Stimulus: Fiscal woes trump partisanship
The voting among Mississippi’s U.S. House delegation reflects national trends. Democrats 2nd District U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson of Bolton and 1st District U.S. Rep. Travis Childers of Booneville voted in favor of the package; Republican 3rd District U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper of Pearl and conservative Democratic 4th District U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor of Bay St. Louis voted against it.
Proponents say the package will create “ready to go” jobs from public works while opponents say the bill increases the $10 billion-plus national debt while loaded with “Christmas tree” projects that have too little to do with stimulating the economy and too much to do with taking care of pet projects.
Newly minted Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele puts a new and historic face on his party as the Democrats are led by Obama. But the arguments put forth by both parties in arguing over the stimulus package don’t seem to have changed much since Obama was sparring with GOP nominee John McCain on the campaign trail.
But Republicans should have a hard time even paying lip service to their newfound complaints over raising the national debt – a debt that escalated significantly under the leadership of former President George W. Bush.
Republicans and Democrats in Mississippi see the Obama stimulus package differently.
Clarion Ledger Editorial
2/3/9
Magnolia Tribune
