By Rep. Todd Tiahrt, Special to The Kansas City Star
Salvation from our economic woes is what the Obama administration wanted us to believe the stimulus plan would be. The unemployed would be given jobs, and not just a few thousand, but 3 million to 4 million. A trillion dollars of borrowed money and all would be well. Even our electric bills would be lowered. Such were the promises from our president.
Contrary to promises of a new beginning for workers, another 1.5 million Americans lost their jobs in the weeks and months after the enactment of the stimulus bill. And we saw $1.3 trillion of private wealth evaporate in the first quarter alone. With just two quarters remaining this year, the Democrats’ stimulus plan is miserably failing the people and needs to be shut down.
Even European governments are looking for a way to stop borrowing so much money. After a two-day summit in Brussels, 27 European Union leaders agreed it is time to clean up budget deficits acquired while fighting the financial crisis. “There is a clear need for a reliable and credible exit strategy,” they said in a statement. Perhaps they understand more clearly how increasing debt is unsustainable.
That is why I introduced the Repeal the Stimulus Act of 2009 along with several other legislative initiatives to help get us out of this quagmire. Thanks to unprecedented federal spending, we and our children are hundreds of billions of dollars in further debt to China. The spending and the borrowing must stop.
True economic stimulus puts money back into the economy by returning more to individuals (that’s you and me) and small businesses (the institutions that generate up to 80 percent of the new jobs in this country).
Economic recovery does not come by creating generous government programs and bureaucratic bastions. A lasting recovery comes by growing the economy from the ground up rather than pursuing bungling notions of growing the economy from the government down.
By rescinding unobligated money in the Democratic stimulus spending bill, we would save taxpayers from borrowing an estimated quarter of a trillion dollars. This is money the government wanted to take from us but could not because we ran out. So our leaders decided to borrow from countries such as China, and when that failed, officials resorted to printing a trillion dollars.
Under the leadership of President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, we are expanding programs we do not need with borrowed money we cannot afford.
Despite unanimous support from House Republicans, Democrats voted against my proposals to put an end to out-of-control spending plaguing Washington. It has happened multiple times in committee meetings and on the House floor. The outcome is the same: Democrats refuse to stop the spending.
There is a better solution. Our government could provide more opportunity to create and keep American jobs. We know when innovative ideas get into the marketplace our economy grows. We should be reforming regulations by evaluating them with a cost-benefit analysis, changing our tax policy to welcome capital back into our economy and revising our litigation systems.
When workers can keep more of their income, they spend it, save it or invest it.
Spending generates activity in private markets. Saving creates more money for loans. Investing provides resources for capital investments that grow businesses and create jobs. All three yield good news for our economy.
A few of us are taking on this fight in Congress, but we need a grassroots movement, a tide of public sentiment. Repealing bailouts, stimulus spending and Soviet-like takeovers of private industries will happen only when the people decide they no longer believe the president’s costly, unattainable promises. Let’s place our optimism in opportunity, not oppressive government.
U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, a Kansas Republican from Goddard, is chairman of the House Economic Competitiveness Caucus and serves as the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
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To counter jimlger's post
Some things that you neglected to mention:
1.) yes, the bulk of the stimUlus money has not hit yet, which just proves that point that Tiahrt, Gingrich and others were trying to make. A stimulus plan, by its nature, should act quickly, otherwise its a failure. The stimulus plan was what I call "the fat package" because it accomplishes its main intended purpose its democrat author's had in mind. That purpose simply is to pack in as much federal spending as possible that will not be considered as part of the annual appropriations package. In liberal government speak that is called free money since it won't affect subsequent appropriations. But yet its utterly amazing that Obama, Pelosi and Reid did everything they could to get the stimulus (fat) package rammed through congress as quickly as possible. They knew if it saw the light of day it was dead in the water! In the words of Lawrence Summers, Obama's top economic adviser, a stimlulus package should be timely, targeted and temporary. We have spending taking years to come online, spending in many areas not related to stimlulating the economy or creating jobs, and some programs that would create permanent jobs. Looks like we failed on all 3 counts. The only thing quick was the change in tax witholding, and that is such a small amount that it won't make much of a difference.
2.) You note that it took years to get where we were going, but you omitted the fact that Democrats have had control of both houses of congress since the 2006 elections. Maybe I missed the impassioned speeches of Reid, Pelosi and others that we needed to take action.
3.) One of the biggest culprits of this economic debacle is the total inability of Congress, especially the democrats, to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Not sure what Chris Dodd and Barney Frank were working on but it certainly wasn't doing their jobs as the heads of their committees that they chair. You would think one or both of them would have been pushing reform of those wayward agencies, but nothing of the sort has emerged.
4.) One big problem with government hiring is that government has not, is not and will not be a wise use of resources. When the government does the hiring, those jobs generally exist in perpetuity, meaning we have to fund those jobs with tax dollars forever. As we have all learned, government (especially at the federal level) can never get by with less money or resources. Another difference is that if a private enterprise creates jobs, they are going to fund those with their profits, with the hope of creating even more profits, which translates to more taxes for the government. Does government hiring generally lead to more hiring? It only leads to more of our GDP sucked into the black hole and even more debt for our country, and it does so in perpetuity.
