'Stimulus' One Year Later

Statement

In the past year I have heard from more Third District residents than ever about the issues facing our country. This is good news and I'm happy to see so many people taking an active interest in the policies that affect our daily lives and will shape the future of our country. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what you have told me during the past year as I look over some of the letters I received.

Looking over the correspondence from a year ago, the number one topic was the "stimulus' package. "I think it is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard of. It is never a good idea to spend money that you don't have' one constituent told me in early February 2009. "Please stick to your principals on the stimulus package' one Springdale resident wrote to me.

I strongly opposed this bill because it fails to address the core issues of our economic problems of protecting and creating jobs and securing our pension plans. The numbers tell it all, the 'stimulus' is a failure.

This week was the first anniversary of the 2009 "stimulus' package. We were promised that this would create jobs almost immediately and unemployment would not exceed eight percent. The reality is that an additional three million people lost their jobs and nationwide unemployment is near 10 percent. The White House projected this bill would increase Arkansas jobs by more than 30,000. Instead we've seen an increase in unemployment.

This bill is light on job creation and heavy on spending for pet projects. Infrastructure improvements like those to Highway 112 and the Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith airports would put people to work. Instead, we are spending money on silly pet projects like the $3.4 million to help turtles cross the road in Florida and the $7 million bridge in Nebraska to help 168 people avoid a 30 second wait at a local train crossing. If this wasteful spending isn't bad enough, the Administration's monitoring of stimulus funds showed that in the past year money has also gone to non existent congressional districts and zip codes. Now the White House is also considering slashing programs that received stimulus funds.

The 'stimulus' failed to achieve the job growth advertised and it also robs our kids and our grandkids of prosperity because of the tremendous cost. Like you, I know we can't borrow and spend our way to prosperity. Unfortunately, the Administration hasn't gotten this message.

The "stimulus' is clearly a waste of taxpayer money, but it didn't have to be this way. I support tax relief for small businesses so they can be more competitive and hire more employees. Keeping more money in the private sector has consistently proven to be the best way to encourage an economic turnaround and growth. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has acknowledged that tax cuts will impact the economy more quickly than government spending.

I am confident our best days are ahead of us. What Arkansans and all Americans need is good government that works for the people, but the solution to our economic challenges is not more government spending and regulation.

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