As far as this old "with-holding federal funds" thing goes, I wish people here in MT could see straight on this issue.
One of the reasons a western state like MT gets so much federal money, is that the feral govt owns so much of the property here: national forests, parks, and BLM land. If that land was private and the owners paying taxes, the fed money wouldn't look so good. Or better yet, if those public lands were state managed, then the state could be getting the mineral, grazing, and timber revenue from it. The state could manage those lands a lot better than the feds, IMO.
And hiway money ... well, the interstate system was conceived by Ike for purposes of moving troops and war supplies across country. So... let them withhold "their" money and let the interstates run down
Plus those missle silos: more expensive facilities upon which no property tax is being paid
This isn't very popular, because I know a lot of ranchers who get a lot of federal money (CRP and other stuff) but I also know some who have never taken a dime since they homesteaded the land, and are proud of it. The funny thing is that those independent folks are actually better off financially -as in they own their place free and clear and have no debt. They know what works and what doesn't, and they do what works instead of what doesn't. They may drive older cars and pickups, and their equipment has a little gray hair, but they own everything they have, and have some money in the bank besides.
I'm not saying it won't get worse before it gets better, because it certainly would (heck, it might even get worse before it gets worse). Kind of like moving out of your parents' house and out on your own.
We either have to take a stand and stick with it, or get used to being told what to do by Komrades Bush, and Clinton, and Bush, and Clinton .....