I was watching CSpan,

[tsuki]

but had to leave.

The committee was questioning Chertoff. Byrd was good. He questioned whether Chertoff was content with a status quo budget. Chertoff tried to duck, but Senator Byrd asked again.

The Senator from NM (R) did a gobble-dee-gook, then made reference to the fact that maybe the states needed to be responsible. That the feds couldn't run everything. Sure sounded, IMHO, like he expected the states to kick in.

I had to leave, but began to wonder if this could not be a wedge issue between state Republicans and the beltway bunch. The Feds want to lower taxes and want the states to kick in more on Federally mandated programs. It will force the state Republicans to become the tax and spend arm of the government (I am thinking of red states.) It cannot be a comfortable position for the state legislators.

With the new NCLB lawsuit, and medicaid mess, could this be another disconnect between Federal and State Party Members?

[rodeodance]

1. the WH wants to kick in with Medicaid which is a real crisis!!

[tsuki]

2. I think I'll start watching the states to see how the state republicans

deal with this, and the response of the voters.