Sunday, March 14, 2010

DC wants SD to go in the red to get Medicare funds?

Wait on Washington puts S.D. budget on hold argusleader.com Argus Leader

Balanced-budget states don't get extra benefits

Gov. Mike Rounds said Friday the latest estimates from the Senate bill would mean an additional $28 million to $34 million for the state to use in next year's budget.

But the news was accompanied by the sometimes-strange logic from Washington. If lawmakers actually went ahead and balanced the budget with cuts, Rounds said the state wouldn't qualify for the extra money. Use reserve funds, however, and the state would qualify.

"I have no way to go to the federal government and certify we need the money, because we've proven that we don't, we can just make cuts," Rounds said.

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