A month ago Bobby Jindal made a national splash when he announced that he was going to say “thanks, but no thanks ” to the federal stimulus dollars that Louisiana was due to receive in order to expand unemployment benefits.
Yet the Jindal wave quickly subsided after his nationally televised response to Obama’s “Message to Congress” was panned by Democrats and Republicans alike.
In Virginia, Bob McDonnell distanced himself from the Jindal position, noting that while he disagreed with the overall thrust of the stimulus package, he would not reject federal dollars coming to the state inasmuch as Virginia taxpayers were footing the bill for the stimulus program.
But while we’re not hearing much from the Louisiana Governor himself lately, his message, especially with respect to the stimulus funding intended to expand unemployment benefits, has been taken up by others.
Chris Jenkins of The Washington Post reports today that prominent individuals and organizations in the Virginia business community are urging the state not to accept $125 million in federal money for expanded unemployment benefits because of the increased burden it will place on Virginia-based enterprises two years down the road.
It seems to me that Jenkins’ story is relevant to the 2009 statewide campaign in two ways.
First, will McDonnell reconsider the position that he took last month in light of the growing opposition in Virginia business circles to accepting the dollars?
Second, the issue demonstrates the manner in which the economic downturn impacts the focus and priorities of some segments of the business community.
For much of the past decade, the highest profile public policy issues among business leaders have been matters such as transportation and support for education, especially higher ed.
These issues are still considered very high priority matters.
But in the last two weeks, we have seen business leaders travel to Washington to express their opposition to card check legislation and advocate rejecting a portion of federal stimulus dollars.
These are new elements in the Virginia political calculus.
Look for Republicans to use these issues as a means trying to drive a wedge between Democratic candidates and their business community supporters.
Interesting posting. One development the Post article did not mention is the grassroots push to get the Governor and General Assembly to make the needed changes to access the $125 m in federal funds.
Here’s the petition.