Neil's Spotlight Abercrombie statement on Bush’s call for speedy congressional bail-out approval
September 25, 2008
Congressman Neil Abercrombie today issued the following statement on President Bush's call for congressional approval of a bail-out to address the current financial crisis:
"The message from President Bush to Congress and the American public once again is, 'Don’t ask questions. Don’t think about. Just approve it.' The first time Congress was stampeded into going along with his schemes, American soldiers wound up patrolling alleys in Baghdad. The second time we were told we had to act 'Right Now!' Congress authorized warrantless wiretaps on Americans without realizing it.
"What the President wants now is a Wall Street bail-out at a cost of at least $700 billion dollars. There is no plan. There are no details or procedures in place. 'Just authorize it and get out of the way,' we’re being told.
"My response is NO. There is too much at stake. We’re being asked to place bets on our economic future— and our children’s economic future— with the same hustlers who caused this financial crisis.
"Before I vote for a plan, there has to be a plan. And, once we have a plan, I have a responsibility to every citizen of Hawaii to convey the plan to them and listen to what they think. It’s our money and our future at risk.
"Speed is not the point. Doing the right thing is."
