Last Friday we were treated to the sight of Republicans self-righteously opposing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as one after another, they denounced a non-existent mouse earmark.
And today the White House has released "state-specific details on the local impact" the bill will have across the nation.
So let's take a moment to remember that while Republicans were taking to the floor to rail against imaginary marsh mice, Democrats were taking action to jump start the economy, even for the luckless constituents of the rodent-obsessed. A few examples:
John Boehner (OH-08)
When you look at some of the spending in this bill, it will do nothing about creating jobs in America. Tell me spending $50 million for a mouse in San Francisco is going to help a struggling auto worker in Ohio?
Impact for OH-08: 7,400 jobs
Rep. Jack Kingston (GA-01)
Meanwhile out in San Francisco a rat is going to get $30 million in the so-called stimulus bill. Apparently it's a full employment bill for rats in the San Francisco Bay area ... Wait a minute. I just thought about it. That's why it's called a stimulus bill. It stimulates rats' activities so we can grow more rat families out in San Francisco.
Impact for GA-01: 7,500 jobs
Rep. Dan Lungren (CA-03)
When I look at this stimulus package and learn it has $30 million to protect the San Francisco marsh mice, I have to ask, is that becoming more French or is that just becoming more absurd?
Impact for CA-03: 7,600 jobs
Mike Rogers (MI-08)
They say there's no mouse in this bill. But there is, sir ... they will spend money on the salt marsh habitat for the mouse in San Francisco. Certainly the Speaker's getting her cheese, but people in Michigan are waiting for theirs.
Cheese for MI-08: 8,000 jobs
Tom Price (GA-06)
We found $30 million for mice. Got $30 million for mice. You can't be serious. What a joke. $30 million for mice. Does that create jobs?
Impact for GA-06: 9,200 jobs
And yes, Senate Republicans got in on the (I can't believe what I'm about to type) lie about the mouse too:
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
And they're increasing spending to save a mouse in San Francisco that might be endangered.
Impact for Texas: 269,000 jobs
Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN)
We know that in the bill there's $50 million to save red bellied mice in San Francisco, something Speaker Pelosi has supported.
Impact for Tennessee: 71,000 jobs
This is today's Republican Party at work. Of course they can afford to rant about imaginary rodents ... they have a job. For now.