Democrats In House Pass Economic Stimulus Bill

President Barack Obama Jo Bonner The House has passed a $787 billion plan to resuscitate the economy without a single Republican "yes" vote.

by WKRG Staff/The Associated Press

Published: Fri, February 13, 2009 - 2:30 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, February 13, 2009 - 3:22 pm CST

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has passed a $787 billion plan to
resuscitate the economy, handing President Barack Obama a big
victory.
The measure was passed on a 246-183, with no Republican "yes"
votes. It will now go to the Senate, where a vote is expected later
Friday.
The eight-inch thick measure combines tax cuts for individuals
and businesses with a half-trillion dollars in government spending
for infrastructure, health care and help for cash-starved state
governments. Seniors would get a $250 bonus Social Security check.
Seven Democrats voted against the bill.
Obama claims that the plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs.
But Republicans said it won't work because it has too little in tax
cuts and spreads too much money around to everyday projects like
computer upgrades for federal agencies.

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner issued the following statement
“Littered with billions of dollars in wasteful spending – millions of dollars for the federal government to buy plug-in cars, $30 million to protect San Francisco’s salt marsh harvest mouse, and $1 billion for a new “Prevention and Wellness Fund,” which would be available for education programs on sexually transmitted diseases – it is hard to understand how much of this spending will provide Americans with jobs and get our economy out of a recession.

“Sadly, only a small number of legislators – all from one side of the aisle – wrote this bill behind closed doors. Incredibly, the American people and most Members of Congress had to find out – after the fact from press reports – exactly what was in this bill.

“From an Administration and a Congress that promises more openness and more transparency, we all deserve better.”

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby made this statement on the floor of the Senate

“I fear this is a day that we will come to regret, not only because I believe this stimulus bill will not work, but because it will mark the day when our generation decided that we were not capable of enduring the consequences of our own actions, and therefore future generations must shoulder the burden that we could not find the courage to bear ourselves.”

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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scottybo Says:

Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 12:48 pm

Wonder which Democrat flagged my post for removal. lol

Wait4Me Says:

Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 5:18 pm

OK Doug, I totally disagree with you, I dont think it will work and we can agree to disagree. I do believe Obama and Pelosi wil run this country into the ground and Republicans will bring it back

dougstech Says:

Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 5:12 pm

Wait4Me,

At this point it will help more than it will hurt. I am glad the democrats won, and are finally getting things done. It may be awhile to clean up an 8 year mess, but I am confident that it will improve under the Obama administration.

Wait4Me Says:

Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 5:08 pm

OK Doug, deep in your heart do you really believe this bill will help America? Do you really believe the democrats passed this pork laden bill to assist Americans get back to work? If so plaes enlighten those of us that are not worthy of the knowledge you have obtained in you extensive career in Washington…... I agree with both parties that we need a bill, spending, laws, whatever they can agree on will work the best, but when the CBO a nonpertisan Government office says this will hurt the economy more than it will help, I would assume the House and senate would listen and stasrt over with this bill. As for the last 8 years, yes Bush wasn’t the greatest President in history, but Democrats controlled house and Senate for the last 3 of it, so I can honestly say BOTH parties were at fault for this mess our country is in.

dougstech Says:

Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Wait4Me, the republicans already failed the past 8 years. They need to just sit back and keep their mouths shut and let the democrats try to fix it.

Wait4Me Says:

Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 4:55 pm

OK dougstech, what do you want them to do, NO Republicans voted for it, 7 Democrats voted no and the bill still passed. All they can do now is sit back and get ready to take over when this plan fails and the demcrats are voted out of office.