For Immediate Release: February 5, 2009
Contact: Alan Barber, (202) 293-5380 x115
Republicans Mount Mini-Criticisms of Stimulus in the Media
By Matthew Sherman, CEPR
Economists and political leaders, from the Federal Reserve to the White House,
have reiterated the need for concerted fiscal measures to stave off a severe
recession. President Barack Obama has set a goal of saving or creating 3 to 4
million jobs with an economic recovery package that in its current form
includes some $900 billion of increased spending and tax cuts.1
The stimulus bill passed the House of Representatives without a single
Republican vote. Congressional Republicans argued that the bill included large
sums of wasteful spending that would not be effective in stimulating the
economy. They offered several specific examples in recent television
appearances.
Appearing on Meet the Press, House Minority Leader John Boehner criticized the
recovery package for including $21 million to re-sod the National Mall as well
as $200 million for contraceptives.2 On Face the Nation, Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell mentioned $600 million going to buy hybrid vehicles for federal
employees and $150 million for honeybee insurance.3 Senator John McCain
questioned a $50 million provision for the National Endowment for the Arts on
CNN's American Morning.4 And on Fox News Sunday, Senator Jon Kyl criticized a
program that would provide benefits to World War II veterans in the
Philippines.5
Republican leaders also released a longer list of provisions they viewed as
'wasteful' to the media, including $6 billion to make federal buildings more
energy-efficient and $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including summer jobs
programs.6
Combined together, all of the provisions in question amount to roughly $19.5
billion, which is little more than 2 percent of the total economic recovery
package. This indicates that, despite their outspoken pessimism, Congressional
Republicans object to only a modest fraction of the stimulus package
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