Obama cabinet politicos snark about Kyl’s stimulus stance

Arizona Republican senator John Kyl said, "Even the money that has been spent isn’t going to the worthy 'shovel-ready' projects often mentioned by proponents of the bill." Sen. John Kyl (R-Ariz.) has been outspoken about stimulus spending, calling for an end to the program many of us believe is just another Democratic Party excuse to tax and spend. Kyl found himself in a storm of criticism from some members of President Barack Obama’s cabinet. Kyl voiced his opinions during pop politics programs airing Sunday morning. The Arizona Republic doesn’t agree with Kyl’s position, but defended the senator’s right to state his concerns. The newspaper cited the cabinet politicos: “Shaun Donovan, secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Ray LaHood, secretary of Transportation. Ken Salazar, secretary of the Interior. And Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture. Of the lot, LaHood's message was the most blunt: '(I)f you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know.' " The bureaucrats sent the letter to Arizona’s governor.

There’s a lesson in this, and it’s one every American should respect. When we say we want the federal government to spend less, we must include our own states in the reductions. A Rasmussen poll (Jul.10) found, “Sixty-two percent (62%) of Americans now oppose federal government bailouts for states like California that are experiencing major budget problems.”

Shoving money at states is a long-time federal habit. It’s a means of enabling the tax practices Democrats are fond of.

Of course the administration and Congress have options on cutting spending. They just refuse to exercise those options. A good start would be an across the board decrease in all federal budgets for any non-essential agency or group. Another good start would be to cease and desist advocacy funding for groups like La Raza and ACORN. Nowhere in the constitution does it state or imply federal tax money should be given to advocacy groups. So much for Obama’s promise to go “line by line” through the federal budget.

It’s not surprising the Dem politicos would go after Kyl. He happens to be exactly right about spending that will haunt the next generation of retirees. We will see reductions in medical services within the Medicare program we are forced—in my opinion this is unconstitutional—to enroll in if we want to recoup the social security money we paid into the system since we held our first job. Why no one has filed a lawsuit about this practice I cannot tell you.

The administration has failed miserably to be accountable for the money. The government’s website doesn’t even come close to the private website tracking stimulus dollars and disclosing information. I recall one project designated to assist people with their TV conversions to digital after the government had already spent billions on converter boxes.

In a press release, Kyl said, “Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn recently issued a report highlighting some of the projects the stimulus bill has funded. Here’s a snapshot: the Social Security Administration sent out one-time $250 payments to its recipients, including 10,000 people who are dead; a national forest in Missouri will receive close to a half-million dollars to replace 22 concrete toilets; Pawtucket, Rhode Island will receive $550,000 for a skateboard park; and $300 road signs are being placed at construction sites to advertise that the project is being funded by the stimulus bill. “

I suppose TV is now an entitlement along with every other thing most of us believe should be earned rather than handed over at the expense of taxpayers.

The government is expanding a welfare class too uninformed to realize they’re being lulled into dependency. Kyl deserves accolades for having the gumption and fortitude to speak up about stimulus dollars that in the end will gouge those of us who support this country with our hard-earned dollars. You can spend the money now, but we’re mortgaging our future and our freedom.

 Obama cabinet politicos snark about Kyl's stimulus stance
by Kay B. Day
The US Report