House Republican Leader, John Permatan Boehner, released a statment regarding the Stimulus Bill recently proposed by democrats (and a few republicans) in the Senate.
The list, which I reproduce below, offers an interesting lens through which the differences between Democrats and Republicans can be viewed. First and foremost, it reaffirms some fundamental, philosophical gaps between the right and left regarding the role of government. Equally significant, however, the list offers us all an opportunity to reconsider our own thinking on the stimulus and the programs therein.
Behold, Republican wisdom (h/t Halperin):
Boehner Release on Stimulus Bill
TRILLION-DOLLAR SENATE "COMPROMISE" WILL ONLY STIMULATE BIGGER GOVERNMENT, MORE DEBT
Quick facts about the "compromise" spending bill proposed in the U.S. Senate, compiled by the Office of House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) using information from Senate sources:
· Instead of making the dramatic changes needed to the proposed economic recovery legislation, the Democratic-controlled Senate has simply produced another trillion-dollar spending bill that won't work.
· The full price tag of the Senate "compromise" is $7 billion higher than the House-passed bill ($827 billion), totaling more than $1.2 trillion when interest costs are factored in.
· Rather than focusing on immediate job creation and fast-acting tax relief, the Senate "compromise" (like the House-passed bill) relies overwhelmingly on slow-moving and wasteful Washington spending on government programs and projects.
· The bill contains billions in taxpayer funding for renovations of federal office buildings, $300 million to provide new cars for government bureaucrats, $450 million for global warming research, a $40 billion slush fund for school construction, money for government supercomputers, $2.9 billion for home weatherization, and other expenditures.
· In its haste to spend taxpayer money, the bill is rife with potential for waste. For example, it contains $350 million to map the current condition of the nation's broadband network and to determine what areas need broadband. But it also contains $7 billion to begin constructing broadband infrastructure without any map or plan.
· Like the House-passed bill, the Senate "compromise" contains less tax relief than requested by President Obama, and will provide "tax rebates" to people who don't actually pay taxes. This is welfare, not tax relief.
· Like the House-passed bill, the Senate "compromise" creates new programs and funds existing programs that can be used for earmarks and pet projects.
Why is that when a republican calls money for schools a 'slush' fund and actually thinks that computer-based initiatives (supercomputers, broadband) are a bad thing...I am somehow drawn more closely into the stimulus's arms? Heaven forbid a stimulus package help attack poverty in the US (Boehner's 'welfare')...I mean if we could just get some more money into the hands of the wealthy - it would trickle (oh no i didnt...) down, right? And 'less tax relief'...well, shit, how are we gonna get this economy moving without tax relief? I mean, that is how the Bush Administration kept our economic ship afloat...oh wait....
Anyway, you gotta figure if Boehner and his spa buddies think that this bill sucks....based on their track-record - Obama and friends MUST be doing SOMETHING right.