Democrat Calls “Republican” Governor John Hoeven “Best Democratic Governor We’ve Had In A Long Time”

• December 5, 2008

I’m inclined to agree.

Initial reactions from lawmakers on Gov. John Hoeven’s $7.7 billion budget included praise for things like an increase in education spending and state employee pay, but also skepticism, especially for the sustainability of a $300 million property tax relief plan.
Bismarck Sen. Tracy Potter said he liked a lot of what he heard on Wednesday, including increasing the eligibility for families to enroll in the state health insurance program for children, among other spending recommendations by the governor.
“I said to one of my colleagues as I walked out, ‘I think we won the election,’” said Potter, a Democrat. “This is the best Democratic governor we’ve had in a long time.”

Ouch. Hoeven and his allies, who are constantly defending themselves from criticism from the conservative side of the state party, have to be pretty steamed about that one.
What’s sad is, reading the rest of that article, the only real concern voiced by any Republican is whether or not the state can “afford” Hoeven’s proposed…tax cut.
That’s right. The guy proposes a 26% increase in general fund spending, and everyone’s fretting about the puny $100 million income tax cut he proposed.
Hold on to your wallets, North Dakotans. This is going to be a rough session.
We’re going to live to regret voting down measure 2.

Tags: Domestic Issues, Politics

http://Array brenarlo

Potter was right.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

I can do my own saving. A balanced budget occurs when income equals expenses!

Preferably around 2 billion in general fund spending.
http://www.mattsconservativecorner.blogspot.com/ Matt

I’m deeply disappointed in Governor Hoeven after this.

He is a great person, but he doesn’t deserve the Republican brand. He is part of the GOP’s problem.
bill-tb

What you gonna do when the free pies run out?

FDR raised taxes, turned a 3 year recession into a full blown decades long depression. Heck, if it weren’t for WWII, the depression may still be going on. Learn from history or repeat it. Yes FDR was a commie-socialist.
FlybyKnight

I find it hilarious that a self-described “socialist” pays Hoeven what he views as a compliment by saying that. It would be even funnier if it wasn’t about to cost me so much money.
Halatbis

I attended the session of the governor’s budget message. Seems to me the Gov. proposed some money for property tax relief in the form of money to the taxing entities, and the expectation that they would reduce their taxes by the amount received.
This state is growing with an expanding economic base; this growth cannot be managed with the same or less structure as the past. It is time to use the energy money to fix some of the infrastructure and to build/invest for the future.
The conservative movement is taking on the image of “Grinches”.
Besides, who gives a damn what Tracy Potter says? There is the sound of sour grapes–the Dem’s did not win anything.
ConservativeEgghead

How about this guys comment, that doesn’t sound conservative to me at all.

He’s pretty conservative on the social issues, but not on fiscal policy. Remember that Stenehjem represents south Bismarck, which means that he’s got a ton of state employees as constituents. His former House running-mate, Rep. Ron Carlisle, who just retired this year, used to be the Chair of one of the three House Appropriations committees (the one which wrote most of the operations budgets for state agencies). Even in the lean years, Carlisle always tried to protect state employee wage and benefit increases. He used to try and justify this to his colleagues by claiming that if he didn’t, he’d lose re-election.

I’m not justifying this behavior – just trying to explain why they think like they do.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Hal: I agree that’s a deterrent to getting good representation.

I don’t know what the solution to that is.
Halatbis

May I suggest that some of you run for office–start at the city/town level or at the county level. When the gravel road gets bumpy you will get a call from Joe Farmer who pays near-to-nothing in taxes–he wants the damn #@** road graded–he will call you at 5 A.M. Isn’t everyone up at that hour?
You will get a call that the storm drain is plugged again–it’s 11 P.M. The storm knocked down some trees–it’s been an hour and no one has gotten them out of the street. Where the F are those lazy street guys?
Yeah, it’s easy to say they should cut the budget–one of you guys could have that easy job.
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ goon

Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem of Bismarck said he was pleased to see Hoeven’s proposal to increase state employee spending, as well as plans to increase funding for K-12 education and infrastructure improvements.

“It’s an aggressive budget,” Stenehjem said. “Fortunately, we have some money to work with.”

How about this guys comment, that doesn’t sound conservative to me at all.
http://www.valleydeals.com/cgi-bin/board2/YaBB.pl Kevin

The free lunchers are licking their lazy, greedy chops at the thought of getting their hooks into all that over taxation!
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Why are tax cuts unsustainable but spending far more money isn’t?
http://www.valleydeals.com/cgi-bin/board2/YaBB.pl Kevin

The Fargo Forum actually thinks overtaxation is a balanced budget!

Forum editorial: A practical, responsive budget plan

Published Friday, December 05, 2008
Today’s issue: North Dakota Gov. Hoeven announces his budget proposal.

Our position: His plan spends where needed and saves enough for the future.

I can do my own saving. A balanced budget occurs when income equals expenses!
http://www.in-forum.com/Opinion/articles/224035
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Potter was right.

And that’s why we should care.

The conservative movement is taking on the image of “Grinches”.

Right, because returning money to the people that earned it rather than giving it to the public sector who in fact make MORE money than the average North Dakotan is somehow stingy?

I don’t get it.

Now Hoeven does have some money for infrastructure improvements in his budget. On balance that’s probably a good thing to spend our money on.

On the other hand the rest of his spending which is only going to balloon the budget is unsustainable when the oil revenues drop off.

Hal, I think you should remember the late 70′s and the 80′s better than I do. Didn’t the legislature spend spend spend when the oil money was coming in. When the money ran out the state government beneficiaries demanded the tax payers keep supporting them to the high level they were then accustomed to.

We got MANY tax increases until the most egregious of them were refered in 1989.

Don’t you see this is happening again?
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

I wonder how anyone in the state can support John Hoeven and call themselves a conservative.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Of course they are.

But they’re going to get a come-uppance. This year just wasn’t our year.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Yes year, after Hoeven dropped his budget raising spending in the state 24%, the Forum called it an “appropriately conservative” budget.

As if a 24% increase in general fund spending were “conservative.”

Yeah, it’s easy to say they should cut the budget–one of you guys could have that easy job.

Nobody is saying it’s easy, but we shouldn’t want these guys to just roll over either.

Like the property tax issue. There’s no excuse for state legislators to take up the issue instead of saying loudly, and clearly, that it’s a local problem.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

I attended the session of the governor’s budget message. Seems to me the Gov. proposed some money for property tax relief in the form of money to the taxing entities, and the expectation that they would reduce their taxes by the amount received.

That’s called a “bailout” and it’s bad policy.

The state shouldn’t be bailing out poor local budgeting.

The conservative movement is taking on the image of “Grinches”.

Remember when Democrats were calling Dick Cheney “The Grinch” because of a vote he made in the Senate for fiscal responsibility?

They were wrong too.

Besides, who gives a damn what Tracy Potter says? There is the sound of sour grapes–the Dem’s did not win anything.

I should think the liberals are very happy to see their tax-and-spend agenda pushed by a “Republican” Governor.

SayAnythingBlog.com

Democrat Calls “Republican” Governor John Hoeven “Best Democratic Governor We’ve Had In A Long Time”

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