5.) You mention Obama is not laying blame on anyone else. Not sure if maybe you have not watched or listened to any media coverage since the election, but he seems to be constantly blaming the Republicans and Bush for all of this. Obviously the Republicans used their minority in Congress to ram bloated budgets past the democratic majority the past couple of years right? How many democrats keep justifying their wasteful spending by talking about the money we spent in Iraq, as if that would make it okay?
6.) As far as the evidence that things would be worse had he not executed his plan that things would be worse, please provide some sources I would love to read them. BTW, Huffington Post would not count, it has to be a credible source.
7.) One last thing, Obama stated employment would stay below 8% if I remember correctly, we are currently at 9.5%, probably at least 9.7 or 9.8 after this month. His plan worked!
Altogether now, everyone chant it out loud!
YES WE CAN!!!!
We MUST stop celebrating IGNORANCE
THIS is why we need to fix the education system in this country.
Sure, that explains Bush's stimulus/ bailout of 2008. It has more to do with correcting the course that got us into this mess (namely thinking we could get something fr nothing).
- We can drive gas-guzzling SUV's with no penalties. Becoming dependent on foreign oil will have no negative effects.
- We must all have a Dodge Ram 3500 pick-up because if I ever need to, I can carry 10 Chevy's in the bed.
- We can pollute our air because who cares? Global warming isn't real and if it is, the countless tons of crap we pollute the air with has nothing to do with it.
- Let all companies merge, and banks merge like mad because what could possibly go wrong with having a top-heavy financial system?
- De-regulate the hell out of Wall-Street so they can over-leverage... it is the "free market" way.
- Oh, and while you're at it, don't enforce what little regulations you have because that would interfere with commerce.
The real-estate bubble was not primarily Bush's fault either...it started in the Carter administration and was put on steroids by the Clinton administration.
Of course not. Bush had the Congress, Senate and White House but has no responsibilities for the laws that were passed that allowed banks to offer "teaser rates," 120% financing, and predatory lending. No, this was all Carter, Clinton's and Obama's fault. Bush, Bush and Reagan, of course, had nothing to do with anything.
Absolutely the BEST thing that could happen right now would be to repeal this bill
Certainly, because forcing the States, 48 of which already have budget shortfalls, to return the Stimulus money will have no negative effects whatsoever.
What is happening in the Obama administration is the result of handing over the federal purse strings to someone who has never even held a real job
So anyone who WORKS for the government isn't a "real" job? This ridiculous political cheap shot is as old and tired as your drivel.
SERIOUSLY PEOPLE... we have GOT to stop celebrating ignorance in this country.
Excellent idea.
The so called stimulus bill had very little to do with stimulating the economy and very much to do with promoting a progressive/liberal agenda and fullfilling a wish list that has been building for 40 years or more.
Obama and the progressives in congress have managed to spend more in less than six months than EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT IN HISTORY COMBINED.
George Bush was not a fiscal conservative, however the actions of Obama & CO have made a mildly bad situation into a complete disaster. The real-estate bubble was not primarily Bush's fault either, it started in the Carter administration and was put on steroids by the
Clinton administration. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd had much to do with covering up how bad things were and denying that there were problems when confronted with the issue early in Bush's first term. Bush's responsibility lies in not FORCING a change in sub-prime mortgage requirements. You progressives and libs can try to deny it, but that IS where the problems started. Franks and Dodd not only knew about it, they made things worse by refusing to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and ACORN.
Absolutely the BEST thing that could happen right now would be to repeal this bill and kill any ideas concerning cap and tax 'er trade and single payer health care.
Rep. Tiahrt, I do not live in your district, but if I did you would have my vote.
Absolutely the most important item facing this country is a return to fiscal responsibility. What is happening in the Obama administration is the result of handing over the federal purse strings to someone who has never even held a real job, much less had to make and meet a budget. Obama, aided by Pelosi and Reid seem intent on spending this country into bankruptcy, and China will end up owning the entire country.
Allow me to interpret....
"There is a better solution. We should be reforming regulations (read dereugulate/turn the foxes loose in the hen house again) by evaluating them with a cost-benefit analysis (read profit for the big guys,corporate bonuses,limos & private golf outings), changing our tax policy to welcome capital back into our economy (gee congressman, the Bush tax cuts are still in effect but oops, here we are) and revising our litigation systems (read shield wrongdoers from being made to take responsibilty)"
There, you have it. Seems like we've been down this road before...If this worked we wouldn't be in this mess now.
Rep. Tiahrt: Why LIE to your constituents?
Todd is pulling one of the oldest political tricks in the book, misrepresenting the truth.
He knows the bulk of the stimulus money HAS NOT yet hit the street... in fact a VERY SMALL amount actually has as of yet, but he has called it a failure, just as Newt Gingrich did 2 months ago.
The GOP is doing it's level best to sink consumer confidence, knowing that is the primary driver of the economy, for political gain in 2010. In other words, they're playing politics with your job.
Todd hopes the good people of Kansas are to dumb to notice that it took years to get to where we are and DOING NOTHING WAS NOT AN OPTION.
