Like you, I am energized and excited about last night's election victories.
But what we also know to be true is that last night’s victories at the ballot box are meaningless if they don't translate into real legislative victories that change the course of this nation.
My name is Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life group, and I am asking you to join me in our effort to stop all federal funding of abortion in the next Congress.
Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition and tell the new Congress to ban all taxpayer funding of abortion, both here at home and abroad.
We need to send a clear message to the 112th Congress that eliminating taxpayer funding of abortion is a top priority. When Congress begins next year, we will have the most pro-life leadership backed by the most pro-life incoming Freshman class than we've ever had. This is an opportunity to finally put to rest the issue of taxpayer funding of abortion.
However, this simply will not happen without your help. The work must begin now before the American people's mandate fades away in the ho-hum of Washington, D.C.
How can we eliminate all taxpayer funding of abortion? There are two important pieces of pro-life legislation that can be passed right away:
1. The “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” introduced by Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) will establish a consistent and permanent government-wide ban on taxpayer funding of abortion.
2. The “Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act” introduced by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) will ensure that our tax dollars don’t go to organizations that perform abortion, like Planned Parenthood, through Title X family planning grants.
Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition now and tell the new Congress that they must eliminate all federal funding of abortion.
Conservative Friend, over the past two years, President Obama was backed by a pro-abortion Congress that aggressively pushed taxpayer funding of abortion.
But now, with a new Congress full of energized pro-life leaders, we can finally begin to repair the damage that’s been done and restore America’s conscience and fiscal responsibility.
Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition now and tell the new Congress to end all federal funding of abortion.
Whether you’re primarily a social conservative, a fiscal conservative, or both, this is commonsense legislation that we can agree on in the next Congress. It’s also supported by the American people, with a recent Quinnipiac poll showing 7 out of 10 Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. In fact, taxpayer funding of abortion played a major role in many of the defeats we witnessed last night.
In fact, their vote for a health care bill that includes the largest expansion of abortion (at taxpayer expense) since Roe v. Wade was what led many of the self-described “pro-life Democrats” to their electoral doom last night.
We must tell the new Congress to pass these commonsense measures. Tell the new Congress by signing our Stop Abortion Funding petition. These laws will save unborn lives and protect the consciences of American taxpayers who do not want to be complicit in the deaths of almost 4,000 unborn American children per day.
Americans just don’t want their hard-earned money being sent to the likes of:
Planned Parenthood—America’s largest abortion provider has received an eye-popping $2.3 billion in federal funds over the past 7 years.
United Nations Population Fund—The U.N. Agency that works with pro-abortion groups to promote abortion overseas, and even supports China’s one-child policy, received $50 Million in taxpayer dollars in 2009 alone when President Obama rescinded the Mexico City Policy.
Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortions both here at home and abroad. Sign the Stop Abortion Funding petition right now.
In just two weeks, on November 15th, I am scheduled to meet with the incoming Members of Congress. Imagine the impact it will make when I hand each new member a petition signed by tens of thousands of Americans from across the country.
The message will be loud and clear: It’s time to put an end to the pro-abortion Obama agenda. We want the new Congress to repeal deadly laws and cancel the gusher of tax dollars funneled to abortionists.
Congratulations on hard-earned electoral victories last night that. Now, let’s make them count for Life. Sign the petition now and tell Congress to end all taxpayer funding of abortion.
With your help and the great pro-life leadership we have elected to Congress, I know we will be able to pass the lifesaving legislation unborn children and their mothers need and put a stop to the Obama administration’s deadly pro-abortion agenda.
For Life,
Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
http://www.sba-list.org/
P.S. Over the past two years, President Obama was backed by a pro-abortion Congress that aggressively pushed taxpayer funding of abortion.
But now, with a new Congress full of energized pro-life leaders, we can finally begin to repair the damage that’s been done and restore America’s conscience and fiscal responsibility. Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition now and tell the new Congress to end all federal funding of abortion.
http://www.sba-list.org/
Contributions or gifts to Susan B. Anthony List, Inc., a 501(c)(4) organization, are not tax-deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Donations may be used for political purposes such as supporting or opposing candidates. All donations are made to the general treasury of the Susan B. Anthony List, Inc., and are not designated for any particular purpose. Donation will be used in the sole discretion of the Officers and/or Board of Directors in accordance with the mission and purposes of the SBA List.
It's Not Over, The Fight is Just Beginning
Dear Conservative Friend,
Like you, I am energized and excited about last night's election victories.
