By Neil H. Simon
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON- President Barack Obama's visit to Capitol Hill Tuesday failed to win the support of any Virginia House Republicans for his $825 billion economic stimulus plan.
Republicans, a shrunken minority in the House after November's elections, said they reminded the president in the private meeting that they had largely been shut out by House Democrats from early negotiations on the bill.
"[Obama] was very open," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th, "and perhaps what he has done should be an example for the leadership in both the House and the Senate."
Wolf said he remains opposed to the plan because it does not address entitlement spending. Wolf has proposed bipartisan legislation to establish a commission to study Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs to spur Congress to rein in deficit spending.
Reps. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, and Rob Wittman, R-1st, all said they have reservations about the bill. Before House Republicans met with Obama, House Republican Whip Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, urged them to oppose the bill.
Obama said he knows there won't be "100 percent support" for his plan and said he would "continue to welcome good ideas" from Republicans. Some Republicans took that to mean their ideas may be heard when House members and senators hash out the differences between their bills. The House is expected to vote on a version Wednesday.
Goodlatte, who opposes the bill, said Democratic leaders have not "gotten the message" of bipartisanship preached from the White House.
"My biggest concern is the enormous size of it and the fact it is a big government stimulus and not a stimulus of our economy," Goodlatte said.
Republicans will work to "target the wasteful and non-stimulative spending House Democrats are pushing for," Cantor said in a statement.
Wittman said he was disappointed that less than 10 percent of the spending would go toward transportation and infrastructure. He wants more spending targeted for roads and bridges.
"Those are the things that could provide the most good in the most immediate way," he said. He argued that spending millions to improve the National Mall, upgrade science labs or expand education programs may not stimulate the economy.
"If we just spend, spend, spend... we could potentially do more harm than good," Wittman said.
Forbes applauded the tone of the presidential meeting.
"I don't think this was designed to be convincing, Forbes said. "I think [Obama] wanted to show he had a different demeanor and philosophy than the House leadership has."
Forbes has voted against each prior stimulus bill and plans to do the same Wednesday.
"They haven't worked," he said.
(Contact Neil H. Simon at nsimon@mediageneral.com)
Republicans, a shrunken minority in the House after November's elections, said they reminded the president in the private meeting that they had largely been shut out by House Democrats from early negotiations on the bill.
"[Obama] was very open," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th, "and perhaps what he has done should be an example for the leadership in both the House and the Senate."
Wolf said he remains opposed to the plan because it does not address entitlement spending. Wolf has proposed bipartisan legislation to establish a commission to study Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs to spur Congress to rein in deficit spending.
Reps. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, and Rob Wittman, R-1st, all said they have reservations about the bill. Before House Republicans met with Obama, House Republican Whip Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, urged them to oppose the bill.
Obama said he knows there won't be "100 percent support" for his plan and said he would "continue to welcome good ideas" from Republicans. Some Republicans took that to mean their ideas may be heard when House members and senators hash out the differences between their bills. The House is expected to vote on a version Wednesday.
Goodlatte, who opposes the bill, said Democratic leaders have not "gotten the message" of bipartisanship preached from the White House.
"My biggest concern is the enormous size of it and the fact it is a big government stimulus and not a stimulus of our economy," Goodlatte said.
Republicans will work to "target the wasteful and non-stimulative spending House Democrats are pushing for," Cantor said in a statement.
Wittman said he was disappointed that less than 10 percent of the spending would go toward transportation and infrastructure. He wants more spending targeted for roads and bridges.
"Those are the things that could provide the most good in the most immediate way," he said. He argued that spending millions to improve the National Mall, upgrade science labs or expand education programs may not stimulate the economy.
"If we just spend, spend, spend... we could potentially do more harm than good," Wittman said.
Forbes applauded the tone of the presidential meeting.
"I don't think this was designed to be convincing, Forbes said. "I think [Obama] wanted to show he had a different demeanor and philosophy than the House leadership has."
Forbes has voted against each prior stimulus bill and plans to do the same Wednesday.
"They haven't worked," he said.
(Contact Neil H. Simon at nsimon@mediageneral.com)