Without the stimulus package many States that are now seeing serious shortfalls, would completely collapse. It is the stimulus package that is reinforcing states unemployment insurance.
Todd doesn't like the Government hiring, but if they don't who will? So instead of these people earning a paycheck and us getting something for our money, he would have even more of them on unemployment drawing a State check with no return at all.
Todd KNOWS that job numbers are going to get worse before they get better but is hoping you don't understand the complexities of how an economy recovers.
Todd KNOWS that while the economy began it's decline in 2007, it was legislation passed and policies pursued to deregulate over the prior 7 years that laid the groundwork for the artificial growth and subsequent collapse of the U.S. economy.
His answer? Continue the same failed policies that helped his corporate donors.
Yes Todd, we are hurting. But the GOP needs to do more than point at Obama and say his ideas suck... they need to come up with NEW ideas. Your generalizations and platitudes may have worked before, but not now. We are supporting our President for multiple reasons; he inherited this mess, he is trying to fix it, he isn't worrying about lying blame for how we got here, there is plenty of evidence that had he not implemented his plans things would be far worse, and if none of that works for you... there isn't any other plan.
We have to bet on Wylie Coyote's booster rocket cause if the rocket doesn't work, we are all sunk... so how bout you start choosing your county over your party and cheer for the rocket?
plug pulling, Todd
Seems as if this momentum cannot be abated, Todd. Do you have a plan to pull the plug? Grass roots movements take time and a movement strategy (as well as a funding plan). In this time of sophisticated business/government (I don't think your Soviet model sticks to an executive team more comfortable in a luncheon with Goldman Sachs board members than a factory cafeteria), you need a business plan.
Publish your plan, Todd...or take time to write one...come back and inform us when you've done the work.
Actually Republican Abe Lincoln is responsible for this economy
Darn those evil Republicans!
Having a different opinion is NOT ignorant.
Name calling and personal insults are what is ignorant.
I do agree with you that it didn't take 8 years to create this mess. I take it back much farther than that, to the Reagan years, when the destruction of the middle class began. And I blame the defenders of the corporatism that favors bonuses for CEOs while ignoring the needs of the workers.
You cannot deny that Bush Jr inherited a better deficit than the one he left behind. To blame this mess solely on Obama is ignoring the mess Bush Jr created. There is also plenty of evidence to prove Bush's tax cuts did not work and I find it strange to not only ignore that but ask for more.
I have said this before and I will say it again. It is hypocritical for anyone, especially a member of Congress with voting privileges, to all of a sudden show concern for the economy while voting to approve every penny Bush asked for to start a war we didn't need to fight and couldn't afford in the first place. So yes, I still want to know where Tiahrt was while Bush was spending money on war.
And then let's remember the justification Tiahrt and his fellow Bush supporters in Congress used to defend voting to fund the war. It was about the troops! We had to support them! Yet as soon as a Democrat was elected president and asked for funding for those very same troops, Tiahrt and his pals in Congress voted no. Where is the outrage over THAT?
Tiahrt's weak piece here is just more evidence of the partisanship that is ruining this country. He isn't concerned about the economy; he is doing what the GOP party of NO has told him to do. He doesn't care about the troops or he would have voted for the funding that covers their paychecks and buys their meals. And if he didn't support funding this war, he could have voted against it umpteen times while Bush was in office.
The solution is to remove partisan hacks like Tiahrt from office and replace them with representatives who serve the people rather than the agenda of their party, especially when that agenda has been repeatedly proven to not be in the best interests of the people they serve. I plan on supporting any new candidate who runs for US Senate in Kansas. That would not be Todd Tiahrt.
The ignorance of the posters
The ignorance of the posters attacking the writer is staggering. Lets start with it took 8 years for this to happen. This is a good line but an easily provable lie, the economy was growing and creating jobs until November of 2007, not anywhere near 8 years by my math. The economy lost 2 million jobs from Nov of 2007 till Feb of 2009, the economy has lost 2 million jobs from Feb of 2009 til June 2009, Obama did in 5 months what it took Bush the terrible 15 months to do. You attack Reps for spending yet you support spending 10 times as much as long as your people are in office. You attack Tiahrt for having old ideas, well those old ideas have worked every time they have been tried. Obama has old ideas as well, they worked very well for Jimmy Carter, and FDR extending the depression for years. The one I love the most is the made up number for spending on the wars, this of course is a joke, but President Obama has been in office for 6 months, and the spending on the wars has increased not decreased, he could end both tomorrow, why doesn't he? You posters are in the minority now, and rational people realize the spenidng by Democrats made Republicans look like misers, and can't be sustained. This will sort itself out in 2010 just like it did in 1994, Democrats always overreach, and get spanked in the following election.
This time, we really mean it.
It took eight long years for the American economy to sink to the current level and it is going to take a lot longer than six months to get the economy growing again. During the prior eight years, the GOP was strangely silent about the economic policy. All we heard from conservatives was: spend more and tax less. Now all of sudden they found the old time religion that had gone missing for so long, not unlike prisoners on death row. So, why don't we believe them?
"Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me twice - shame on me."