Lacks focused spending, job creation, Ehlers says

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers made the following statement today on the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). The bill must still be passed by the Senate before it can be sent to President Obama for approval.

      “Our economy is suffering, and I would gladly support an effective and focused stimulus, especially for people in Michigan. The bill passed today by the House of Representatives, however, will not effectively stimulate the economy as well as it could. I voted against it today because it is bloated, costly and inefficient. For example, supporters claim it will create up to 4 million jobs, which means it will cost taxpayers almost $200,000 for each job it creates.

      “We need an economic stimulus that focuses more on immediate job creation, tax relief for small businesses, and putting money back into the pockets of Americans. The bill passed in the House today does not do enough to help taxpayers now, when they need it most. Most of the money in the bill will not even be spent this year.

      “Tax relief, which could go into effect immediately, and have a real impact on millions of Americans, is lacking in the bill. There is also far too little funding that would jump-start “shovel-ready” road and highway construction projects that would create jobs in Michigan. Only around 18 percent of the bill goes toward lowering income taxes, and less than 6 percent will fund construction on transportation infrastructure, such as roads, highways, and bridges. Just imagine, after all the talk about creating such construction jobs, only six cents of each dollar in this bill will go toward that purpose. 

      “Also, I had only a few hours to review this 1,000 page bill before the vote was called. Democratic leaders withheld the bill from the public and from lawmakers until 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, giving me very little time to determine what is actually in the package. Considering the significance of this legislation, I am very disappointed that the bill was presented in the middle of the night, just hours before the vote.

      “There are some good things in this bill that will help in the short term, but there is not enough to encourage a sustainable economic recovery. I wish this bill did more for the people of Michigan, who have suffered in this economy more than any other state. I fear that our great state’s economy may be in worse shape ten years from now because of the short-sighted spending in the bill, and the huge increase it will cause in the national debt. I was disappointed by the lack of investments in research and innovation, which are sustainable job creators. Also, federal programs that help Michigan manufacturing firms survive and expand, such as the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, were shortchanged in the legislation.

      “The need for real economic stimulus is absolutely urgent. I have heard from many people in West Michigan who are struggling to find work, in danger of losing their homes, and having trouble making ends meet at their businesses. I certainly hope that Democrats and Republicans can come together soon to craft a more focused, meaningful stimulus package that will help Americans get on their feet right now.”