To entice the states to agree, he is offering to spend A$10 billion of the commonwealth's money on the various schemes.
"But the funding of public hospitals is a state responsibility, so if the Commonwealth cuts money to the states that's tough, but the states are responsible for finding the necessary revenue, which they can do through a range of measures.
But the joint plan does involve a quid pro quo – states agreeing to making their own taxes more efficient and to longer term reforms before the commonwealth puts its money on the table.
The Queensland government in March asked the commonwealth for more money, saying it could not keep up its assessments of preschools because funding did not match the spike in the number of early childhood centres.
In the case brought by Martha Coakley, the Massachusetts attorney general, Judge Tauro found in 2010 that DOMA compels Massachusetts to discriminate against gay couples who are legally married under state law in order for the commonwealth to receive federal money for certain programs.
And, in the far more likely event that they didn't, he could say exactly what he has been saying all weekend: "Don't come to the commonwealth asking for more money when you weren't prepared to even think about putting taxes up yourselves … Now the ball is back in your court".
The situation of the Commonwealth forces, short of money and food, was difficult.
The commonwealth borrowed too much money trying to offset declining government revenue, and bonds were gobbled up by U.S. investors because the interest is often "triple tax exempt," or the holder does not have to pay city, state or federal income taxes.
Perhaps not surprisingly, given the money at stake, CommonWealth, whose ticker is CWH, has fought a vicious defense.
