Rogers' Floor Statement on the Pelosi-Obey "Stimulus" Bill

Press Release

Rogers' Floor Statement on the Pelosi-Obey "Stimulus" Bill

Today, Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) made the following remarks regarding H.R.1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Rogers highlighted the need for greater accountability and actual job creation. While consideration of the bill began this evening, a vote on this legislation is scheduled to occur on January 28, 2009:

"Mr. Chairman, I ask for unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.

"Mr. Chairman, there is no question that the Congress must act swiftly and boldly to counteract the downturn in the economy, but there is a difference between actions that are swift and bold, and spending huge sums of borrowed money irresponsibly. When the dust finally settles on this boondoggle, perhaps then we will face the facts regarding this colossal trillion dollar spending bill. And the fact is that the Pelosi-Obey bill isn't an economic stimulus plan at all, but a rampant spending spree! Much of which has nothing to do with bailing out our sagging economy, but with a liberal litany of left-leaning government programs.

"We need a true stimulus bill - that much we agree on. But it needs to be aimed directly at creating jobs; it needs to give real incentives to small businesses, which create 3 out of 4 new jobs in this country; it needs to have strict oversight given the recent TARP fiasco; and it needs to be solely focused on stimulating the economy, not a mandate to overspend on a broad range of government programs.

"First, this bill isn't aimed directly at job creation. According to the CBO - a non-partisan office -- only 40% of the discretionary funds in this bill will actually stimulate the economy and create jobs by 2010. Economists all across the nation question the wisdom of the U.S. government competing for debt financing when our small businesses are struggling to refinance their own debt. How does squeezing out our small business owners help create jobs in this troubled economy?

"Editorial boards across the country are questioning the spending priorities that have needlessly crept into this bill.

• $50 million for the National Endowment of Arts;
• $200 million for tree trimming and sod planting on the National Mall;
• $150 million for Smithsonian facility upgrades;
• $16 billion in Pell Grants for college students.

"To quote the Washington Post: "All of those ideas may have merit, but why do they belong in an emergency measure aimed to kick-start the economy?" If the majority wants to debate funding for the arts, let's do it in the annual Interior Appropriations Bill. If the majority wants to increase Pell Grants, bring it up through the annual Education spending bill. And, if you want to go out and borrow another $825 billion from your children in the name of saving the economy, you should demand that it actually creates jobs in the process.

"The true drivers of this economy - the small business owners - are literally left out in the cold. While we're planting sod and cleaning up trash on the National Mall to the tune of $200 million, we're only allocating a fraction of this bill to our small business owners in the form of tax breaks. It's not hard to see where the true priorities lie with this majority.

"Second, who knows where the money will go? This bill fails to demand a full accounting of the funds before they are allocated. Last week's disapproval vote of more TARP funds would make you think that we'd learned a thing or two about writing a blank check to the Administration without seeing how they intend to spend it. But apparently we haven't.

"When the Appropriations Committee considered this legislation last week, the minority put forth several thoughtful, fiscally responsible proposals to prioritize infrastructure investment and demand greater accountability. I proposed an amendment that withheld a portion of these funds until a simple spending plan was submitted to Congress - a plan requiring expenditure details, tying funding to results, and proof that the so-called "transparency" requirements in the bill are actually in place.

"But rather than accept, or even consider such prudent oversight, the majority mocked the idea and others like it and voted these down on party-line votes. It's a sad day when the majority won't even allow the formulation of a plan before a spending bonanza begins.

"Mr. Chairman, this bill should be about encouraging our small businesses to create jobs, and providing the proper oversight and accountability that working families deserve.

"Unfortunately, this bill fails miserably on both counts. If money is no object; if success is not your goal; if accountability is not important to you- vote for this bill. "I urge Members to oppose this bill and support a bill that actually creates jobs and demands accountability for the taxpayers.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time."

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