Economic Stimulus: No Republicans, But a Few Dems as Well

The Economic Stimulus plan has cleared the U.S. House by a vote of 244-188. As you've heard, much of the coverage has focused on the fact that no Republican representatives voted in favor of the measure.

This part of the story is getting big play because President Obama made some obvious attempts to woo support from the GOP by meeting with their leadership and members on the hill.

I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions on what having no Republican support for the plan means, but do keep in mind that 11 Democrats also cast "nay" votes on an $825 billion plan that the Congressional Budget Office says will cost taxpayers more than one trillion dollars when you include the interest financing.

One Democrat voting against the bill was western North Carolina congressman Heath Shuler. He issued this statement following his no vote:

“Today Congress passed H.R. 1 in an attempt to stimulate our nation’s economy and prevent this current recession from worsening. It is my belief that Congress should use this opportunity to invest in America’s infrastructure for the 21st Century, so that we can compete in this increasingly global economy. This investment should focus on green jobs, highways and bridges, railways, a modernized electrical grid, and broadband Internet: infrastructure projects that create jobs and make America more completive globally. In my opinion, the legislation before the House today contained too much additional spending in areas that will not offer immediate economic stimulus. As our nation faces an historic budget deficit and a national debt approaching $11 trillion, I cannot in good conscience borrow and spend $825 billion, further burdening future generations of Americans.”

The White House has set up a website where you'll be able to follow how the recovery money is going to be spent, but as of Thursday afternoon it only contains the following paragraphs.

"Check back after passage of the American Recovery Act to see how and where your tax dollars are spent.

An oversight board will routinely update this site as part of an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government."

I admire the pledge for transparency and I plan to follow this website. However, wouldn't it be better for the government to lay out how they're going to spend your money - before passing the act - as opposed to just tracking those dollars after the measure becomes law?

Just asking.