Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) zings Republican's lack of cooperation on stimulus bill

[ColesCountyDem]

Costello hopeful for economic stimulus
BY CODELL RODRIGUEZ, The Southern
Friday, February 27, 2009 5:11 PM CST

HERRIN -- While he admits it’s not the stimulus bill he would have written, U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, remains hopeful the federal economic stimulus bill will affect the economy for the better.

Costello said at a press conference Friday in Herrin that he would have concentrated more on infrastructure than President Barack Obama’s plan.

“Is it the bill I would have written? No,” Costello said. “But it is a stimulus bill that will put people to work.”

However, he praised Obama for stepping up to the leadership role in government and not wavering. Costello voted for the stimulus bill and said he believes it will help put the economy on the right track.

“I have to give him an A-plus for stepping out and doing something,” Costello said.

Costello said he would have liked to have seen more bipartisan support for the bill, which received no Republican support in the House and limited Republican support in the Senate. He said he saw connections to the lack of support from Republicans when Franklin Roosevelt passed Social Security and when Lyndon Johnson passed Medicare.

On the flipside, he added, Ronald Reagan’s tax breaks received support from Democrats.

Costello said the critics of the stimulus bill were very quick to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to build roads and bridges in Iraq and now it is time to support the same thing in the United States.

ZIIIINNNGGGG!

:evilgrin:

[ColesCountyDem]

1. kick n/t