Texas not going to take it (like federal money that comes with conditions) anymore

What's up in Texas? What are these proposals they're talking about that (apparently) differ in kind and scope from what previously existed?

Postmodern Brutalism is Shovel Ready

The White House has approved using $116 million in federal stimulus money to pay for a long-delayed federal courthouse for downtown Austin, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said Tuesday (per the American Statesman).

Little picture and discussion here and bigger picture here. Gah.

Re: Re: Jindahl is Brilliant

Here's how brilliant Jindahl is: It's estimated that Louisiana stands to get about $3.8 billion from the stimulus bill. Jindahl is crowing that he'll reject something under $100 million of that. So he's taking $3.7 billion instead (97% of the full amount), and getting Rethug bragging rights for being principled about taking/spending federal money.

I think there are principled reasons for governors to opt out of parts of the stimulus money. But it's a little silly to lionize them for given up pennies while they're taking dollars.

Bredesen Brilliant?

From cnsnnews:

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, said he might turn down a portion of the $787 billion economic stimulus package that applies to unemployment benefits, because of the conditions attached to the money, The Tennessean reported.

Jindahl is brilliant

The result of Gov. Jindahl's decision to refuse some of the federal aid to unemployed workers might be that his state's unemployed will leave Louisiana and head elsewhere. (Look out, Texas.)