Otter orders holdbacks; Obama would help states

Talk about trickle-down economics: The national financial crisis hit home in Idaho today as Gov. Butch Otter ordered statewide budget hold backs and cautioned all state agencies to reserve another 1.5 percent of their budget for possible further cuts. Jill has more at New West .

Meanwhile, a McClatchy Newspapers article in the Idaho Statesman today noted how Barack Obama wants to provide $25 billion in relief to state and local governments to be used on whatever the states and municipalities need most, along with another $25 billion for public works projects like roads and bridges. Whatever Idaho's share, it would go a long way toward relieving our current budget gaps and infrastructure needs, wouldn't it?

John McCain calls it a gimmick, and of course he of all people should know a gimmick when he sees one. But maybe Otter and his fellow Republicans ought to consider whether voting GOP is the best move this fall, or whether it's time to give Democrats a chance to put the country together again.

Comments

[Cameron]

Where is the $50 billion going to come from?

[Julie in Boise]

Of course, that's the big question for all our federal spending, Cameron, from aid to the states to military spending to Social Security. But let's bear in mind that the current annual US budget is $3 trillion+ and that we are spending about $12 billion a month in Iraq.

Isn't it time for a little nation building at home, especially at a time when state and local governments are hurting?

[Cameron]

I just think the difference is striking: one government entity finds itself short on revenue and adjusts so as not to be fiscally irresponsible. Another government entity finds itself waaaaay short on revenue and pledges to give away even more. Even more odd is that it's the latter, not the former, that is getting praised here.