Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: “I rise to oppose the misdirected economic stimulus plan, H.R. 3529, Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2001 because…”

“I rise to oppose the misdirected economic stimulus plan, H.R. 3529, Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2001 because the bill fails to balance worker assistance provisions and tax cuts while wrecking years of Federal fiscal discipline. The economy is stagnating and people with a tenuous grip on the economic ladder fear rising unemployment rates and health costs will cause further pain. I am disappointed that Congress could not come to an agreement on an economic stimulus package and I fault those who cling to rigid ideological positions as a justification for blocking compromise and comity. The plan we will consider today does not do enough to focus on the hundreds of thousands of recently unemployed Americans and enacts risky corporate tax cuts and rebates that would further weaken our fiscal health. Squandering an opportunity to secure health care coverage for the unemployed and tax reductions to encourage business growth sends the message to American people that Congress is not serious about economic recovery. Mr. Speaker, the Congress acted in a bipartisan manner to give the President the tools necessary to fight the war on terrorism. Democrats and Republicans compromised to pass legislation in the best interest of the country. I believe that many Democrats and Republicans were willing to compromise on an economic stimulus package but, unfortunately, ideology trumped pragmatism and common sense.”