Liberally Conservative?

Lee Nichols’ Austin Chronicle article title “One Pol’s Stimulus is Another Crack Cocaine”, details the Texas legislature’s issues with the stimulus package given from the Obama administration. The battle between Democrats, who want to distribute the funds, and Republicans, who fears increasing state programs due to federal regulations on some of the dollars, is heating up. Nichols details the arguments regarding portions of the stimulus package that would be distributed to Medicaid, Texas Department of Transportation, and unemployment insurance. The later item includes inflammatory remarks made from Governor Perry compares the unemployed to drug addicts, and the democratic response lambasting him. The article notes that the timetable required for approval is drawing closer, even though doubts have been raised if it can be met due to the conflicts. Nichols’ article is interesting in that it shows the Republicans attempting to be conservative about an economic theory that is counter to their entire ideology.