Charles Skelton: “it is often said that legislating is the ``art of compromise.'' Today, the House is considering a carefully negotiated…”

“it is often said that legislating is the ``art of compromise.'' Today, the House is considering a carefully negotiated economic recovery bill that represents a good balance of tax cuts and spending stimulus to help get our economy back on track and help get people in this country working again. As a representative of small town Missouri and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I am particularly pleased that the legislation directs needed resources to rural parts of the country and further addresses an economic downturn that has become a national security threat to the United States. Over the past year, the Government has taken steps to help reduce the impact of the recession on the American people. Some of those actions have proven helpful, while others must be reviewed and improved. But, economists from across the political spectrum have indicated that further economic stimulus is necessary to help reduce layoffs and create jobs. Since January, bipartisan consensus has been built around a $789 billion economic recovery bill designed to boost employment and invest in the health, education, and safety of the American people. This legislation invests heavily in rural priorities, such as boosting funds for rural water programs; for rural highway and infrastructure projects, for school modernization initiatives; for Corps of Engineers projects; for agricultural-based alternative energy development; and for expanding Internet broadband technology.”