State leaders inconsistent about stimulus funds

Utah's Republican congressmen routinely vote against federal stimulus spending and criticize federal deficits and earmarks. But the state has taken billions of dollars in stimulus money, funded by federal borrowing, and state leaders seem ready to apply for $101 million for education. This raises some difficult questions.

Is it hypocritical and inconsistent for Utah Republican congressmen to vote against federal funding and programs, but then state leaders accept the money provided by those programs?

Pignanelli: "Intelligent men are inconsistent, but intelligent; fools are also inconsistent, and also foolish." — Felix Palavicini

If consistency was a mandatory prerequisite to hold public or appointed office, absolutely no one would be qualified. Indeed, inconsistency is a virtue in politics. Congress is a high-stakes game, and shrewd players know the rules. The minority party throws grenades, but the majority makes the decisions. This is the scenario regardless of who is in control. We do not have to stretch our memories to recall the GOP was much less noisy about federal spending during the Bush administration and when they controlled Congress. Thus, inconsistency between our congressional delegation and the Legislature is a reality, not hypocrisy.

It is hypocritical, however, for any member of Congress to decry federal spending and the budget deficit and then promise no changes to the bloated entitlement programs — a consistent diatribe from House Minority Leader John Boehner. As with all things in politics, one must look past the speeches and examine the actions to determine quality and substance.

Webb: Given the way the system works, it would be downright stupid not to take the money. If rejecting the money would reduce federal spending and the federal deficit by even a tiny amount, then I'd say throw it back in their faces. But it won't.

The Democratic Congress and the Obama administration are essentially saying: "I'm going to tax the heck out of you and borrow obscene amounts of money. And I'm going to send you a pittance back. If you don't take it, I'll spend it myself or send it to other states, but I won't use it to pay down the debt or reduce borrowing. And whether you take it or not, I'm still going to tax you the same amount, and you're still going to be responsible for the same amount of the colossal debt."