State Auditor David Vaudt would turn down a portion of Iowa’s $1.9 billion share of the federal stimulus money if he were governor, the West Des Moines Republican told Douglas Burns of Iowa Political Alert Thursday.

Vaudt has joined a group of conservatives around the country who say their states should decline some of the federal money, including Lousiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Vaudt didn’t cite specific programs or dollar amounts, but he did say a short-term gain should not be allowed to create a huge bureaucracy down the road.

“I would sort through each piece of the stimulus package and try and say ‘where does it fit Iowa the most,’” [Vaudt] said.

Even if governors turn down money, the economic recovery law includes a provision allowing state legislatures to override governors.

Vaudt has said publicly that he is considering a run for governor in 2010. While his conservative bonafides on economic policy have been well documented, his views on social issues are less well known. Vaudt told Burns that he has “standard” conservative positions on social issues, including being anti-abortion. But he would make exceptions for rape and when the life of the mother is in jeopardy.