Bill is all about paybacks and pork-barrel spending

President Obama has promised us transparency and openness regarding the “Stimulus Package.” On Feb. 10, Rep. Lewis of California offered a “motion to instruct” in the House of Representatives. This motion essentially required that the final version of the “stimulus package” be posted “in an electronic, searchable and downloadable form for at least 48 hours prior to” Congress voting on it. This motion passed unanimously.

On the surface it sounds like the President and Congress are serious about their openness pledge. So, why is that the Speaker of the House failed to release the final 1,000-plus page bill until 11 p.m. the night before the vote? What’s in this bill that Obama, Pelosi and Reid don’t want us to see?

This package has nothing to do with “stimulating” the economy. Instead this “stimulus” bill is all about pork-barrel spending and political paybacks.

Today the Democrats are pointing fingers at the Republicans for not signing on to this bill.  When it fails to fix the economy, will the Democrats accept responsibility for its failure or point fingers at the Republicans again? Kudos to Rep. Walt Minnick for voting no.

BERT WALLIS

Sagle