Jenkins Opposes New Stimulus Plan

Operating on the old Republican axiom of "Why help the working class, silly?" Lynn Jenkins has announced she is opposed to any effort to issue another round of stimulus checks.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Republican Lynn Jenkins says she doesn't support efforts by Congress to approve a new economic stimulus package.

The GOP nominee in the 2nd Congressional District said the first package, approved earlier this year, didn't adequately stimulate the economy.

As for talk of a new one, she said Friday that it "reeks of political expediency."

That's fine, Lynn- you've had that excuse for helping out the middle class before (just a couple days ago when talking about the Wall Street Bailout you said Congresswoman Nancy Boyda was taking the easy way out, even though you said you would have done the same).

Boyda, rightly, said Jenkins' stance we irresponsible.

Boyda said it would be irresponsible to take any proposal for improving the economy off the table.

Jenkins retorted with "We'd be better served by making the Bush tax cuts permenant." Again, Lynn, glad you're looking out for the wealthiest Americans rather than trying to help struggling families make ends meet.

He Said it Again: Ryun Advocating a $1.6 TRILLION Stimulus Package

We kind of thought he was just being tongue-in-cheek yesterday on the Raubin & Megan radio show when Jim Ryun said the stimulus package passed by Congress should have been increased by ten fold.

We thought it was sarcasm, because how in the world could a self-described "fiscal conservative" advocate for a $12,000 payout to every single American taxpayer? How could a self-described "fiscal conservative" advocate a $1.5 TRILLION jump in the deficit?

He wasn't being tongue-in-cheek and he wasn't being sarcastic, because former Congressman Jim Ryun just said again, this time on the Jim Cates Show on KMAJ 1440, that he wishes the Congress would have passed a stimulus package that would have given American taxpayers a $12,000 check.

Here's the exact quote from yesterday:

Ryun: Let me just say this- if the amount of money coming back, lets say to the to the typical average family, if $1,200 was good, why not $12,000? You know, let's really stimulate the economy and make it go forward.

Sure, Jim, but how do you suggest we pay for that? New taxes? Borrowing from China? After blathering on about the weak dollar and how flimsy the economy is, Jim Ryun thinks the best way to fix it is to saddle future generations with trillions of dollars in new debt.

It's ridiculous statements like this one that made Americans know Republicans couldn't handle money, and another reason Democrats like Nancy Boyda will find themselves still in Congress in 2009.

Boyda endorses stimulus package

As reported in today's Topeka Capitol-Journal, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda supports the stimulus package agreement that has been reached between Democratic House leadership, the Republican minority and the White House.

The stimulus package negotiated by the Bush administration and House Republicans and Democrats would provide individual taxpayers up to $600 rebates, with working couples pocketing $1,200. Those with children would get an additional $300 per child.

"That will be money injected directly into the economy," said Democratic Rep. Nancy Boyda.

Though we are loath to say it, Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) made a good point, though we don't agree with his analysis. The article reads thusly:

The drawback, Tiahrt said, was the Internal Revenue Service might not be able to send out rebate checks until June or July. It is a big job, given that more than 100 million taxpayers might qualify for a rebate.

"If there is a recession, it will probably be over by then," he said.

It is deeply unfortunate that the rebate checks might not be in the mail until June or July because our economy needs a stimulus right this very minute. Our end fear is very different from Mr. Tiahrt's- we're afraid this will all come too late to do any good, and by June or July the recession will have firmly established itself, and millions of Kansans and Americans will have suffered for months.