WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today opposed the Democrats’ trillion dollar spending bill that will stimulate debt and government, but do little to simulate the economy or create jobs now.  Bond also criticized the Democrats for their unwillingness to work with Republicans to improve the bill and President Obama for failing to live up to his promise of bipartisanship just a month after he took office. 

 

“President Obama baited us with calls of bipartisanship and once he gained the White House he switched to partisanship.  President Obama baited us with talk of a timely, targeted and temporary stimulus and then switched to a bloated, business-as-usual, Democratic spending spree stuffed with billions in wish list items that won't create jobs,” said Bond.  “Families need help now – it’s time for this bait and switch to end.”

 

For months, Bond urged the Democratic leadership to pass a timely, targeted and temporary stimulus bill to help struggling families now that included three critical components necessary for any economic recovery package to be effective:  real and significant tax relief for working families and small businesses; significant investment in ready-to-go infrastructure projects; and a solid plan to attack the root of this economic crisis – the housing and financial crises.  Unfortunately, the Democrats’ trillion dollar spending plan misses the mark and fails to achieve these goals and as a result Bond voted against the bill today.

 

Bond stressed that in addition to failing to stimulate the economy or job creation the Democrats’ spending bill will stimulate our nation’s debt and will stimulate the growth of government.  Bond pointed out that this trillion dollar bill is loaded with wasteful spending that will do little to create jobs now, despite Republican efforts to trim the bill’s price tag.  Bond also dismissed claims that the bill pushed through the Senate today was a “grand” compromise.  In fact, the budget buster spending bill is almost $19 billion more than the House bill.

 

“The only thing ‘grand’ about this compromise is the price tag,” said Bond.  “Only in Washington, would trimming a trillion-dollar bill down to $838 billion be called fiscally responsible.  With interest, this is still a trillion-dollar baby.”

 

While Bond opposed final passage of the bill, he fought to improve the legislation on the floor of the Senate.  First, Bond was successful in passing provisions to provide relief to hard-hit families and communities now.  These provisions included bipartisan efforts to provide much-needed affordable housing for low income and working families that would create jobs and programs to help communities, especially those in rural areas, receive funds to help them clean their water.  Also, Bond supported provisions to prevent failed CEO’s from receiving exorbitant salaries or luxury perks. 

 

            Throughout the debate over the Democrats’ spending bill, Bond heard from thousands of Missourians who asked him to oppose the legislation.  With his vote today, Bond “showed” Missourians he heard them loud and clear.

 

            The bill Bond opposed passed the Senate today with a vote of 61-37.  Before being signed into law, the differences between the House and Senate versions must be resolved.

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