AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 (House of Representatives - January 27, 2009)

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Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Chairman, just last week the Joint Committee on Taxation could not say whether any jobs would be created by the nearly $1 trillion package before us.

We cannot let calls for swift action overrun common sense, thorough consideration, and healthy debate. The bailout showed us the mistakes that can happen when government rushes to action.

We are united, however, Democrats and Republicans, together in recognizing the need for action. This is a time for smart, accountable, and targeted investments to get our economy back on track, not more of the same shotgun spending that mortgages our children's futures.

There are clearly provisions in this bill that I support and I think every Member in the House has something in this bill they support. But we are here to pass an emergency stimulus package that creates jobs, not another spending bill.

To stimulate the economy and preserve, promote, and create jobs, we must enact proven measures like broad-based tax relief for families and small businesses, opening new markets to trade, and investing wisely in infrastructure. Those are the things that will get our economy moving and create jobs for people in our Nation.

So I urge my colleagues to oppose this measure so that we can work together with President Obama, who has reached out to the Republican side and encouraged us to provide our input, our ideas, and our thoughts to craft effective legislation that gets our economy back on track.

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