WASHINGTON (CNN) - Top congressional Republicans cautioned Democrats not to rush through a massive stimulus package that lawmakers hope to send to President-elect Barack Obama shortly after he takes office next month.
A House Democratic leadership aide told CNN on Tuesday that Congress will likely take up a stimulus bill the second week of January.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said the Congress must prove to taxpayers that the stimulus bill, which some economists suggest could amount to $1 trillion, "is not wasting their money."
"We should have a simple test: will the yet-unwritten, reportedly trillion-dollar spending bill really create jobs and grow the economy - or will it simply create more government spending, more bureaucrats and deeper deficits?" McConnell said in a statement Monday.
McConnell's $1 trillion figure for the stimulus bill may be an overestimate, however.
From CNN Politics
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Bush Begone,
If you want to keep pretending Bin Laden was offered over to Clinton twice during his Presidency and he declined to take him, go right ahead. He apparently was too busy with other things, if you know what I mean.
Dems,
Shut up. You won. You control everything. It doesn't matter what we republicans say or do. You can now push your agenda anyway you want it.
Note to McConnell and the GOP....we've been waiting for 8 years...you are even more out of touch than it seems if you think we are going to wait to solve the nation's problems any longer. It's time for a Revolution and the GOP will find itself shortly in the dust bin of history.
Leave it to good ole Mitch to telegraph that he and the GOP intend to do what they do best. Gum up the works. If it isn't their idea, on their terms then they will just see to it that nothing gets done and no one gets credit for trying to fix the problems of this country.
Remember Mitch, you almost lost this election, next time you might not be so lucky.
The idea of doing away with political parties might not be so bad. After all it was George Washington who said that political parties would be the death of this country. Because politicians wouldn't be sure which to be loyal to first, country or party.
The GOP Telling the Democrats how to spend Goverment money hahaha,HAHAHA LOLO After the Republicans blew up the National debt to Trillions hahahaah lolo sorry i cant stop laughing hahahah lolo hahahahaha
PRESIDENT CLINTON -SURPLUS
PRESIDENT BUSH HIGHEST NATIONAL DEBT IN HISTORY HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHLOLOAHAHAHAHA
I'm in complete agreement with McConnell, however, this is exactly the same position of President Obama. We all are in complete agreement on the left and right. We don't want the money to go to some corrupt project, we all want it to do something worthwhile, while providing jobs and putting money into the hands of consumers. McConnell is right for agreeing with President Obama's philosophy here.
The Republicans don't seem interested in helping the average American lately, they oppose everything the new administration is trying to do instead of trying something. So far, I haven't heard one idea from them.
By the way, it's nice to see that government is back. It's been absent from decades.
Hhhhmmmph !
The GOP was in a hurry to GIVE wallstreet a bunch of money with no accountability attached. I don't think they have any room to give advice at this time.
It's about time these republicans spoke up about government spending. Where have they been for the past eight years?
The members of the US Congress are grossly overpaid.
Too bad this guy wasn't as tuned in and concerned while Bush was driving our country into a financial ditch...these "Repug-licans" were fine with throwing money everywhere when they were in the driver's seat – they disgust me. I'd love to know how Senator McConnell voted on "the bridge to nowhere" bill or a thousand others that wasted taxpayer money!
Laverne December 30th, 2008 3:16 pm ET
Oh please McConnell like you have a better idea. Republicans create problems, Democrats solve problems!
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You are an idiot. The only way to look at it is that Politicians cause problems, end of story. Doesnt matter left or right, they both have failed.
Praetorian, Fort Myers December 30th, 2008 3:27 pm ET
Oh NOW…they worry about wasting money!!!!
Give me a break. Over the past 8 yrs of GOP rule–congress not only wasted 20 fortunes–but completely diregarded their jobs of oversight and regulation–right along with George.
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the democrats have had congress for a few years now, what has changed....nothing
"We should have a simple test: will the yet-unwritten, reportedly trillion-dollar spending bill really create jobs and grow the economy — or will it simply create more government spending, more bureaucrats and deeper deficits?"
C'mon you guys! Quit with the spending!!
Oh, brb, gotta go spend 400 Billion blowing up Iraq. Hold on....
How about you guys come up with an idea?
What a slug.
Economy in crisis, needs help now, but this poindexter wants to slow things down and not be too hasty in providing immediate help. Clown.
hozo1 December 30th, 2008 3:23 pm ET
Why didn't McConnell ask that same question when he rushed through the bailout … er handout to the banks … oh yes, he gets lobbyist money!!!
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er...democrat congress! Why didnt they, what democrats dont take lobbyist money.....you drank the kool aid
. . . . YET ANOTHER OLD, RICH, WHITE, MAN FROM THE SOUTH
TELLING US WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY. . .
I am so fed up.
The Republicans will be our doom.
For McConnell, or any other Republican, to say he's worried about deficits and wasting money is laughable. What he's doing is trying to position the Republicans to be seen as "watchdogs," rather than the obstructionists that some have already publicly committed to being. If stimulus is to be of any use at all, it must come quickly, even at the risk of costing too much. Get a clue, Mitch!
Typical Idiot Republicans I guess not enough Americans are Homeless and Hungry yet. It's time for all Republicans to return to the South and marry their brother and sisters. 8 years of these Idiots have taken a toll on me.
The GOP has put us in this mess, the debt this country is in is because of the Republican President..........you all want to keep spending the 10 billion a month in Iraq but you don't want a stimulas that will help the american people? Republicans you have know Idea how to run a country, the last 8 years has proved that and now you want to tell Obama how to run this country........take a hike........
Mitch is right Southern Hottie, will they let us secede this time before they give all of our money to the unions and welfare frauds.
I have to laugh at any and every Republican who is trying at this late hour to pu the brakes on spending. Sure, if it kills people or funds defense industry contractors they're all for it, but god forbid Democrats spend money trying to make the country better.
And yeah, it's easy to blast a polar bear habitat (in 20 years, where else will our kids be able to see them at?) or a water slide, but realize that those are things that will both create jobs and generate revenue. The average cost of a single GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb is about $90,000 and the cost of a JDAM guided bomb (GBU-31 model) is about $70k. The cost of an F-22 Raptor, which we're buying 20 of a year, is $137.5 million. I think Republicans can spare some change to repair US infrastructure instead of destroying infrastructure in other countries.
Push the bill. Republicans are the ones who screwed up the economy with all their deregulation and now they want to give advice to Democrats?!?!?!?! The Minority Leader has the audacity to even utter economy or stimulus out of his mouth.