When a state governor mobilizes the National Guard to go mill aimlessly around at the border, who ultimately pays for that? I honestly don’t know how everything is financed. Obviously, the usual purpose of mobilizing the guard is to respond to some natural disaster or to deploy to a foreign theater. And there are federal funds that get set aside for either of those scenarios. But when a governor just wants to look like he’s doing something, how does that work?
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BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
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So Governor Perry acknowledges that the number of children attempting to cross the border has dropped this month NO THANKS TO NOBAMA, but still thinks that local law enforcement and border agents, who he jointly credits for 100% of the reduction in migrants, need help now.
Sounds like Governor Oops wants to:
Oops also might want to cogitate on the fact that having these immigrants captive in “squalor” means that WE CAUGHT THEM. Maybe it would be a better use of the national Guard if we had them setting up and staffing humane holding facilities, instead of puffing out their chests and looking mean as they stand at the banks of the Rio Grande.
Logic- how does it work??
Finally, BooMan, your question about the budget: don’t you know that Reagan sprinkles magic dust over any activity by government employees which involve the enforcement of Real American values so that those activities don’t cost anything? The Boehner/Gowdy Select Committee to Draw Up Impeachment Charges and Undermine Hillary’s Presidential Candidacy? Don’t cost nothin’.
The same logic tells us that cuts in tax rates always increase tax revenues. Let’s ask Arthur- he can explain to us again how awesome the Flat Tax will be.
Military action don’t cost nothin’. I’m sure the folks along the border will treat the National Guard troops as liberators, showering them with flowers and chocolates, and the foray will pay for itself.
Yep, they will be greeted with flowers and candy…..
IIRC all additional costs are the state’s unless the President has federalized the units, which is unlikely (?) in this case. The Feds have some matching formula for Fed support of ordinary operation of the National Guard. And that is in the annual budget (actually in the appropriations bills as passed). Look for what each state gets from the Feds.
Also look for this governor to seek a way to pass the cost of his PR stunt off on the Feds.
TPM has the story:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/perry-federal-government-reimburse-national-guard
Texas officials expect the Obama administration to do the right thing and pay for the TNG to mill around down by the Mexican border.
Someone needs to ask Perry why he did not call up the TX militia to go to the boarder. Then there would be no need for federal reimbursement.
If Obama pays for the TNG to “mill around” won’t that mean more socialism for Texas?? Or doesn’t it count as socialism when the government owns the means of prod…..destruction??
are doing.
O’Malley is held a meeting of social services groups and faith leaders to find solutions to housing kids in Maryland.
Patrick has been making a passionate argument for housing kids in Mass and has begun making plans to do so.
We should spend more time highlighted what Dems do right and less time on what the Reps do wrong IMO.
I heard from a reliable unnamed GOP source, inside Texas member. That Perry is going to put on his closeted Confederate uniform to tell the Texas National Guard when to FIRE upon the children!
Okay I come clean it is all made up. You know like most(ALL) of what the GOP says.
Dear Texas,
Pay for them yourself.
Also fuck you.
Sincerely,
The rest of country.
If the action is ordered by the Governor of a state, the billing is out of state funds. After all it is their individual state directed National Guard not the Army Reserve which is federal. Perry knows this which is why he is trying the sad sack routine of askin’ the President to “do the right thing” and pay the bills for Perry’s massive photo op campaign.
In emergencies, a Presidential declaration of a disaster, or state of emergency, allows for federal funding, but that ain’t happing here.
As for the legality of troops enforcing the law at the border, the Posse Comitatus Act only applies to troops under FEDERAL control, not the individual state governor controlled National Guard. Perry already has all the authority to put troops, already under his direct command, on his states southern border to enforce the laws of the state of Tejas.
If the feds are paying the bills, that essentially federalizes them, which means the provisions of the Posse Comitatus Act are in play, and perry has little or no real authority in that, since it is federal law.
I know asking gov screwball to make sense and follow the federal law is asking a lot, but in some sense he has to, if he wants the his publicity stunt costs to be borne by the rest of us.
his language is outrageous – they’re willing to put boots on the ground and expect the Fed Gov to foot the bill?? plus, his Serious Glasses. I wonder whose idea it is to have him run again for prez – he did so well last time ??
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Perry should pay for it out of his campaign war chest.