Mike Johanns, Grinch

By: Mr. Wilson on October 16, 2009
It's not really clear to me if Mike Johanns was in the right to torpedo $300 million in federal highway funds. It sounds to me like he was in the right. The $300 million would have come from TARP funds. Yes TARP, the funds that were supposed to help banks. Not that the disconnect between the intended target for funds and the actual target slows down Congress's spending very often. Democrats think he was foolish, obviously. Vic Covalt says "When given the chance ... Mike Johanns sided with Wall Street and against Main Street Nebraska". It's not clear to me where Wall Street comes into this discussion, but whatever. It's a very short quote extracted from its context. Who knows what he was getting at. So I ask you folks. Was Johanns right to display some fiscal principles? Principles are a rare, rare sight in Congress. On the other hand Johanns (allegedly) singlehandedly hosed Nebraska out of more than $60 million. Expensive principles.

Comments

See what your friends and neighbors have to say about this.

JT
October 16, 2009 at 3:35PM

Considering he was fine with taking the funds from the stimulus I’d say he was in the wrong. When David Vitter (R-Prostitutes) asks you to do something generally it’s best to disregard the advice.

Also, did anyone see Johanns get creamed on the Daily Show the other day?

MattF
October 16, 2009 at 3:54PM

I take it he wasn’t a guest? Anyone have a link or the date of the show?

Dave K
October 16, 2009 at 6:19PM

That was a nice hit piece from the objective journalist Nancy Hicks of the un-biased Lincoln Journal Star. It wasn’t until paragraph eight that you learn Johanns was objecting to the use of TARP funds for roads projects.  Until then, you think Johanns is an evil man for objecting to federal funds for Nebraska.

I agree with the move, but I don’t like the fact that he did this on another Senator’s account. Last I checked, my Senator is supposed to be speaking for me, not another state or state’s Senator.  If it was so important to Vitter, he should have shown up.

Fletch
October 16, 2009 at 8:02PM

I was only surprised that Don Walton didn’t write the piece.

Share your thoughts with the community.

Commenting is no longer permitted on this post.