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.
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Mitch has got moxie,but a very poor memory! It's under his watch that we've doubled the Gross Nat'l. Debt (GND) in eight years from approx. $5.5 Tn. to $10.8 Tn! P-E Obama wants a Trillion Dollars or so over two years to right the country, but the Republicans forget that it takes approx. $250 Bn. just to pay the interest on our "GND" per year without a penny paying down the princple? That's correct,Mitch, go back to grade school with remedial math an take a crash course,...
I wish McConnell would just go with the flow. Why does everyone have to try to block something like this that is so vital for our people to get working again? In turn it would stimulate our economy,safer bridges,new and safer roads and highways,start new inovation in energy concervation ect.ect. THIS IS ALL POSITIVE STUFF ISN'T IT? Lets work together please!!!
Pat,
I would have to shoot myself.
I would be happy if pat would quit being so negative, PLEASE pat . I'm worrying about you blood pressure. Lets work together please 🙂
The GOP needs to grow up.
Investing in our infrastructure is a solid, productive, lasting blue collar way to grow our economy. GOP only knows the white collar way.
The banks got 350 billion and they still arent lending. We should have let all those banks fail and used the 700 billion to create brand new banks under brand new management with ridgid new rules and regulations.
It is time to make our own products right here in America. No more outsourcing or importing ( at least lets limit it) Make it balanced.
You cant buy American if we dont produce it in America
these last 8 years have destroyed our country, if help isn't given to the people so they can put back into the economy i see no future for the U.S, helping these big companies will do little to help the average american citizen, the jobs they will provide will only be a drop in the bucket, the problem is too big, every individual needs help. PLEASE HELP US.
Boy this is what I call coming together and working together solve America's problems.
The Dems are really showing how to work as a team.
Just plain old politics as usual only a different group with the most votes.
Really feel good about this new direction!
I am so sick of the way Government wastes our tax dollars. Key word is OUR they give themselves a 4% raise. Give me a break. Joe public out here is struggling paycheck to paycheck. Stop with all the Giveaways. The auto industry asked for a LOAN and they were humiliated and grilled in front of congress. The Banks and loan institutions , were given billions and billions with no questions asked. They still arent loaning money. My answer give the american people the tax payers back their money. I can guarentee the economy will boom. The idiots in washington cant trace billions of dollars in Irag or at home. They just misplaced it. We are tired of this crap. We want accountability, Just like we have to.
Is there anywhere on the CNN boards where people can have an honest discussion of the issues without being attacked by the liberal wackos, called names and have their characters questioned or is all of this just typical liberal behavior?
Let them go. They refuse to take responsibility for anything. Now they have a Democratic House, Senate and President. It is ALL their fault when the taxes go through the roof. Oh by the way, they are allowing the Bush tax cuts to expires. That's the first tax increase by the new administration. Here we go! Hang on to your wallets!
Read these posts. READ EM!!!
There is power in numbers and politicians know it! Can you not understand they ALL intend to keep us fighting amongst ourselves thereby completely crippling WE THE PEOPLE from being able to actually institute the changes in government neccessary to help US.?
"It's the DEMS!" "No, it's the PUBS!" It's ALL of them, America.
Wow. Just like dumb sheep, we follow them.
Republicans are so funny. Where was McConnell when Bush and the Republican congress was spending our money like crazy. And on what? We don't have anything to show for all the billions spent during the Bush Administration. At least Obama plans to rebuild America.
American Citizen to GOP :
Shut the hell up and get to the back of the bus. You've had your 8 years and have screwed up this nation to the point of implosion.
Now Shut up and let the adults fix the problems YOU HAVE CAUSED.
That's what got us into trouble to begin with !!! What needs to be slowed -down is.. unemployment, factory and store closures, housing depreciation. OKAY MR. SMART GUY....this all occurred during YOUR watch...what is your bright idea ???? You might check with Palin. This is where her MBA, Law Degree, and Economics background should be helpful ???? NOT. I hope Kentucky can afford 6 more years of your stalling and business as usual. DUDE YOU ARE RUINING OUR COUNTRY !!! Stop trying to run this country from a third world state...you have NO RIGHT !!!! YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THE MAJAORITY OF THE VOTERS and the states that PAY THE MAJORITY OF FEDERAL TAXES.
"liberal say we can free healtcare…yes only for illegal alien but most people still buying liberal lier..sucker born every minute"
Boy, you Repubs in the south get some solid education.
Now they are worried about money! After Sarah Palin ran through $150K on crap, for her and her family no less.
Get a life Repubs!
One cheap carney scam after another.
People like McConnell, are a big part of the reason we all find ourselves
in this outrageous situation in the first place!
The republicans have just about destroyed this country.
Mitch McConnell is just another ugly republican. Shut up, no one is listening to you anymore.
You had a hand in the mess we are in, and you think you can dictate policy–remember, you are a minority, and you will be one for the next 4 or more election cycles. Obama is smarter than you, and can think through the stimulus package without help from you–but by all means write a note for the suggestion box if it makes you feel better.
Uh, "John in Ohio", you might want to remember that the defense industry employs a very large amount of people. Some of those companies include Boeing, Lockhead Martin, all three auto makers, etc. I'll just write you off as another big mouth Lib that thinks long after speaking.
The South lost again Mitch.It was a noble effort but to no avail,,now go collect your pay from the foreign car makers in your state and say goodnight.
John in Ohio. Ever think that the defense spending you criticize is what allows you the freedom to post your mindless rants? Defense spending makes up 20% of the federal budget. 42% is made up of entitlements. The fact that we aren't speaking Russian or Arabic shows that our defense dollars have been worth it. Too bad the same can't be said for all the money thrown at welfare queens and wasted pork barrel projects.
Thanks again dimocrats for proving how dumb you are!
I love reading this blog because it shows us republicans that you burst of power will be short lived.
Actually, the Republicans have held the Presidency for 20 of the last 28 years, have controlled the House for 16 (I think, anyway, longer than the Dems) and the Senate for 16. The only time there was a budget surplus was under the Democratic President.
The outgoing Democratic Administration warned the incoming Republican Administration about an impending attack (9/11) but the Republican Administration did not want to hear it/ignored it.
The intelligence services said there were no WMDs in Iraq because the inspectors during the Democratic Administration had found and destroyed them so, yes, the Clinton Administration did say there were WMDs because there were when they said there were but they were gone BEFORE the shrub administration took over.
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae DID NOT cause this crisis, it was the greed and resulting excessive risk taking on Wall Street that did it. FM & FM actually did not participate until later in the game.
Social Security would be fine if the government would quit writing IOUs and taking the SS funds to spend in the general budget ooooorrrr maybe they could have used the money spent in Iraq to fully fund SS and Medicare.
It's the conservatives (read Republicans) who have squandered our tax dollars and try to block any program that benefits the 95% of us who make less than $250,000/yr. They are the ones who pushed 'trickle down economics' that was slightly slowed down for 8 years under Clinton (hey! wasn't that when we had a budget surplus?) but has eventually resulted in our economic situation right now.
It was the Republicans who blocked any budget and tax changes the Democrats brought up in the last two years. To say the Democrats were 'in control' ignores the fact that they did not have a filibuster or veto proof majority and ignores the obstructionist tactics of the Republicans.
Remember when the Republicans wanted to get rid of the filibuster because the Democrats were using it against them when the Democrats were in the minority? Funny, I don't hear them trying to get rid of it now . . .
So you Red states love your Republicans and your "Clean Coal".
Well red state, Tennessee, what do you think about "clean coal", now that your state has been poisoned by the coal companies and their abetters at the EPA and TVA?