Thank You Allen Boyd

While I may be conservative, I give credit where credit is due. As reported earlier in the Tallahassee Democrat Rep. Allen Boyd was one of eleven democrats who did not vote for the $850+ billion dollar stimulus package which includes:

$87 billion for Medicare outlays and related spending
$20 billion toward nutrition assistance program (food stamps)
$2.8 billion to expand broadband Internet service in rural areas
$4 billion for programs “to develop rural communities…”
$3 billion for grants to improve the criminal justice system
$3 billion for grants to fund science and technology research
$1 billion for periodic censuses and programs
$1 billion for programs of the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration
$1 billion for the Community Oriented Policing Services program
$2 billion for “other activities”
$4 billion to the Department of Defense to repair, maintain, and renovate its facilities; for energy-efficiency projects, including the modernizing of heating/cooling and electrical systems; and for improvingArmy barracks
$43.9 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE),
$4.5 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers
$500 million for the Bureau of Reclamation
$8.7 billion to promote energy efficiency and conservation at federal facilities and to support small businesses
$1.1 billion for a variety of programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security
$8.4 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs)
$6.6 billion would fund various programs, including capital improvements and maintenance for the Forest Service and National Park Service, the Superfund program, and wildland fire management
$20.4 billion for programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services
$4.6 billion for employment and training programs administered by theDepartment of Labor
$20 billion to renovate elementary and secondary schools
$17.6 billion for Pell grants and other student financial assistance and facilities at post-secondary institutions including federal student loan programs
$29.1 billon for other education programs aimed particularly at elementary and secondary education
$6.0 billion for military construction projects of the Department of Defense
$1 billion for the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to maintain and repair VA medical facilities and cemeteries
$276 million would be provided to the Capital Investment Fund for specific information-technology (IT) projects
$224 million would be provided for construction requirements of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico
$30 billion for highway construction
$13.1 billion for other transportation programs administered by DOT
$11.2 billion for housing assistance programs administered by HUD
$5.2 billion for grants to states and cities for activities related to community development
$41.2 billion per year for 10 highway programs at the state and local level
$10.4 billion per year for transit programs at the state and local level
$39.5 billion available to states each twice a year to help them balance their books
$7.5 billion in each year would be reserved for incentive grants to be given to states on a competitive basis in fiscal year 2010, based on states meeting specified criteria in how they spent their initial allocations
$2.3 billion “emergency” spending for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

plus other spending.

Kudos to Rep. Boyd for not voting to throw our money down the drain. Thank you Rep. Boyd. You did not stay true to your Blue Dog roots when Bush proposed the 700 billion dollar bailout, but you did here and should be commended accordingly.

While some of the above spending may be necessary (and even that is questionable), much of it is simply pork. While there is no doubt that something will be stimulated, much of the above spending has very little to do with the average working man who once again will be left hurting.

By the way, not one single House Republican voted for the bill.

Just as a side note and a thought to consider....

How many of you when faced with a dire financial situation throw money at the situation, money you don't have?

Dick: Hey Jane, I just got laid off from work today.

Jane: I am sorry to hear that Dick.

Dick: Hey, our economic situation is in the pits. Let's go take a trip to Beverly Hills, spend money we don't have, do some shopping and enjoy some fine dining! Maybe that will put money in our bank account.

Jane: Why that makes perfect sense!! You are a genius Dick. Let's even fly out of Tallahassee instead of Jacksonville!

Dick: You read my mind Jane! I have the flight booked already. We leave tomorrow!

Nope. But that is exactly what our federal government is doing.

What do you do? What have I done? You be responsible, suck it up, and spend only what you have.

I don't get it. Sphere: Related Content