07.17.09

Republicans, hypocrisy, the stimulus, and more Carter “nuttiness”

Posted in Around The Nation, Around The State, Bad Government Republicans, Commentary, Commissioners Court, District 31, Williamson County at 8:42 am by wcnews

Now we all know that there’s nothing the GOP wants more than for President Obama to own the economic mess that the former president left him. But unlike the former president Obama’s willing to take responsibility.

“I love the folks who helped get us in this mess and then suddenly say, ‘Well, this is Obama’s economy,'” the president told an outdoor crowd at Macomb Community College, veering off his scripted words. “That’s fine. Give it to me. My job is to solve problems, not to stand on the sidelines and harp and gripe.”

He’s speaking to the shenanigans some members of the GOP are trying where they are more than happy to take credit for the projects the stimulus created in their states, while out of the other side of their mouth decrying the stimulus. And the President isn’t going to let them get away with it - he will make them take responsibility for their words.

The conflict began after Arizona’s junior senator, Republican Jon Kyl, who has called President Obama’s economic recovery plan ineffective, wrote on his Senate website last week that the government should “cancel the rest of the stimulus spending.” Kyl repeated the suggestion during a talk show appearance Sunday.

The Obama administration responded Monday with letters from four Cabinet secretaries to the state’s GOP governor, Jan Brewer, outlining the transportation, housing, education and other projects that would be canceled in Arizona if stimulus spending came to a halt.

“If you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, please let us know,” wrote Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a fellow Republican and former House member.

The letters prompted howls from Kyl and other Republicans in Arizona, who accused the Obama administration of threatening and bullying the state. “I strongly support the comments of Senator Kyl and call on the administration to retract its threat against the citizens of Arizona,” McCain said in a statement.

The flap underscores the dangers for both sides in the debate over the $787 billion stimulus package, which has come under increasing attack from Republicans as the unemployment rate continues to climb. But many Republicans who voted against the package have also sought to take credit for projects in their own states, and the White House has become increasingly aggressive in pressing its case.
(Empahsis added).

Thinks Progress has more on Sen. Kyl’s antics here.

We have one of those Republicans that voted against the stimulus, but loves to take credit for the projects it created right here in TX-31. Now most of us in Williamson County, and District 31, are used to our “nutty” member of Congress John Carter. Well he’s all over this nutty idea as well. While Carter is there over and over again, showing up for photo-ops, when the stimulus money is being spent. As if on cue Carter has filed a “nutty” piece of legislation. It’s H.R. 3140 and here’s what it does:

To rescind unobligated appropriations and repeal certain provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and for other purposes.

I can’t wait to see the list of projects that Rep. Carter and the WCCC come up with to put a halt to in Williamson County. But like the rest of the “nutty” members of his party in Congress this is likely just a political ploy. Carter hopes most constituents in his district won’t explore too closely to see his hypocrisy on this issue. Let’s hope that’s not the case with this round of Carter “nuttiness”.

Think Progress also has this great take down of Gov. Perry, Secessionist Gov. Rick Perry now seeking federal stimulus funds. .

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