February 28, 2003

Governors — Divided

With our states facing enormous deficits — the deepest since World War II, the governors came to town last week for their Winter Meeting more divided and more partisan than ever. A proposed resolution that would have the National Governors' Association favoring fiscal relief — cash from the federal treasury — over President Bush's tax cuts to stimulate the economy caused quite a stir. Some Republican governors threatened to withdraw from the organization if a position was taken against President Bush's tax cuts.

While Kentucky Governor Patton is Chair of NGA, it was former Boise Mayor, our friend Governor Dirk Kempthorne, who was in the center of the negotiations with one goal in mind — to hold the NGA together as one organization. Said Governor Kempthorne "There was a massive effort by Republican governors to pull out on Saturday. We had a letting of the blood, we put it all on the table. There were strong emotions from governors who questioned the value of NGA as it has been run. I asked them not to pull out and to give me a chance to make the changes they want."

Republican governors charged that the NGA staff is "too liberal." It's not clear what that means. In my dealings with the NGA staff, I wouldn-t characterize them as liberal. They are tough and strong competitors or allies — given the issue. But not liberal. I guess the question is what is a liberal?

These questions cloud the substance and the need to confront the economic crisis the states are facing.

At the White House, President Bush told the governors in his nice and likable manner that their states already get plenty of federal funds and he let them know they should not expect any more help from Washington.

President Bush's stance wasn-t exactly news. The governors all knew fiscal aid to states was removed from the President's economic plan he announced earlier. Many governors were not happy with his stance because they are being stuck with billions of dollars to pay caused by federal mandates on education and homeland security.

Governors — both Republican and Democratic — did force the Administration to back off its Medicaid proposal. There was a strong exchange between Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, former Governor of Wisconsin. Negotiations with Secretary Thompson and the governors are now underway to help the states meet the increasing cost of Medicaid .

As mentioned earlier in this column, the National League of Cities, the National Council of States Legislator and the United States Conference of Mayors are all supporting federal cash to be sent to our states. But the governors left town leaving us to lobby for emergency fiscal relief.

Homeland Security/War Effort

In our meetings with Senate staffers and informed sources we have learned that if there is a war, a $100 billion supplemental appropriation will be requested by President Bush. As the President says he needs more for the war, he also is criticizing his own Republican Congress for not delivering on the homeland defense money he requested. This is a new twist and worth noting. President Bush is saying he is disappointed with his own Republicans in Congress for not giving him the full amount he requested for homeland security.

The President's comments and existing Congressional support for homeland defense funds will strengthen our chances to add homeland defense monies to the funds being appropriated next month for the war. A strategy on the supplemental appropriations is being developed and we will be contacting our members soon.

Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, at our Leadership Meeting last week, charged us to be ready to lobby for homeland defense monies. Mayors are united on the issue of securing homeland defense monies that has been promised. Cities have been carrying the load and will be asked to carry more as the states are forced to drastically cut local aid due to the economic crisis they face.

We will be unveiling our plans for strategic action soon.

Mayor Daley — Mrs. Richard J. Daley

Americans, mayors and Chicagoan citizens extend their thoughts to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley who lost his mother, Mrs. Richard J. Daley last week. Mrs. Daley came with her husband to many of our meetings. She served as first lady to the U. S. Conference of Mayors when Mayor Daley Sr., was our President. She also brought her children to our meetings and no doubt those experiences instilled the love that Mayor Daley shares for our organization today.

We also congratulate Mayor Daley for winning his 5th term as mayor of Chicago. His leadership and participation in our organization is greatly appreciated by all mayors and staff. So in sadness and happiness, we send our thoughts, hopes, prayers and thanks to Mayor Daley and his family for all they have done and for all we can count on them doing for cities and the American people as we go forward together.