The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (that's the real name, not "stimulus bill" that everyone insists on) got not a single Republican vote in the House.
However, they're singing a different tune now that there's money to be had for their districts. As reported by Ryan Grim on HuffingtonPost, here's what Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), who voted against the bill, says now:
"Within the stimulus package there is some Pell Grant money, which is a good thing. It helps students be able to pay for their education and that's kind of a long term stimulus effect there. I mean obviously that's not gonna provide a job in the next 120, 180 days, but the ability of someone to get an education is an economic development tool," Luetkemeyer said at a local college. He was there, in another inside-outside Washington twist, to celebrate an earmark for a college building.He lamented that there would be far fewer such earmarks in the future. "If they go back to the rules, it will make it very difficult to get earmarks through the next two years because number one we don't have any more money, we just blew it all on this stimulus package. . . ."
Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said . . . that Republicans did support a stimulus in general, just not the one Democrats presented to them. . . [which included] absurd pork-barrel spending projects."
"Republicans stood willing and ready to support commonsense measures in the stimulus package . . . Republicans said 'yes' to a true stimulus package, but unanimously said 'no' to putting the politics of pork before the needs of the middle class," said Spain.
Rep. Don Young (R-AK) put out a press release saying that he "won a victory for the Alaska Native contracting program and other Alaska small business owners last night in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."
Let's get this straight. Don Young won a victory for programs in Alaska by voting AGAINST the bill? How did he manage that sleight of hand? And Blaine Luetkemeyer celebrates one earmark and laments there won't be more -- but dismisses the infrastructure investments actually in the bill?
OK, try this out. An "earmark" for a college building (which Luetkemeyer takes credit for) is good and there should be more; but the Recovery bill was bad because it is full of "pork" for things like school construction. But part of the bill was good because it increased Pell Grants to college students; but the bill was bad anyway, because the Congressman didn't get to choose his pet spending projects.
See, if it's in a Republican bill, it's a worthy earmark project for their districts; if it's in a Democratic bill, it's an "absurd pork barrel project."
Call it whatever you like, the American people will decide who deserves their votes in November 2010.
Ralph
Some Republican governors (Jindal (LA), Sanford (SC) and others) have made news by claiming they "may not" take the stimulus money; then backed off and talked about scrutinizing it to make sure there aren't any federal strings attached.
ReplyDeleteNow ultraconservative Gov. Sanford of SC has now said that being opposed to the plan "doesn't preclude taking the money."
What a circus, watching these clowns bob and weave, trying to lay down political markers while grabbing any available money, regardless of their principles.
James Boyce and Paul Adams of HuffingtonPost have comes up with a scheme to call John Boehner's bluff. The House Minority Leader is all over TV trashing the recovery plan, saying how it won't create jobs, is "just spending," etc.
ReplyDeleteBoyce and Adams propose an amendment to the plan, which will strip any funds from the bill that would go to Boehner's district. All Democrats would pledge to vote yes or no on the bill exactly as Boehner does himself.
So, if he votes for the amendment, it passes and his district gets no money. If he votes against it, he's in effect voting for the plan, and his district gets money.
A clever stunt that won't happen. But it makes the point well.
At least one Republican governor is holding to his principles by rejecting $90 billion that Louisiana is set to receive from the recovery bill to benefit the unemployed.
ReplyDeleteHe has said that it would result in increased taxes for businesses.
Well, now we know where he intends to focus his campaign for president in 2012, when he is widely expected to run. I'm guessing that he sees Sarah Palin as his main competition for the conservative vote. But, if I know Sarah, she's won't turn down any money for her state, even if it does come courtesy of the Democrats.