On the recordMarch 10, 2010
Well, these are exciting numbers. We have got to get people back to work. And I concur with the gentleman from Virginia. Let me revisit for just a moment exactly what the Recovery Act and the stimulus bill included. Thirty-seven percent of the package was tax cuts. $288 billion was given to small businesses so that they could help grow and invest in our new economy. In my opinion, that is going to be our investment in energy. $288 billion was invested back so small businesses could start growing again and investing back. Largest tax cut in America's history, largest tax cut for working middle class families. In fact, 95 percent of middle class families in our country got some tax relief through their employer. $144 billion, or 18 percent of the Recovery Act, was allocated to State and local fiscal relief. More than 90 percent of the State aid is going to help folks who are finding themselves on Medicaid rolls. Fighting to make sure that we didn't have double-digit increases in tuition across State universities and so that our local school districts could keep teachers hired and we could keep custodians in the building. This is very important, Mr. Speaker, that we understand that we help bring our economy back from the brink of a great recession. As that contemporary commercial says today, How will we remember this time? How will we remember it? Will we remember it as the great recession or the recession that made us great?
