Safely Out Of Office — And Running For President

By Kleinheider Posted on March 22, 2009 at 7:58 pm

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford explains why needs control over his state’s share of the stimulus:

If we’re going to spend money we don’t have at the federal level, it becomes all the more important that our state balance sheet is in good order — particularly if this is a protracted downturn. But many people do not realize that the stimulus money runs out in 24 months — at which point South Carolina will be forced to find a new source of funding to sustain the new level of spending, or to make sharp cuts. Sure, I could kick the can down the road; in two years, I’ll be safely out of office. But it would be irresponsible.

If South Carolina could use stimulus money to pay down debt, in two years we will be able to spend, cut taxes or invest even if the federal government can no longer provide more money — not a remote possibility. In fact, paying debt related to education would free up over $162 million in debt service in the first two years and save roughly $125 million in interest payments over the next 13 years — just as paying off a family’s mortgage early frees up money for other uses.

When you’re in a hole, the first order of business is stop digging. South Carolina is in a hole, and it’s not a shallow one. Spending stimulus money on ongoing programs would mean 10% of our entire state budget would be paid for with one-time federal funds — the largest recorded level in state history.

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Tags: 2012 Presidential race, Mark Sanford  

Ron Paul Doesn’t Think He Wants To Be President Of Bartertown

By Kleinheider Posted on March 2, 2009 at 3:51 pm

From CNN:

The Republican congressman from Texas was asked by CNN American Morning anchor John Roberts if he plans to make another bid for the presidency in 2012. “I don’t think so,” said Paul. “I’m not planning on that. It’s a long way off. I hardly can visualize what the country is going to be like then.”

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Tags: 2012, 2012 Presidential race, Bartertown, Ron Paul  

So What Will Frist Do?

By Kleinheider Posted on January 4, 2009 at 7:26 pm

If not Governor of Tennessee, then what? Clay Risen hears things:

As for what Frist will do instead, other sources tell me he’s been approached for a leadership post at the Gates Foundation, which would accord nicely with his long-time interest in developing-world public health issues. In any case, this also makes it less likely that he’ll be a serious contender for the 2012 presidential race, which many Frist-watchers had sorta assumed he would enter, if only because he’s the sort of fellow to never leave a contest until he’s won it.

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Tags: 2010 Governor's race, 2010 Gubernatorial Election, 2012 Presidential race, Bill Frist, Gates Foundation