The "Stimulus" Bill a Budget Trap for States

The WSJ lays out why several GOP governors are refusing aid allotted them under Obama's spending bill. And it's not just politics.

These Governors -- Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Butch Otter of Idaho, Rick Perry of Texas and Mark Sanford of South Carolina -- all have the same objection: The tens of billions of dollars of aid for health care, welfare and education will disappear in two years and leave states with no way to finance the expanded programs. Mr. Perry sent a letter to President Obama last week warning that Texas may refuse certain stimulus funds. "If this money expands entitlements, we will not accept it. This is exactly how addicts get hooked on drugs," he says.

What the federal government wants is to addict states to federal money - a perfect way to create a permanent large-government mentality. And it's what Democrats love.