The U.S. Senate today moved ahead on a $26 billion bail-out of the states, avoiding big job cuts in the public sector. In celebration, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., trotted out his favorite campaign theme: it’s about the kids.

“I think what this bill is a reminder of is that even when we’re going through these incredibly trying times, that it’s our obligation as a generation to make sure that we provide more opportunity, not less, to our kids and grandkids,” said Bennet.

And how is the bail-out paid for?

More than $11 billion comes “from cutting food stamp funding in 2014…,” reported The Huffington Post. “Democrats told HuffPost they will work to prevent the food stamp cuts from ever taking effect.”

Hmmm. Sounds like kick the can down the road. The states are becoming WAY too reliant on the federal government for funding, and end up careening from budget crisis to crisis.

“Washington needs to take care of its own fiscal mess, not deepen it by bailing out the states,” said Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, The New York Times reported.

One solution? “It’s time to shift spending to states,” was the headline of a Politico opinion piece by Jeffrey Miron of the Cato Institute, referring specifically to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

If not, we’re going to see more of this…