Stimulus

Overview of Issue

Amidst our rapidly deteriorating economic situation, President Barack Obama and members of Congress have an extraordinary responsibility–and opportunity–to revive our economy and bring meaning to the words “hope” and “change.”

To date they have failed in every measure.

Instead of leveraging enormous bipartisan goodwill and a genuine collective enthusiasm for reform, the politicians in Washington who crafted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan reverted to classic Beltway deal making and borrow-and-spend economics that rewards favored constituencies and pits taxpayers against recipients of government largesse.

The plan as passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate fails to adequately address the urgent need for immediate job creation for small businesses and economic relief for families. Like the Troubled Asset Relief Program of only a few short months ago, the stimulus plan comes heavy with promises but light on meaningful reform. Throwing hundreds of billions of new dollars into an unreconstructed system is a mistake.

Just like TARP, the stimulus bill looks more like a bailout; not of big banks, but of irresponsible states. The stimulus bill contains over $200 billion for state and local governments. The politicians tell us this bailout will prevent state governments from having to raise taxes to make up for their shortfalls. Really? Who’s going to pay the taxes to finance the new government spending in the stimulus plan? The same hardworking families who would have to pay for the state shortfalls! New government spending–whether at the federal, state or local levels–is paid for by taxpayers. Period.

What’s worse, because the states in the worst shape will get a disproportionate share of the $200 billion, the bailout to the state governments will actually penalize those governors and state legislatures that have managed their budgets prudently and reward those who have mismanaged their finances. Why should New Hampshire taxpayers pay for California’s irresponsible borrow-tax-and-spend budgeting?

Take a look at the stimulus bill and decide for yourself whether it provides the necessary economic boost we need or if it is politics as usual, Washington-style. If you agree with our message, please join our cause by signing our petition, voicing your opinion in our poll, contacting your member of Congress or joining one of our social media groups to help spread the word.