Can You Please Print Me Some Money

States cannot run a printing press when they need money. Their only source of revenue is us taxpayers (and the various forms taxes take). So, what do they do when presented with a crisis of not having enough money for a program they are obliged to operate? Ask the federal government to print some up for them.

New York is the first, but certainly not the last, to ask the federal government for a no interest “loan” to fill their unemployment compensation coffer that is being depleted. The federal government has already put out $300,000,000,000 or so for the “Payroll Protection Program” which is giving businesses money to pay their employees. Congress is looking to restock that program as I type, with another $250,000,000,000. Instead of New York, one of the highest taxing states in the union, looking to cut spending in other areas, they want the rest of the country to subsidize their reckless spending. Any hesitancy on the part of the feds will no doubt be met with hysterics on New York’s part and the piling on from the rest of the Democrats and media.

For those of us in fiscally reckless states (Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York), this crisis is a great time to press elected officials to start putting our houses in order. It is time to Insist that non-essential government expenditures are given sunset provisions. Zero based budgeting should be employed, and money devoted to those programs that make the essential list, locked down so as to not bleed over to other non-worthy efforts. Leaving these kinds of actions up to the wind won’t cut it. Only demand from taxpayers can override the entrenched interest groups that ride the coattails of career politicians.

Never let a crisis go to waste. There is no time better to get rid of waste. More of us are realizing what is really important. The only thing government is supposed to do is keep us safe. All the rest has creeped in over time and to our detriment. It’s time we redirect our government at every level back to the basic reason for governance in our country.