Republicans Who Opposed The Stimulus Now Want to Oversee It
If you were looking for watchdogs to ensure that the $790 billion economic stimulus law is put to work for the taxpayers, who would you choose? Earl Devaney, the former inspector general who's now the presidential stimulus watchdog? Elizabeth Warren, the much-praised monitor of the financial bailout?
How about the same GOPers who fought the stimulus tooth and nail?
Hmmm, might it be a bit counter-productive to put the stimulus' leading partisan critics in charge of its implementation? Not to the Republicans. At a press conference today, they announced their intentions to become guardians of the economic recovery effort.
The House and Senate GOP plan to hold hearings "of our own" and talk with state officials to make sure the stimulus is on the right track, Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (TN) told reporters:
So while most of us did not support spending the $1 trillion of taxpayer money because we didn't think it was targeted, timely, and temporary as Speaker Pelosi said stimulus bills should be, we absolutely intend to spend our time over the next two years to make sure it's spent as wisely as possible to help the American taxpayer.
This effort would seem to pose a potential conflict with the official stimulus monitoring being performed by the Obama administration.
Not to mention the logical question that it raises: If we take Republicans at their word, assuming they opposed the stimulus because they didn't think the spending would work ... why are they now forming an organized panel to ensure that it works?
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
Pretty flawed logic, Elana. Just because one opposed something does not mean that, once passed, he does not have an interest it its operating as efficiently as possible.
March 12, 2009 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
But that's not their interest, seeing it run as efficiently as possible. There interest is in seeing it fail. My response: That's nice, children. Run along and hold your hearings while the adults see to the recovery.
March 12, 2009 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
My comment was directed toward Elena's closing statement:
The "logical question" is flawed.
As to whether they wish it to succeed or fail, like it or not, they represent a sizable portion of the country. They have just as much of a say in how the country is run as anyone else. The election of 2008 does not mean we get to treat red states like occupied territories.
March 12, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am sure there are many but show me one GOP principle over the last decade that has made government more effecient?
March 12, 2009 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not suggesting we treat red states like occupied territories. I'm suggesting we treat a bunch of disingenuous fakers like, well, disingenuous fakers. These are not serious people and Democrats have no responsibility to treat them as if they are.
March 12, 2009 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now I'm confused When the repugs won in both Senate and House in 2000 and 2004 they had the slimest of majority in the Senate but they went out of their way to treat Democrats and the states the represented like occupied territories.
March 12, 2009 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
"As to whether they wish it to succeed or fail, like it or not, they represent a sizable portion of the country. They have just as much of a say in how the country is run as anyone else."
No, they don't. The minority does not get "just as much say" as the majority. What a mind-boggling suggestion. They retain their rights, and they still have a role in the legislative process, but the majority party sets the agenda. This is not that complicated.
March 12, 2009 11:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
mans,
the Republican's "interest" is to try to seem relevant, and they will try to do this by getting in front of the TV cameras as much as they can.
March 13, 2009 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Umm, because they lack control of things. Because they are frickin clueless and willing to use any tactic whereby they are either seen as against Dem policies or for conservative principles. I have never quite understood how a party can rail against government from the time of the uber champion Reagen but also be seen as good stewards of government. I mean it is about time the MSM and press wake up an realize that the GOP is on the verge of advocating outright anarchy, although it is from a moral stance. They believe in capatilism but one which is unrestrained as possible and even when our economy seems to fail because of these policies they ignore any sort of policy ideology which lead to the current reality. It's insane! Here we have Dem appointees falling by the wayside for tax issues and yet you have GOP senators and some congressmen who have committed crimes yet have the chutzpah to go infront of the MSM and not be called on the BS (Vitter is a current fav). Then you have all these earmarks which McCain and many in the conservative party like to rail agianst (I was in TN recently to see a friend from school and many of his friends many of which are conservative were constantly railing agianst earmarks and Pelosi), yet many of these guys and gals are the chief propagators for earmarks. If the Dem party needs any free PR advice simply put an ad up around the country which puts the money total for earmarks from this last bill and then next to it show how much money the GOP took in Earmarks.
March 12, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this just might be the Republicans hedging their bets. By getting better visibility for the implementation of the stimulus, they will claim credit when the economy eventually turns around.
Republicans: "Our thrifty oversight of this welfare stimulus prevented the waste that we feared would happen and allowed it to succeed."
Well that and that where there is money, there is power. We all know how the Republicans lust after power.
March 12, 2009 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I thought it was money they lusted after.
March 13, 2009 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Won't Devaney and Warren have to submit reports to and testify before Congress? Won't there be routine Congressional oversight of the spending? So the Republicans will get their chance, right?
March 12, 2009 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, yes, but this article appears to be suggesting something else in addition to that. The Republicans say they'll hold "hearings of their own."
This changes the dynamic some, because I can't see any way that such hearings would have any actual effect on the administration of the stimulus...they just don't have the force of law on their side. All they can do is complain. So I don't think we're in any danger of real "sabotage" here...I think it's just a method to wage an unending PR war on the stimulus. Now that it has passed, the GOP lacks an obvious way to keep whining about it and claiming it's a failure...this allows them that opportunity for the whole duration of the project.
March 12, 2009 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, folks, let's start calling this economic situation what it really is -- the Bush Recession, and the Obama Recovery. Always the Obama Recovery. Branding matters.
March 12, 2009 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or better yet, Team Obama!
Spread that prestige around a little so in 2010 there are more hands on deck to clear off the mess Dubya and the Zom-Bushes left.
March 13, 2009 1:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Bush Recession. The Obama Recovery. I like it very much. Thank you.
March 13, 2009 5:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
We dont need to have the "foxes" guarding the hen house..... That just will not work ! The repubs. were against the recovery reinvestment bill, and they were`nt shy about their opposition ... NOW, they want to oversee it`s distribution .... NO WAY IN HELL !!!!
March 13, 2009 1:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, show us the money!!!! We have experience in no bid contracts, payoffs to our special interest buddies, and throwing money away on bridges to nowhere. We could even use some of this dough to break some more unions, funnel more money to drug companies, and maybe some oil companies for off shore leases. Heck, we could even use it to set up a Karl Rove defense fund. We will put our best guys in charge of it, Tom Delay and Jack Abramoff.
March 13, 2009 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink