Governors across the nation must be in control of their budgets and not rely on the federal government to bail them out.  Most of the states that are in financial trouble are run by Democrats who have a very liberal and social agenda.  They spend money on very liberal union contracts, social programs, and support illegal immigrants.  They need to focus on the mission of the state government and do those functions that contribute to public safety and local government functions.

Governors hamstrung by the sluggish economic rebound in their states and bound to balance their own budgets are pressing anew for Washington to step up with more help, some say even if it means adding to the nation's red ink.  We do not want the federal government to borrow more money from China to bail out irresponsible states.

Republicans and Democrats alike wrestled with how to capitalize on a fledgling rebound as they talked dollars and sense at their summer meeting just days into a new state budget year and as the economy shapes dozens of gubernatorial races across the country.

"All states still are facing tough fiscal situations even though I do believe we're in recovery," said West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat who's taking over as chairman of the National Governors Association.

Added Gov. Jim Douglas, R-Vt., the outgoing chairman: "Governors have done what is necessary to get through this" — repeatedly cutting budgets, restructuring government, laying off workers and draining rainy day funds.

But both men said states can't continue to climb out of the recession alone, and the NGA renewed its bipartisan appeal for Congress to pass stalled jobs legislation that includes billions of dollars in aid to states.  The money the federal government has spent has not added jobs to the economy due to the administration's socialist policies.

Just days before the new budget year began in states July 1, the House and Senate failed to complete legislation that would have extended, through June 2011, important parts of the federal stimulus program enacted last year to provide unemployment insurance and help offset recession-driven cuts to education, health care and public safety.

The measure offered $35.5 billion for unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and $16 billion for Medicaid, the public health care program for the poor. It also would have added an estimated $33 billion to the deficit.  This money is not needed. 

Bank loans to small business and business-friendly polices are needed.  Control of state and the federal budgets are now required.