|
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brian Baird (WA-03) released the following statement today after voting against the House Stimulus Package:
“Today, I join all Americans in voicing profound concern about the economy. People in Southwest Washington are suffering and I want to do whatever I can to make the situation better and ensure that our economy remains strong. Unfortunately, what has been proposed takes us in the wrong direction, expands our debt, and misses a critical opportunity.
“I do agree with certain elements of the proposed legislation and I strongly support the provisions that would help businesses expand and create new jobs. At the same time, however, I have serious reservations about other elements of this package.
“We find ourselves in this situation because we spent more money than we had and now we are looking at a short-term fix that does much of the same. The so-called stimulus rebates will be borrowed from the Chinese, paid back with interest by our children and grandchildren, and produce no lasting goods for our communities. We clearly don’t have one hundred and fifty billion dollars growing on trees and we shouldn’t throw away this opportunity to invest in our country’s lagging infrastructure, renewable energy, and conservation efforts.
“Instead of using the three T’s of timely, targeted, and temporary that so many are talking about, we need actions based on the four P’s: practical, permanent, paid for and reducing dependence on petroleum.
“I know in my district and across the nation there are plenty of urgent infrastructure projects that could use this funding. Instead of having Americans take this few hundred dollars and buy more products from abroad, let’s invest in improving I-5, deepening the Columbia River channel, building water treatment facilities in our rural communities, expanding our mass transit and rail infrastructure, and upgrading our schools.
“Most people I know would much rather have a steady job and a decent paycheck than a one time handout. Infrastructure investment would put people to work tomorrow and leave a lasting legacy that would strengthen our economy for years to come.
“It is also important to realize we are where we are today because of sky-rocketing energy costs that have resulted from our heavy reliance on limited energy resources. The President and Congress have an opportunity to address the link between our current economic situation and our energy crisis by investing immediately in renewable energy and conservation initiatives. I have met with solar energy companies and others who assure me they could immediately employ thousands of people to retrofit businesses, homes, and government buildings. This would put people to work, save energy, and restore our nation’s leadership in reducing greenhouse gasses. Rather than a temporary giveaway, we should produce a stimulus package that invests in “green-collar jobs.” That would be a win–win decision with both immediate economic benefits and long term environmental rewards.
“Unfortunately, the leadership in the House of Representatives insisted on a simple up or down vote on their package with no real alternatives considered and no opportunities for amendments. I opposed this kind of procedure when our party was in the minority, and I believe it is just as mistaken now. Precisely because our economic situation is so important, we need real debate and real solutions, not temporary “feel good” fixes that will leave our children in greater debt and do little or nothing to solve the true causes and underlying problems that created this situation.
|
