Thursday, January 29, 2009
Congressman Sam Graves believes he saw "the worst of government" Wednesday as the U.S. House passed an economic stimulus package that the lawmaker considers misdirected in intent and overblown in expectations.
The Northwest Missouri Republican voted "nay" on H.R. 1, which supporters hailed as fiscally necessary and opponents criticized as "the son of TARP."
Mr. Graves called himself "disgusted" and "outraged" with the initiative, whose price tag touched $819 billion.
"What people are concerned about are jobs," the representative said. "The government going out and spending a whole bunch of money isn't going to do anything."
Like many in his party, Mr. Graves favored a Republican alternative bill that leaned more heavily on tax relief. In the House debate, members of the minority party repeated the mantra their version would create twice the jobs at half the price.
Small businesses would benefit more from tax incentives that would push them toward added production, expanded facilities and a greater need for employees, the lawmaker said. He disputed claims of expanded infrastructure from the bill, insisting that represents only 3 percent of the measure.
On Tuesday, Mr. Graves sat in when President Obama made his economic stimulus pitch to House Republicans on Capitol Hill. He appreciated the meeting while noting Mr. Obama saw the issue from a different philosophical view.
"He's reaching out, and he seems very sincere when it comes to working with us," Mr. Graves said. "The problem is (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid."
Rep. Lynn Jenkins, the Republican who represents Northeast Kansas, also voted no on the stimulus plan.
Ken Newton can be reached at kenn@npgco.com.
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drsmb says...
Here Here!!!
Someone who will tell it like it is. The "stimulus" package was nothing more than Democrat Party pay out for ths past two elections. Folks, we are going to pay the piper for the past 20 years of fiscal stupidity. If this packages stays like it is, we'll just pay him a trillion dollars more in debt. Our grandkids won't have a chance!
January 29, 2009 at 12:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mizzou_69 says...
you people are blinded by stupidity of Graves, he is an idiot!
January 29, 2009 at 6:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
At least Graves is consistent. The Repubs who voted for Bush's TARP and now take righteous exception to the stimulus package disgust me.
I really hate to see the Republicans digging in their heels and taking a "if they're for it, we're against it" attitude so soon in the game. Can't they TRY to be a little open to new ideas and a little flexible?
Nothing good will come of being so polarized.
January 29, 2009 at 6:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biggieroth says...
I agree with Graves 100%...this bill is filled with pork and does not create a lot of long lasting jobs.
Mizzou, please explain yourself? My guess is that you are the kind of person that gave liberals a bad name.
January 29, 2009 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gopguy says...
You mean Sam Graves voted against millions of our hard earned tax dollars going to STD research, birth control, and a mob museum? How could he dare vote against those projects that will obviously stimulate the economy, which keep in mind is the intended purpose of the bill. *Insert sacrcasm above*
Way to go Congressman. Keep up the good work.
January 29, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nwmo says...
Am assuming that the congressman voted against equal pay for women too with the Lilly Ledbetter bill the will be signed today by the President?
January 29, 2009 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cdbd2002 says...
Rep. Graves may have voted against the current stimlus package but we here in NW Missouri need help. If you don't believe we are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression I urge you to go down to the Job Service office any day and see the ammount of people that are out of work.
If you have been Laid off or lost your job in the past 3 months it may take you any where from 4 to 6 weeks to get your first unemployment check, and if you are like hundreds of Americans who have been living pay check to pay check how do you feed your family or your self.
I am not saying cave in to something you don't believe in Rep. Graves I am patiently asking not for a hand out but a hand up.
January 29, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Trixie says...
Dear MichaelH & Friends - please do not assume that people who do not agree with you or have a different point of view are ill-informed or otherwise defective. That attitude on the part of the right is one of the reasons that I "turned" left.
January 29, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
If the position of the GOP and Graves on tax cuts is so effective and the solution to current economic problems, where are the jobs from all the tax cuts of the last 8 years.
Tax cuts benefit big money and the sad reality exists that in the majority of instances big money will take care of itself first and then might expend funds for other projects if it fits into their design.
Question this conclusion; ask what is in the process of happening with Hershey Candy manufacturing. I bet you have not heard much on that subject.
I am not completely thrilled over all aspects of the legislation that will ultimately be coming out of both houses but the fact remains that some things need to happen quickly in spurring the economy. While tax cuts may play a part, it is clear from recent history that they alone are not going to provide sufficient relief in the timeframe needed.
January 29, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
StJoeMoe says...
We're going down and it's not even in a blaze of glory....
I've decided Nancy Pelosi is criminally insane, Obama may be worse than many of us thought, but you know what -
I'll still hold out some hope!
January 29, 2009 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
10377586 says...
While I don't agree with everything in the package I do applaud the House for passing it and am disappointed that the republican leadership had their minds closed before they even heard what was in it. More of the same old same old. It will be interesting to see how the senate votes on it. Our nation has to try something new, it's apparent that the policies of the past several years of tax breaks for the most wealthy aren't creating anything but more money in their pockets, big oil, munitions suppliers, etc. Hopefully if this works they will be big enough to admit they were wrong instead of nit picking whatever parts of it don't. If they had all these great ideas why weren't they already doing them?
January 29, 2009 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheShadow says...
The hypocrisy on here amazes me. So apparently all of the republicans have to do whatever the democrats want or they are stupid, blind or have a bad attitude. Then if a republican says anything like that, they are blasted for doing it. So, I guess it's OK for all of those struggling in these economic times if the government throws money at liberal pet projects in the name of a stimulus package. Most of this package won't stimulate anything in the short term, let alone long term. Democrats got their wish and are running the show. You don't need the republicans to vote along to get it passed anyway. And I agree Micheal, Mizzou69 needs to explain thier comment or quit the drive by postings.
January 29, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
How quickly we forget - Seems like not too long ago when W had a rubber stamp in both houses and like it or the current economic crisis is a calumniation of events building up during the reign of Republican control.
As an independent I am much more comfortable when swiping at either party as both equally and rarely are willing to accept responsibility for their actions and failures.
January 29, 2009 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalearch says...
The bottom line is there is too much pork in the bill.
January 29, 2009 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )