May 8, 2020
Washington, DC
As Congress considers additional relief efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis, conservatives are firmly opposed to the inclusion of federally funded bailouts for states and local governments.
Federal aid has been primarily targeted toward individuals, businesses, and hospitals struggling due to the public health mitigation efforts designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. States have also received aid in the form of Medicaid coverage for tests and vaccines, unemployment insurance, and more than $200 billion in direct support for unforeseen expenses.
Unrestricted funding on top of this raises significant concerns based on how states have handled such infusions of federal money in the past. Rather than going to address critical areas of need related to previous crises, states have used those funds to expand existing programs beyond sustainable levels and then to underfund them, in hopes of more federal support. Areas of actual need fail to be addressed as a result.
This is particularly true when it comes to states with already underfunded pension and health care benefit shortfalls. The federal share of state budgets has already increased to 32 percent; an additional infusion of unrestricted money will open the door to even more demand for future bailouts.
Moreover, not all states are identical. Some states have responsibly managed their finances in preparation for a crisis. Others have not. A federally funded state bailout would reward the reckless states while punishing the prudent ones.
Finally, bailouts of this nature threaten the fundamentally American principle of federalism, which allows states to decide for themselves how they will manage in a crisis. This requires the forward thinking and preparation that a government bailout would only disincentivize, while at the same time putting American taxpayers on the hook for poor decision making. This expansion of federal welfare to states will not serve the interests of a country that relies upon diverse and robust state economies.
As Congress contemplates a future relief package, we urge them to reject state and local government cash bailouts in favor of policies which give states the flexibility to address the crisis according to the needs of their state – including providing relief from onerous regulations, unfunded federal mandates, and policies which stifle economic growth.
| Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project Chairman, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
Tom McClusky President March for Life Action |
| Jessica Anderson Executive Director Heritage Action for America |
Mary Vought Executive Director Senate Conservatives Fund |
| Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Partner Foley & Lardner LLP |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
| The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
Scott T. Parkinson VP for Government Affairs Club for Growth |
| The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. President and CEO, First Liberty Institute |
| L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
| Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council |
Ginni Thomas President Liberty Consulting, Inc. |
| The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) |
The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
| Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Conservative Partnership Institute |
The Honorable Donald Paul Hodel U.S. Secretary of Energy (1982-1985) U.S. Secretary of Interior (1985-1989) |
| The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
William L. Walton President Council for National Policy |
| The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
Noah Wall Vice President of Advocacy FreedomWorks |
| The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
The Honorable Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union (ACU) |
| The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
David Bozell President ForAmerica |
| Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
| Mat Staver Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel |
Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
| The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan (1985-1989) |
Charlie Copeland President Intercollegiate Studies Institute |
| Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
The Honorable Scott Walker President-Elect Young America’s Foundation |
| Eunie Smith President Eagle Forum |
Lewis K. Uhler President National Tax Limitation Committee |
| Jim Backlin Vice President of Legislative Affairs Christian Coalition of America |
Norm Singleton President Campaign for Liberty |
| Richard H. Wright Owner R & S LLC |
Matthew Tyrmand Principle Matthew Tyrmand LLC |
| Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fund |
Khadine Ritter President Eagle Forum of Ohio |
| Charlie Gerow Vice Chairman American Conservative Union |
Sal Russo Co-Founder and Chief Strategist Tea Party Express |
| Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Founder and CEO CorsiNation.com |
Tom DeWeese President American Policy Center |
| The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
Terrence Scanlon Retired Chairman and President Capital Research Center 1994-2016 |
| Marlin Sharp Field Director STAND Foundation, Inc. |
Melissa Kaye Ortiz Blogger/Admin DCBelleonWheels.com |
| Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
Sheryl Kaufman Corporate Chief Economist, Retired Phillips Petroleum Company |
| Karen England Executive Director Nevada Family Alliance & Capitol Resource Institute |
Jeremy Cerone CEO EliteSafe Inc. |
| Grace-Marie Turner President Galen Institute |
Kielle C. Horton President The Lindsey Foundation |
| Marc Little Chair Center for Urban Renewal and Education |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| Seton Motley President Less Government |
Martha Boneta President Vote America First |
| Eric Georgatos Executive Producer America Can We Talk? |
Andresen Blom President Hawaiian Values |
| Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Automotive Group |
The Honorable Penny Pullen Former Assistant GOP Leader Illinois House of Representatives |
| Bobbie Patray President Tennessee Eagle Forum |
Paul Gessing President Rio Grande Foundation |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Tim LeFever Chairman Capitol Resource Institute |
| Gary Marx President The Concord Fund |
Richard Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
| Penna Dexter Co-host Point of View Radio |
Joseph A. Morris Partner, Morris & De La Rosa Former Assistant U.S. Attorney General (Reagan / Meese) |
| Cindi Castilla President Texas Eagle Forum |
William Haygood Shaker CEO Washington Marketing Group |
| The Honorable Somers H. White Former Arizona State Senator |
Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
| Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch (1999-2016) |
The Honorable Mike Hill Representative Florida State House |
| Jay Mount President MDS Communications |
James L. Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
| Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
Trent England Executive Director Save Our States |
| Donna Hearne CEO Constitutional Coalition |
Richard Norman Founder and President The Richard Norman Company |
| Richard D. Hayes Partner Hayes Berry White & Vanzant LLP |
Judson Phillips Founder Tea Party Nation |
| Willes Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
Susan A. Carleson Chairman/CEO Carleson Center for Welfare Reform |
| The Honorable Peter Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
Caroline Lewis Owner Percipio Communications |
| Lori Roman President American Constitutional Rights Union |
Dr. Richard Rounsavelle Trustee Media Research Center |
| Randy M. Long Founder Long Business Advisors, LLC |
William W. Pascoe, III Board Member Tea Party Patriots Action |
| Frank J. Gaffney Executive Chairman Center for Security Policy |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| Jeff Hunt Director Centennial Institute |
Rob Gluskin Managing Partner Gluskin Investment Partners |
| William Mills President MPW Properties |
Barry Meguiar President Ignite America |
| Dr. Richard Lee President There’s Hope America |
Chad Connelly President Faith Wins |
| Doug Badger Senior Fellow Galen Institute |
Amapola Hansberger President Legal Immigrants for America |
| Tim Macy Chairman Gun Owners of America |
Kathleen Patten President & CEO American Target Advertising |
| The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
E.C. Sykes General Partner Aslan Ventures |
| Mark Fitzgibbons President of Corporate Affairs American Target Advertising |
Eaton Hopkins President Liberty Surgical, Inc. |
| Ed Martin President Phyllis Schlafly Eagles |
Cindy Honcoop State Director Washington Eagle Forum |
All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
