Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03) is my congressman. He has, in the past, shown flashes of common sense, and on occasion, great personal political courage, to include voting "yes" on the rather idiotic Schiavo Bill.
He has also shown what amounts to great political cowardice: he has failed to take a position on the greatest economic challenge facing Southwest Washington, perhaps in our history: the development of the corrupt and massive economic black hole known as the Barnett/Mohegan/Paskenta Megacasino; and he has come out swinging against the Liquid Natural Gas Plant at Bradwood Landing... WHICH ISN'T IN HIS DISTRICT (Odd, isn't it (and quite easy to take a position when the outcome will not impact your own district) that this guy can be so damned concerned about something in another state, and remain silent in the face of the abortive Megacasino development)
But today, he's picked up the mantel of other local political morons who ignore the groundswell of opposition to the I-5 bridge replacement/loot rail con job, and he voted for the largest, most onerous, worst abuse of the American people in this nation's history.
It was the wrong vote. More importantly, Baird KNOWS it's the wrong vote. Unfortunately, he lacks the guts shown by the 7 honorable democrats who voted "no" in the House: Congressmen
Bright
DeFazio
Griffith
Minnick
Peterson
Shuler
Taylor
How do I know that Baird is aware he took the wrong vote? How do I know his vote terrifies him?
Because within an hour of taking it, he blast e-mailed everyone with a computer in the 3rd District with his reasons, such as they are, for doing so.
* Why I Voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act *
February 13, 2009
Dear Friends:
Today, I voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and I wanted to tell you how I came to that decision. Please click the link below to hear a video message from me. I would also encourage you to forward this message to your friends and neighbors.
Click here to watch my message about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Our country is facing some of the most disastrous economic conditions since the Great Depression. We are seeing more than 100,000 jobs a week disappear; unemployment numbers in parts of Southwest Washington have reached double digits. We have to get people back to work, and this legislation, while not perfect, takes major steps to ensure that happens.
I have long advocated that any recovery package include major investments in infrastructure and renewable energy. From roads, to schools, to waste water treatment plants, there is plenty of work to be done in Southwest Washington, and there are plenty of people willing to work. This bill provides the money necessary to get those projects moving. We are borrowing this money from our children, and we need to make sure they get something for their investment.
However, it’s important to remember that this bill is not a magic wand. Even if this legislation is successful, our economy will remain in a very fragile state. The conditions created by excessive debt on both the federal and personal level, our rising trade deficit, and the rising costs of energy all suggest that we will face painful economic times for some time to come.
It’s truly an honor to represent and serve you. If you ever need anything, or just want to let me know about an issue that concerns you, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely,
Brian
*CONTACT MY OFFICES *
Vancouver OfficeO.O. Howard House750 Anderson Street, Suite BVancouver, WA 98661Phone: (360) 695-6292Fax: (360) 695-6197
Olympia Office 120 Union Avenue, Suite 105Olympia, WA 98501Phone: (360) 352-9768Fax: (360) 352-9241
Washington, D.C. Office2350 Rayburn HOBWashington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3536Fax: (202) 225-3478
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The problem is this, Mr. Baird: This horrific, monumental waste of money WILL NOT DO WHAT YOU AND THE PRESIDENT SAY IT WILL DO.
And more importantly, you ignored the Congressional Budget Office, that indicated that this package is not only not needed, but it will, in fact, be HARMFUL to the recovery.
Let me leave you with these questions, Mr. Baird:
Did you read the bill?
And if you didn't... and you know you didn't...
Then how could you vote "yes," no matter WHAT it contains?
Officials: Stimulus good for state Gregoire says plan ‘will create jobs’ for Washington residents
Thursday, February 12 10:21 p.m.
BY KATHIE DURBIN
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER
>>>>>>Interest in bill is high
Interest in how the stimulus bill will affect individual taxpayers was intense, judging from the 4,800 residents of Southwest Washington who took part in an hour-long virtual town hall hosted by Rep. Brian Baird Thursday from Washington, D.C.
Baird fielded phoned-in questions from 20 constituents on topics ranging from whether the stimulus package includes a tax credit for first-time home buyers (the Senate took it out, but now it's back in) to whether it includes money for a new bridge over the Columbia River (no, because it's not "shovel-ready") to whether people will get a stimulus check in the mail (they won't; instead, most will get a temporary reduction in their federal withholding tax, amounting to an extra $13 a week.)
Baird said he appreciated the opportunity to hear from constituents while he is stuck in Washington, D.C., waiting for the bill to come back to the House floor for a final vote. The House could vote today; as of late Thursday, no vote had been scheduled in the Senate.
He said that although he planned to vote for the stimulus, he was disappointed that the final bill did not include more money for infrastructure projects to create new jobs. The final bill includes $507 billion in spending programs and $282 billion in tax relief.
"If I had written the bill myself, we would have $150 billion more in infrastructure" and less in tax cuts, he said.
Right now, people are afraid to spend, he said, but investing in infrastructure will pump money into the economy. "You have to pay somebody to build a bridge, to repair a school roof or put up a transmission line."
More:
No comments:
Post a Comment