Once again, Republicans are taking aim at the stimulus bill that is on pace to create or save more than 3.5 million jobs in America. As Lisa Mascaro reported in MondayÕs Las Vegas Sun, they want money from the $787 billion measure that hasnÕt been used yet to pay down the nationÕs debt or to provide tax cuts.
Nevada is still scheduled to receive more than $500 million of its $2.1 billion in stimulus funding, yet state Republicans, much like their national counterparts, have been attacking the stimulus package. Sen. John Ensign of Nevada voted to return leftover money for debt relief. Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian, the two leading Republican candidates to challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this fall, have opposed more stimulus spending.
Tarkanian said the nation should be Ògiving the money back to the taxpayer.Ó LowdenÕs spokesman said jobs Òshould come from private money, private investmentÓ instead of stimulus money.
Tax cuts may sound good during a campaign, but cuts alone wonÕt boost the economy. Trickle-down economics — like waiting for tax breaks to stimulate private investment — hasnÕt worked in the past. With the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation at 13 percent, Nevada needs help quickly. Perhaps Lowden missed the fact that a lack of private investment, particularly in Southern Nevada, has led to the high unemployment rate.
Many of the nationÕs leading economists say the stimulus bill was necessary to keep the economy from melting down. Money in the bill goes toward job creation, education, health programs, unemployment aid, education, energy and seniors, among other expenditures.
According to the state, Nevada has saved or created 2,500 jobs with the stimulus money sent to state agencies. Economists figure that the number is closer to 20,000 because of other aid and the multiplier effect: Every person who is employed spends money, which supports and creates other jobs.
Taking money away or stopping stimulus funding now would be a serious mistake.
ÒYou can look at it from just a logical aspect,Ó said Dennis Freimann of the Nevada office that handles the stimulus. ÒIf they are providing $1 million to put people to work, and they take that $1 million away, are those people still going to have their jobs?Ó
Republicans, though, have shown little sympathy for the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs. The partisan games Republicans have played have threatened programs that would help extend benefits to the unemployed or help provide training for new careers.
Despite a national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent, Republicans seem indifferent about the plight of millions of Americans. Some have even challenged the wisdom of extending unemployment benefits, saying it might prevent people from looking for work. At a dinner in Elko, Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., raised the question, asking, ÒIs the government creating hobos?Ó
Republicans show a disdain for Americans with comments like that, assuming people would rather be ÒhobosÓ on the dole than working. Americans are suffering in this recession. In addition to the millions who are out of work, there are millions more who are underemployed — theyÕve had their hours cut and canÕt find other work — or who have seen their pay and benefits reduced.
Taking stimulus money from the states, particularly Nevada, would only further harm the country and the economy.
Copyright 2010  Las Vegas Sun