But what we also know to be true is that last night’s victories at the ballot box are meaningless if they don't translate into real legislative victories that change the course of this nation.
My name is Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life group, and I am asking you to join me in our effort to stop all federal funding of abortion in the next Congress.
Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition and tell the new Congress to ban all taxpayer funding of abortion, both here at home and abroad.
We need to send a clear message to the 112th Congress that eliminating taxpayer funding of abortion is a top priority. When Congress begins next year, we will have the most pro-life leadership backed by the most pro-life incoming Freshman class than we've ever had. This is an opportunity to finally put to rest the issue of taxpayer funding of abortion.
However, this simply will not happen without your help. The work must begin now before the American people's mandate fades away in the ho-hum of Washington, D.C.
How can we eliminate all taxpayer funding of abortion? There are two important pieces of pro-life legislation that can be passed right away:
1. The “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” introduced by Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) will establish a consistent and permanent government-wide ban on taxpayer funding of abortion.
2. The “Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act” introduced by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) will ensure that our tax dollars don’t go to organizations that perform abortion, like Planned Parenthood, through Title X family planning grants.
Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition now and tell the new Congress that they must eliminate all federal funding of abortion.
Conservative Friend, over the past two years, President Obama was backed by a pro-abortion Congress that aggressively pushed taxpayer funding of abortion.
But now, with a new Congress full of energized pro-life leaders, we can finally begin to repair the damage that’s been done and restore America’s conscience and fiscal responsibility.
Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition now and tell the new Congress to end all federal funding of abortion.
Whether you’re primarily a social conservative, a fiscal conservative, or both, this is commonsense legislation that we can agree on in the next Congress. It’s also supported by the American people, with a recent Quinnipiac poll showing 7 out of 10 Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. In fact, taxpayer funding of abortion played a major role in many of the defeats we witnessed last night.
In fact, their vote for a health care bill that includes the largest expansion of abortion (at taxpayer expense) since Roe v. Wade was what led many of the self-described “pro-life Democrats” to their electoral doom last night.
We must tell the new Congress to pass these commonsense measures. Tell the new Congress by signing our Stop Abortion Funding petition. These laws will save unborn lives and protect the consciences of American taxpayers who do not want to be complicit in the deaths of almost 4,000 unborn American children per day.
Americans just don’t want their hard-earned money being sent to the likes of:
Planned Parenthood—America’s largest abortion provider has received an eye-popping $2.3 billion in federal funds over the past 7 years.
United Nations Population Fund—The U.N. Agency that works with pro-abortion groups to promote abortion overseas, and even supports China’s one-child policy, received $50 Million in taxpayer dollars in 2009 alone when President Obama rescinded the Mexico City Policy.
Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortions both here at home and abroad. Sign the Stop Abortion Funding petition right now.
In just two weeks, on November 15th, I am scheduled to meet with the incoming Members of Congress. Imagine the impact it will make when I hand each new member a petition signed by tens of thousands of Americans from across the country.
The message will be loud and clear: It’s time to put an end to the pro-abortion Obama agenda. We want the new Congress to repeal deadly laws and cancel the gusher of tax dollars funneled to abortionists.
Congratulations on hard-earned electoral victories last night that. Now, let’s make them count for Life. Sign the petition now and tell Congress to end all taxpayer funding of abortion.
With your help and the great pro-life leadership we have elected to Congress, I know we will be able to pass the lifesaving legislation unborn children and their mothers need and put a stop to the Obama administration’s deadly pro-abortion agenda.
For Life,
Marjorie Dannenfelser
President, Susan B. Anthony List
http://www.sba-list.org/
P.S. Over the past two years, President Obama was backed by a pro-abortion Congress that aggressively pushed taxpayer funding of abortion.
But now, with a new Congress full of energized pro-life leaders, we can finally begin to repair the damage that’s been done and restore America’s conscience and fiscal responsibility. Sign the Stop Abortion Funding Petition now and tell the new Congress to end all federal funding of abortion.
http://www.sba-list.org/
Contributions or gifts to Susan B. Anthony List, Inc., a 501(c)(4) organization, are not tax-deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Donations may be used for political purposes such as supporting or opposing candidates. All donations are made to the general treasury of the Susan B. Anthony List, Inc., and are not designated for any particular purpose. Donation will be used in the sole discretion of the Officers and/or Board of Directors in accordance with the mission and purposes of the SBA List.
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