In 2009, liberal Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) told Wisconsinites that she would support President Barack Obama’s $825 billion stimulus because it was a “jobs” bill that would help repair America’s aging roads and bridges.
But after Baldwin helped ram the bill through the House of Representatives, it was revealed that, in fact, only 5 percent of the so-called “stimulus” was spent on infrastructure. A few months later, it was revealed that billions of dollars were given to tax cheats and millions of dollars were spent in fictitious congressional districts, like a $1.24 million project in Wisconsin’s non-existent “55th Congressional District.”
Despite the fact that it’s been widely accepted that the first stimulus was a boondoggle that never lived up to Baldwin and Obama’s promises, it appears the liberal Congresswoman wants Washington to repeat the same expensive mistake, touting her familiar rhetoric that more government spending in the name of infrastructure “would put people back to work right away” as Senate Democrats prepare to vote on a $50 billion “infrastructure” stimulus later this week.
As The Hill reports:
President Obama’s proposal to create a national infrastructure bank and spend $50 billion on transportation to stimulate job growth will be up for a vote in the Senate this week. … The president incorporated it into his proposal for a $447 billion jobs act, which the Senate is now voting on in pieces after its rejection as a package.
“Tammy Baldwin said the first $825 billion ‘stimulus’ would focus on jobs and infrastructure, but rather than explain why the country instead lost another 1.5 million jobs since it was passed, it appears she wants Wisconsinites to foot the bill for another $50 billion in government stimulus so she and President Obama can make the same expensive mistake yet again,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “With our country’s debt at nearly $15 trillion, Wisconsin simply cannot afford the job-killing, tax-and-spend experiments of President Obama and Congresswoman Baldwin.”
BACKGROUND
Baldwin, 2009: “The Legislation We Passed Today Will Help Create Jobs Quickly By Re-Investing In Our Crumbling Roads, Bridges, And Schools And Further Developing Renewable Energy Technologies.” (Rep. Tammy Baldwin, “Baldwin Votes For Economic Recovery Plan,” Press Release, 1/29/09)
“The House Has Passed Its $819 Billion Version, With At Least $4.3 Billion For Schools, Roads And Health Care In Wisconsin, According To The Offices Of Reps. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, And Ron Kind, D-La Crosse. The Senate Is Expected To Vote On Its Plan This Week.” (Mark Pitsch, “Federal Cash May Help State,” Wisconsin State Journal, 2/2/09)
Baldwin Said “This Legislation Addresses Those Immediate Needs And Sets Us On A Path Toward Economic Recovery And Growth. First And Foremost, This Bill Will Create And Save The Jobs We Need Now – More Than 70,000 In Wisconsin Over The Next Two Years.” Baldwin: “The bill we’re sending to the President’s desk is not perfect, but it is essential. Today, thousands of people in Wisconsin are in desperate need of jobs, health care, home heating assistance, mortgage assistance or housing. This legislation addresses those immediate needs and sets us on a path toward economic recovery and growth. First and foremost, this bill will create and save the jobs we need now – more than 70,000 in Wisconsin over the next two years – most in the private sector.” (Tammy Baldwin Press Release, “Rep. Baldwin Issues Statement On Economic Recovery And Reinvestment Act,” 2/14/09)
