GOP to Dems: Slow down on stimulus bill
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/12/30/gop.stimulus/art.mcconnell.gi.jpg caption="Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wants Congress to holds hearings on the stimulus package."]
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.
Congress creates the dept, Congress is controlled by democrats. Get your head out of the sand. Every policy created by democrats have failed.
So his solution to "more government spending, more bureaucrats and deeper deficits" is to stall solutions with red tape. Sort of the childlike, "If I can't win, then nobody can" mentality I've come to expect from McConnell over the years. Wish the Republicans would wise up and find someone more in step with the time to be their leader in the Senate.
The Republicans have absolutely NO right to question some Democrats on policy after the damage that conservative ideology and Republican policies have done to this country for the last eight years!
Frank- Yes because all of the hundreds of billions of dollars that the government has poured into these institutions has really paid off right? The economy and stock market have blossomed since then. Get a clue.
Cant we all get along? I dont pay taxes, but would love to take yours!
Gosh, I bet Barney Frank - The Banking Queen - isn't happy with this at all !!! Thanks, Barney, for the mess you created with Freddie and Fannie !!!!!
What is with the Republican Party.., are they 'out' of touch ? The American people are hurting and they 'don't want to help.. I have 'lost' all faith in the Republican Party and I believe.., that I am 'not' alone. This anti-President -elect Barack Obama 'song'.., (talk about racism..).. it's 'not' funny. Republican Party.., why don't you dig a bigger hole. . Your conservative TV and radio 'commentator's' are just making matters worse for the Republican Party.. People are really turned off. Mike in Montana
If the Republicans were smart they would keep their mouths shut and let Obama make his moves. If he is right the country will do well, if he is wrong they can pounce and say "See he has done nothing but waste you tax dollars, elect us to office."
I don't see what the big deal is from the Republicans, they didn't think twice to give a trillion dollards to the banks, so why cant the citizens of this country get a slice of the pie. By the way it was President Bush, a republican, who increased the size of gov't by 40% and the national debt to all time highs
So, let me guess, repubs want to continue wars and still cut taxes? We have tried that for 8 years and all of us are now paying 5 trillion dollars for that example of "trickle down" economics as administered by the moron and repubs!
Maybe those that voted republican can donate the Obama tax credit you will receive to the deficits that your vote caused and cover the cost of those of us who could see incompentence from the start.
And no, the shrub has NOT kept us safe, 9/11 happened 9 months into his term. He ignored the daily briefing on his desk in mid-August that was entitled bin Laden likely to strike because he was too busy cutting brush at his ranch in Crawford. Rice and he chose to ignore the Clinton briefings that she sat in during the transition.
But if it makes you feel better, you can pretend 9/11 was not on his watch, but reality and history will prove otherwise.
Build a useful transportation system nationwide which will reduce our oil dependency by 30% or better. Then drive a bunch of money into development of electric vehicles. Wipe out 90% of our oil needs and there's no more terrorism money (except for Israeli terrorists, who get money from us)
I agree. Republicans and Democrats aside, we must make sure that this package isn't wasting the American taxpayers money. The democrats have spend a ton of money thus far and it hasn't improved a thing.
so will this simple test about the stimulus creating jobs be anything like the simple test that should have happened to show that going to war with Iraq would have proven they had already created WMDs?
liberal say we can free healtcare...yes only for illegal alien but most people still buying liberal lier..sucker born every minute
"Republican Political Posturing Begins " That should be the title of this story. Trillions to kill people, and buy mega-mansions for friends, not one dime to feed people and refinance mortgages. For those who blame Barney Frank for the mortgage mess, think again. It was Bush and co. who injected sleaze and lies at every level of our country-rot always starts at the top, the banks and mortgage brokers just followed suit.
The Republicans are only upset because Obama said he'd veto any stimulus bill with pork added on....
Can't get your pet project funded – then drag your feet and look "official".
Time to step out of the way of getting this country back on track.
@Skip. . . . Stop lying! there is no black person name Skip. I'm black myself and I never heard of it. Your someone trying to stir up outrage.
What is wrong with you people! We cry about not having job, or losing jobs and now someone has proposed a solution and you slap it back in their face... That is called being ungratful. What is wrong with us? We want everything or nothing at all. You want them to fix our problem, but you don't want to sacrafice with them to reslove the problem. That's called being spoiled. Wake up...this is real life, not a fairytale!
you mean, after the republicans offered WELFARE giveaways to the financial and auto markets?.....wooooooowwww!!!!
Why not rush into a stimulus of one trillion dollars; oh I remember the U.S. Federal (big Brother) Government is already in debt to the tune of nearly 60 trillion dollars!
And to all of you posters who Blame the GOP for this mess, your argument is counter productive, there is no difference between the two major parties, both have been in power for the last 70 years, both have ignored the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law set down by the founding fathers, so either roll up your sleeves and get to work, or keep quiet, so we can save our Freedom and Liberty!
And because this bailout is for main street and sponsored by Dems, and the one for 700 billion was for Wall Street and submitted by the repubs and Bush, NOW the repubs want it to go slowly and NOW the repubs are interested in fiscal responsiblity.
What hypocrites!
The GOP is the party of obstructionists. They rather see the country go down the tubes than see a successful Democratic administration.
That's like telling the paramedic to think long and hard before he uses a defibrilator on the heart attack patient.
Maybe there's a new invention that doesn't use as much electricity.
lois December 30th, 2008 3:46 pm ET
liberal say we can free healtcare…yes only for illegal alien but most people still buying liberal lier..sucker born every minute
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Most of those suckers voted for Bush – TWICE!
Republicans would rather have this county's economy collapse than allow Obama to turn it around.
Republicans trashed America to begin with, and now want to allow America to burn down to the ground to prevent a new beginning under a Democrat administration.
Mitch McConnel is scum, he is a traitor to and shows hatred of, Jefferson's America.