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WASHINGTON – Rep. Bobby Bright voted against the $787 billion economic recovery package Friday, one of only seven Democrats to cross party lines and vote against the package.
Bright of Montgomery said that despite his concerns about the economy and some good provisions in the bill, the recovery plan was rushed.
“Many of us did not have an opportunity to see it and discuss it in great detail,” he said.
Bright said the bill was too large and could have been done piece-by-piece. He favored a phased-in stimulus plan, pumping money into infrastructure first and then passing tax cuts.
“I was not convinced this package was going to do what we all wanted it to do, and that is stimulate our economy, create jobs and restore confidence in our economy,” he said. ”That was our goal. I’m not sure this package will do that. Time will tell.”
Bright also said opposition to the bill ran high among his constituents.
The bill was approved in the House 246-183. No Republicans voted for it.
Under the package, Alabama will receive money for numerous programs and projects, including Medicaid, public school repairs and road and bridge construction.
Rep. Parker Griffith of Huntsville also voted against the plan. Griffith said the bill was passed too quickly and that it is not likely to jump start the economy.
“This bill adds a burden of debt to an already overburdened treasury and will eventually lead to higher interest rates for consumers and businesses with very little chance of achieving its original intent,” he said in a written statement.
Both Bright and Griffith are freshman House members and belong to a coalition of conservative Democrats called the Blue Dog coalition. President Barack Obama tried to shore up support for the stimulus package when he met with the group earlier this week.
The Senate was expected to vote late Friday. Alabama’s senators – both Republicans –opposed the plan.
Sen. Richard Shelby said the bill was poorly conceived and hastily crafted.
“Our solution needs to focus on restoring our banking system,” he said on the Senate floor. “Unless our banking system is nurtured back to health, our economy will remain crippled and much of what is in this stimulus bill will have been wasted.”
Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com
Here’s a sampling of what Alabama is expected to receive from the $787 billion stimulus bill, according to congressional offices.
- $850 million increase over two years in direct health care money under Medicaid statewide.
- $198 million more for Title I schools (schools with large numbers of students from struggling families)
- $38.5 million in child care aid
- $12.4 million increase in Head Start money to help prepare children for school
- More than $600 million for transportation projects
Bright of Montgomery said that despite his concerns about the economy and some good provisions in the bill, the recovery plan was rushed.
“Many of us did not have an opportunity to see it and discuss it in great detail,” he said.
Bright said the bill was too large and could have been done piece-by-piece. He favored a phased-in stimulus plan, pumping money into infrastructure first and then passing tax cuts.
“I was not convinced this package was going to do what we all wanted it to do, and that is stimulate our economy, create jobs and restore confidence in our economy,” he said. ”That was our goal. I’m not sure this package will do that. Time will tell.”
Bright also said opposition to the bill ran high among his constituents.
The bill was approved in the House 246-183. No Republicans voted for it.
Under the package, Alabama will receive money for numerous programs and projects, including Medicaid, public school repairs and road and bridge construction.
Rep. Parker Griffith of Huntsville also voted against the plan. Griffith said the bill was passed too quickly and that it is not likely to jump start the economy.
“This bill adds a burden of debt to an already overburdened treasury and will eventually lead to higher interest rates for consumers and businesses with very little chance of achieving its original intent,” he said in a written statement.
Both Bright and Griffith are freshman House members and belong to a coalition of conservative Democrats called the Blue Dog coalition. President Barack Obama tried to shore up support for the stimulus package when he met with the group earlier this week.
The Senate was expected to vote late Friday. Alabama’s senators – both Republicans –opposed the plan.
Sen. Richard Shelby said the bill was poorly conceived and hastily crafted.
“Our solution needs to focus on restoring our banking system,” he said on the Senate floor. “Unless our banking system is nurtured back to health, our economy will remain crippled and much of what is in this stimulus bill will have been wasted.”
Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com
Here’s a sampling of what Alabama is expected to receive from the $787 billion stimulus bill, according to congressional offices.
- $850 million increase over two years in direct health care money under Medicaid statewide.
- $198 million more for Title I schools (schools with large numbers of students from struggling families)
- $38.5 million in child care aid
- $12.4 million increase in Head Start money to help prepare children for school
- More than $600 million for transportation projects