Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
In Washington this past week I saw John Hoeven, an old college buddy--and the new junior senator from North Dakota.
Before running for the Senate, Sen. Hoeven spent a decade as governor of his state, a position in which he both increased funding for education and cut business taxes, attracting new jobs to the state. When he stepped down last December, North Dakota was running a surplus of $600 million. Eight weeks into his new job in the Senate, how does he find Washington? "We borrow 40 cents of every dollar we spend," Sen. Hoeven told me, shaking his head.
The day we spoke, the House had passed a stopgap measure to get the government through the next two weeks, cutting $4 billion from the budget for those 14 days. (The next day, the Senate approved the measure and President Obama signed it into law.) "Cutting $4 billion for two weeks sounds pretty good," Sen. Hoeven said, "but only at first. Then you realize that over those two weeks the deficit will still grow by $38 billion."
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Jul '10
Re: Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
A surplus of $600 million?
Will that be returned to the taxpayers?
May '10
Re: Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
Peter: Please tell Sen. Hoeven that next time he's in town I'd be happy to take a better portrait for him.
Nov '10
Re: Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
Excelsior to you, Mr. Hoeven. We'll evaluate your words at the end of your term. Make us proud, OK?
Oct '10
Re: Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
The Republicans caved again.
Pragamatism: Liberals - two steps left; Republicans - one step left. Rinse and repeat.
Jun '10
Re: Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
"Cutting $4 billion for two weeks sounds pretty good," Sen. Hoeven said, "but only at first. Then you realize that over those two weeks the deficit will still grow by $38 billion."
Unbelievable!.
Sep '10
Re: Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
"Cutting $4 billion for two weeks sounds pretty good," Sen. Hoeven said, "but only at first. Then you realize that over those two weeks the deficit will still grow by $38 billion."
That's like giving an 800 lb bedridden man a double beef whopper with cheese, large fries, onion rings and a chocolate shake but refusing him the slice of apple pie.
Jan '11
Re: Mr. Hoeven Goes to Washington
He increased education funding in North Dakota?
Folks, I think that we've got another "weak sister" here, someone already attuned to the siren song of "investments in education" which have turned out oh-so-well for both the American taxpayer and our children over the last 30 years.
I know that you don't believe this, Peter, but the next great American President will be easy to recognize. He will be the one smiling broadly for the cameras in the empty lot where the imploded Department of Education building used to stand.
He will be spreading salt on the grounds.