Georgia Republicans (fill in insult here) against stimulus bill

[marmar]

from the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:



Georgia Republicans against stimulus bill
By JAMIE GUMBRECHT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Saturday, January 24, 2009


A federal economic stimulus package that could help balance the state budget and create jobs in Georgia won’t have the support of Atlanta-area Republicans in Congress.

While they agree the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill could ease state budget problems, local Republican congressmen argue the stimulus package isn’t good for Georgia or the economy in the long run.

“Everybody likes to get gifts,” said U.S. Rep. John Linder, a Republican from Duluth. “Somebody has to pay for them.”

Linder said his constituents are tired of bailouts and aren’t pressuring him to vote for the bill. He tells callers the package will pass, but not with his vote. The federal government is in worse shape than state governments, he said, and it has no business balancing their budgets. He argues there’s no guarantee the package would create “even one job,” and a better plan would cut taxes and help small businesses build a stable future.

Rep. Tom Price, a Roswell Republican, is pushing for more tax cuts and credits, too.

“We’re going to take money from Georgians, wash it through Washington, take off some of the money Georgians sent to Washington and then allow Georgians to have some of that money back,” Price said. “It absolutely makes no sense.” ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/01/24/stimulus_georgia_republicans.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

[KharmaTrain]

1. More Domestic Spending = Less For Contractors

I honestly believe these dirt bags can only see the economy through the eyes of corporations and contractors...as if those are the only people who create jobs and wealth. Of course these contractors throw a lot of money at these doofuses and when you're in the minority, keeping the money pipeline open means a hell of a lot more than doing what's really right for constituents.

Tax cuts mean jack when there are fewer people making money. Duh.

[Belial]

2. There is no simple answer to this issue.. I think we can all

agree on that. One thing for sure is that last time they ran the bailout through.. more and more people are against it. The area I have some concern with is the job creation factor. I might have missed it, but I have not seen how this stimulus package is going to be a BIG job creator. I have picked up on the subtle change in verbage coming from the WH regarding this. First it was all about creating new jobs.. now its about SAVING jobs. How the heck do you measure that? LOL

[KharmaTrain]

4. And There's No Quick Answers Either...

I think the biggest objection most have against TARP and how the "bailout" has gone so far is the lack of accountability. Now we're finding out it went to redecorate bathrooms and pay out big bonuses. No surprise, and I opposed the way the first phase of this bailout was done in allowing Paulsen a blank check. It was obvious he who he was working for...and we didn't hear a peep about any type of investigation or regulation.

Here's the rub...the problem has gotten so deep that there's neither one fix or a quick one. And right now you have the tug of immediate need vs. long term recovery. Throwing money into infrastructure and to state governments will help stimulate many local economies by redirecting money that used to go into trade construction into public sector ones. Now one may see this as trying to save jobs, but in the long run it could provide the incomes that fuel a recovery. Again...it's all perspective.

Cheers...

[Belial]

3. removed.. duplicate post.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

5. I bet if Obama was an Republican, they would jump for joy for some stimulus.

n/t