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My problem with the current Republicans in Washington the last few years has been this: they’ve seemingly tried as hard as they can to be Democrat-lite. They pay lip service to conservative principles, but bend over backwards to help Democrats get whatever they want. All a Democrat has to do to get one of our GOP weenies on their side was point a finger and say “PARTISAN!”, and the GOP weenie will jump up and down to prove how “bipartisan” they are, even if it means selling out their principles. Democrats in Washington have no principles; Republicans have no spines.
There have been brief flashes of strength among the GOP over the past year; the “Drill Baby Drill” house revolt immediately comes to mind. And yesterday, House Republicans remembered their principles and voted uniformly NO against the wasteful, pork-laden “stimulus” bill.
The House of Representatives approved an $819 billion economic stimulus package Wednesday, dealing the new Obama administration a legislative victory but also giving Republicans a chance to show their resolve as the opposition party.
The final vote was 244-188, mostly along party lines. All Republicans who were present voted against the bill. They were joined in their opposition by 11 Democrats.
Here is the official roll call, if you’re interested.
This bill will be horrible for the United States. And yes, it passed anyways. But the House GOP sent a powerful message, and this is now officially the Democrats’ baby. Throwing money into a recession has never helped the economy before (hello, FDR, I’m talking to you), and this bill isn’t really even designed to stimulate the economy. It’s loaded with pork and wasteful spending that, if passed, our children — maybe even our grandchildren — will be the ones paying it off. This is $825 billion of borrowed money, and it will do absolutely nothing to help the economy. Zip, zero, nada.
So, big high fives all around to the House GOP. We’ve been hard on them the past few years, but perhaps they’re finally remembering their principles. Let’s hope the Senate GOP follows their lead. The bill will likely pass anyway, but if it’s a bill that no Republicans voted for, at least that’ll be a little plus.
I R A Darth Aggie says: Maybe we can shell out and get them tattos on their fingers that spell out
HOLD FAST
NB says: Bout time but bravo to the GOP. Hopefully it gets killed altogether in the Senate though. And I also find it scary that, where the House is concerned, every republican can oppose an issue and it passes anyway.
baz says: Reagan funneled a stimulus package in the form of massive defense contracts (I’m not arguing the importance, simply the nature of it). Obama wants to use civil engineering contracts, and the GOP got most of the tax cuts they wanted.
Personally, I think infrastructure spending offers a better ROI than defense spending (we have something durable at the end of it, such as roads and electrical grids) and most economists say that it will put $1.50 back into the economy for every dollar spent, versus $.75 per dollar of lost revenue going back into the economy with tax cuts.
Oh, and that whole meme about tax cuts increasing revenue? Totally untrue. There’s not a single credible study that shows that. GAO reports show exactly the opposite.
Cylar says: Throwing money into a recession has never helped the economy before (hello, FDR, I’m talking to you), and this bill isn’t really even designed to stimulate the economy.
FDR is dead, honey. Has been for some time. He can’t hear you.
Shh! Don’t tell Obama, though. I don’t think anyone has been able to break the news to him.
Cylar says: Reagan funneled a stimulus package in the form of massive defense contracts (I’m not arguing the importance, simply the nature of it).
WTF? You’re calling an increase in defense spending (triggered by the need to protect ourselves against possible Soviet aggression) a “stimulus?” Good golly, you’re a tool.
Reagan’s stimulus (coming on the heels of the disastrous Carter years) consisted of an across-the-board tax cut. He got government out of the way and the economy grew like magic.
Obama wants to use civil engineering contracts…
…which are all temporary make-work jobs which won’t do a damn thing to put people back to work permanently…
…and the GOP got most of the tax cuts they wanted.
Sure they did.
Personally, I think infrastructure spending offers a better ROI than defense spending (we have something durable at the end of it, such as roads and electrical grids)…
Personally, I think you’re a frackin’ idiot, but never mind…
and most economists say that it will put $1.50 back into the economy for every dollar spent, versus $.75 per dollar of lost revenue going back into the economy with tax cuts.
Oh, I’d just love to see your sources for this steaming pile. “Most economists?” Seriously? Even the ones like Thomas Sowell, who, you know, have actually studied economics?
And don’t come back with that “do your own research” stuff, either. I’m not spending my time scouring the Internet looking for material which undermines my position. That’s your job.
Oh, and that whole meme about tax cuts increasing revenue? Totally untrue. There’s not a single credible study that shows that. GAO reports show exactly the opposite.
Oh, and that whole meme about deficit spending increasing revenue? Totally untrue. There’s not a single credible study that shows that. GAO reports show exactly the opposite.
There, fixed that for you.
(Yes, they do..and I defy you to show me undoctored, unbiased, all-pertinent-facts-included “GAO reports” that actually say what you claim they do.)
Now go play somewhere else, moonbat.
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