Mike Pence: “Our Nation is in a recession, and millions of Americans are hurting. Many have lost their jobs. Many more millions worry…”

“Our Nation is in a recession, and millions of Americans are hurting. Many have lost their jobs. Many more millions worry that they will be next. It is absolutely right that our new President and this Congress take decisive action to stimulate this economy. But the legislation brought to the floor last week and the legislation being considered on the Senate floor this week in the form of the Democrat stimulus bill is not the answer. Last week, House Republicans unanimously rejected the so-called stimulus bill that was brought to the floor by Democratic leadership, and we urge our Senate colleagues to do likewise. House Republicans unanimously opposed the Democrat spending bill for a variety of reasons. But, among them first, the bill that Democrats brought to the House was not about stimulating this economy, but more about stimulating government and debt. It included wasteful government spending that has nothing to do with creating jobs. As I asked on this floor last week, what does $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts have to do with creating jobs in Indiana? What is $400 million for climate change research going to do to move people from the unemployment line to the factory line? In legislation before the Senate this week, $20 million for the removal of small- to medium-sized fish passage barriers; or $25 million to rehabilitate off-roading trails for ATVs is not going to put this economy back on track.”