First, Rep. John Mica (R-FL), the ranking Republican member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, praised President Obama for designating $8 million in funding within the stimulus plan, applauding "President Obama's recognition that high speed rail should be part of America's future". However, in his press release, Mica did not bother to point out that he actually voted against the stimulus bill, along with every other Republican member of the House of Representatives. When Justin Harclerode, the Republican committee spokesperson, was asked to explain why Mica did not mention his opposition to the measure, Harclerode simply stated that "I guess it just wasn't the focus".
Next in line was Rep. Donald Young (R-AK), who is just another Alaskan politician with absolutely no clue. Famous for his strong support of numerous unnecessary earmarks (including funding for the Bridge to Nowhere), his ties to imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the federal investigation for his alleged acceptance of bribes and illegal gifts, Young boasted after the House vote that he had "won a victory for the Alaska Native contracting program and other Alaska small business owners last night in H.R. 1". Apparently one provision within the bill would have made it hard for minority businesses to win contracts and, according to Young himself, he supposedly "worked with members on the other side of the aisle to make the case for these programs and was able to get the provision pulled from the bill". But guess what? Young didn't vote for the bill either. In actuality, Young claimed that "This bill was not a stimulus bill. It was a vehicle for pet projects and that's wrong." And if anyone should know about pet projects, it is Young. As a matter of fact, Young informed The McClatchy Co. that he would have included earmarks or local projects in the bill if he had been permitted to do so. But President Obama is still the one that we need to fear?
No comments:
Post a Comment