House Republicans (along with 11 Democrats) unanimously voted against the costly Crap Manwich, also known as the economic socialism stimulus plan.
In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night, filled with new spending and tax cuts at the core of the young adminstration’s revival plan for the desperately ailing economy.
The vote was 244-188.
“We don’t have a moment to spare,” Obama declared at the White House as congressional allies hastened to do his bidding in the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
The vote sent the bill to the Senate, where debate is expected to begin as early as this week on a companion measure already taking shape. Democratic leaders have pledged to have legislation ready for Obama’s signature by mid-February.
A mere eight days after Inauguration Day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday’s events heralded a new era. “The ship of state is difficult to turn,” said the California Democrat. “But that is what we must do. That is what President Obama called us to do in his inaugural address.”
With unemployment at its highest level in a quarter-century, the banking industry wobbling despite the infusion of staggering sums of bailout money and states struggling with budget crises, Democrats said the legislation was desperately needed.
“Another week that we delay is another 100,000 or more people unemployed. I don’t think we want that on our consciences,” said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and one of the leading architects of the legislation.
Republicans said the bill was short on tax cuts and contained too much spending, much of it wasteful and unlikely to help laid-off Americans.
The party’s leader, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, said the measure “won’t create many jobs, but it will create plenty of programs and projects through slow-moving government spending.” A GOP alternative, comprised almost entirely of tax cuts, was defeated, 266-170, moments before the final vote. Read full story.
What are they going to do when this doesn’t work? The Democrats own it now.
Update: Click here for the roll call.
The Democrats who voted against the bill are: F. Allen Boyd-FL, Bobby Bright-AL, Jim Cooper-TN, Brad Ellsworth-IN, Parker Griffith-AL, Paul Kanjorski-PA, Frank Kratovil-MD, Walt Minnick-ID, Collin Peterson-MN, Heath Shuler-NC, Gene Taylor-MS.
To my fellow 24th Congressional District voters – Democrat Dan Maffei voted for the crap sandwich. Remember that.
