Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2009

CONTACT: Leslie Shedd
(202) 225-5565

Rep. Frank Lucas Statement on Opposition to Massive Spending Package

Washington, DC - Today, the House of Representatives will vote on the Democrats’ massive spending package disguised as a “stimulus” bill.  The approximate cost of the bill is $789 billion, not including the estimated $300 billion in interest that will be incurred to borrow the money.  Congressman Frank Lucas will oppose this wasteful, over priced and mis-targeted spending package.

“There were some notable improvements to the package, including increased infrastructure spending.  However, the overall cost to the American people is still too high.  Including interest, the bill will cost approximately $1 trillion, which will be passed on to our children and grandchildren to pay for generations. 

“A responsible stimulus package should use tax cuts and targeted spending to encourage economic activity and create jobs.  Instead, Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team have used the American public’s need for an economic stimulus package to cram a bill filled with pet spending projects across the House floor.  One of the most irresponsible examples is $30 million to restore the wetlands in San Francisco Bay and protect the salt marsh harvest mouse.  While this may be beneficial to the mice in Speaker Pelosi’s district, I am not quite sure how she thinks it will stimulate the economy.

“Even more troubling has been the Speaker’s total disregard for proper procedure.   She excluded all Republicans and most rank-and-file Democrats from final negotiations, drafting her spending plan behind closed doors in the dead of night.  The wording of the more than 1000-page bill was released less than 14 hours prior to the vote, giving members and the American people little time to actually read it.  This is not only poor legislation, it is poor governing.”

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