 |
| Search |
|
|
|
|
Newsletter
Results, not Rhetoric
On Wednesday evening, I listened to President Obama’s State of the Union (SOTU) address. I welcomed and supported his message that we need to improve our economy, get Americans back to work and better control government spending. The reality is that we cannot afford to continue down the path of being fiscally irresponsible as Wisconsinites are hurting.
I found it ironic that the President touted how the stimulus is working just one day after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s front page headline was: “Economists See No Stimulus Jobs.” The stimulus hasn’t worked or gotten people back to work. Wisconsin’s jobless rate was 5.9 percent in December 2008. This past December, with the stimulus, it was 8.7 percent. Each day throughout 2009 approximately 447 jobs were lost in Wisconsin. Those of us who voted against the $787 billion stimulus package were not surprised with the Journal Sentinel’s headline, as it is the private sector – the small businesses – the backbone of our country – that will give our economy real growth, not more government spending! Even after being passed into law, the stimulus bill – Congressman Obey’s brainchild – is still adding up government dollars. The Congressional Budget Office now estimates the stimulus bill cost will be approximately $862 billion – and there isn’t much economic recovery to show for it.
Additionally, we’ve heard a lot about climate change over the last few months. I agreed with the President when he said “providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future.” AND when the climate change bill does just that, I would support it; but in its current form, it’s a tax increase on all Americans and American businesses, with additional costs being passed onto consumers and millions of jobs being outsourced to India and China.
We have heard many eloquent words from the President over the past year, and again in his SOTU address. As our struggles continue, I hope the President’s words begin to match his actions, especially when it comes to being transparent, reigning in spending and protecting our nation.
Closed door meetings are not transparency.
Continuing to push for a massive health care overhaul is not reigning in spending.
And as Massachusetts Senator-elect Scott Brown has said, “We should be spending taxpayer dollars to defeat terrorists, not to protect them.”
Republicans are ready and eager to move forward. We really are. We have ideas and we want to do more and do better for America. As Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said in the Republican response, “We want results, not rhetoric. We want cooperation, not partisanship.”
This couldn’t be more true. I am eager to work with the President and my Democratic colleagues to ensure America is prosperous again, and that she remains safe. I hope we can get started.
© Copyright 2003 by SCRP.info
Top of Page
|
|
|
Newsletter
Latest Headlines
|
|
