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Stimulus Shock Heads To Senate
By Joe Murray, The Bulletin
A day after Barack Obama failed to achieve bipartisan support for his $819 billion economic stimulus plan, the sticker shock was still being felt on Capitol Hill as both Republicans and Democrats continued to voice concerns over the package on issues ranging from pork-based spending to stimulus checks for illegal immigrants.
Returning to an argument that jolted the debate over the 2008 stimulus package, the immigration issue reared its head Thursday as the Associated Press reported a top Republican official was warning the stimulus, as written, could lead to government checks being funneled to illegal immigrants.
Under the stimulus plan, government checks — $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples — are to be sent workers and permit workers without Social Security numbers to participate. Undocumented workers missing a SSN can file tax returns using an alternate number.
But despite immigration concerns, it was still wasteful spending that dominated the debate.
“I have serious concerns that this level of deficit spending without a plan toward fiscal responsibility will only make our economic problems worse,” said Congressman Alan Boyd, D-Fla., in explaining why he broke from his party ranks and was only one of eleven Democrats to oppose the stimulus.
“This stimulus package does not address the issues that we know are at least partly responsible for the economic downturn, and that is years of irresponsible fiscal policies rooted in out-of-control spending and borrowing.”
And, as the stimulus heads to the Senate, Republican lawmakers are vowing to make their voices heard while trying to reach a compromise with Senate Democrats and the White House. Republicans also cautioned about moving too fast on the bill.
“I do think it is so important that we slow this bill down in order to do it right,” said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told CNN.
As the Senate begins debate on the bill there is a division among GOP lawmakers as to the best way to tackle the $800 plus billion stimulus. It is reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wants a smaller bill, while some moderate Republicans, such as Arizona Sen. John McCain, are angling for a stimulus that would spend more on infrastructure.
Republicans are hoping their opposition to the stimulus will reconnect them to voters and restore the party’s brand name on the national stage.
“We should be concerned that, as a result of all this, the Republican Party seems to be slipping into a position of being more of a regional party than a national one,” Mr. McConnell told the Republican National Committee Thursday afternoon.
“In politics there’s a name for a regional party, it’s called a minority party.”
A vote on the bill is expected sometime next week.
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
Returning to an argument that jolted the debate over the 2008 stimulus package, the immigration issue reared its head Thursday as the Associated Press reported a top Republican official was warning the stimulus, as written, could lead to government checks being funneled to illegal immigrants.
Under the stimulus plan, government checks — $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples — are to be sent workers and permit workers without Social Security numbers to participate. Undocumented workers missing a SSN can file tax returns using an alternate number.
But despite immigration concerns, it was still wasteful spending that dominated the debate.
“I have serious concerns that this level of deficit spending without a plan toward fiscal responsibility will only make our economic problems worse,” said Congressman Alan Boyd, D-Fla., in explaining why he broke from his party ranks and was only one of eleven Democrats to oppose the stimulus.
“This stimulus package does not address the issues that we know are at least partly responsible for the economic downturn, and that is years of irresponsible fiscal policies rooted in out-of-control spending and borrowing.”
And, as the stimulus heads to the Senate, Republican lawmakers are vowing to make their voices heard while trying to reach a compromise with Senate Democrats and the White House. Republicans also cautioned about moving too fast on the bill.
“I do think it is so important that we slow this bill down in order to do it right,” said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told CNN.
As the Senate begins debate on the bill there is a division among GOP lawmakers as to the best way to tackle the $800 plus billion stimulus. It is reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wants a smaller bill, while some moderate Republicans, such as Arizona Sen. John McCain, are angling for a stimulus that would spend more on infrastructure.
Republicans are hoping their opposition to the stimulus will reconnect them to voters and restore the party’s brand name on the national stage.
“We should be concerned that, as a result of all this, the Republican Party seems to be slipping into a position of being more of a regional party than a national one,” Mr. McConnell told the Republican National Committee Thursday afternoon.
“In politics there’s a name for a regional party, it’s called a minority party.”
A vote on the bill is expected sometime next week.
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
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