Stimulus Package Leaves Much to Be Desired (Rep. J. Gresham Barrett)

There is no doubt that the American economy is in need of stimulus. The question before Congress is what is the best way for us to go about providing that stimulus. After carefully reviewing the Pelosi-Obey Stimulus Plan, I have serious reservations about its overall effectiveness, and I am concerned that this legislation provides an avenue for new spending projects that will not improve the condition of our economy.

To my first point, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that less than half of the Democratic stimulus plan will be spent in the next two years. American families that are struggling to make ends meet cannot afford to wait two more years to see an improvement in our economy. We must work together to develop a plan that delivers economic stimulus quickly, and I believe that tax cuts must be at the center of any economic stimulus package. To get our economy moving again, we must cut the marginal tax rates to 15% and 20% for the middle class, make the Republican tax cuts permanent and cut the corporate tax rate. Cutting taxes allows individuals to keep more of what they earn and incentivizes them to purchase goods and services.

In addition to having reservations regarding the effectiveness of the proposed stimulus package in the short term, I am also concerned that my democratic colleagues have filled this bill with non-stimulative spending. For example, the legislation currently includes $50 million for the National Endowment of the Arts, $19.99 billion for expanding the food stamp program, and $250 million for NASA to study global warming. These expenditures and countless others in the proposed package certainly cannot be categorized as stimulative and should be subject to the scrutiny of the regular appropriations procedure.

In these financially challenging times, we cannot afford to open a door to unwarranted spending under the banner of “economic stimulus.” It is my sincere hope that over the next few days, the legislative process will work and result in a pork-free stimulus package that immediately and positively affects our economy.