By Neil H. Simon
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
Virginia's congressional delegation split along party lines on the $787 billion stimulus bill. The state's six House Democrats all voted in favor of it, while the five Republicans all opposed it.
Wittman
"Any bill that provides only $13 of relief a week to each family now, while saddling them with $9,418 in new debt in the future, is not a fair shake for the hardworking taxpayer," said Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st.
"I was deeply concerned with the pace at which this bill was pushed through the House. We agreed this week that any stimulus bill would be available for public review for 48 hours and just 12 hours after we received the legislation, we were voting on it," said Wittman.
Nye
"This recovery package is not perfect, but I'm pleased that it includes critical tax cuts to help our businesses and veterans," said Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2nd.
Nye pushed for the inclusion of a $2,400 tax credit in the bill for businesses who hire Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who have served in the last five years.
Scott
"Urgent and targeted action is needed to stabilize our economy and the legislation passed today will do just that," said Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd.
"No bill is perfect, but the legislation passed by the House today will help jumpstart our economy by providing tax relief for hardworking American families..."
Forbes
"Unfortunately, the economic stimulus package we voted on today is nothing more than a redistribution plan. Americans know the answer to our economic situation is to grow our economy, not to grow our government," said Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th.
Perriello
"This is not a fix to everything. This is at the very least to stop the bleeding and start the healing," said Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th.
"For those who understand how close we are to going off the cliff there is a deep sense of urgency we need to get something done," he said.
Perriello and Nye, two of Virginia's three freshman Democrats, both cast procedural votes with Republicans Friday to seek more time to read the compromise bill before it went to the floor.
Now, Periello said city and county officials will have to unite to be sure transportation funds allocated to the state get funneled to local projects to create local jobs.
"Where we need to fight with the governor's team or work with them, we'll do that," Perriello said.
Goodlatte
"There's not enough in there to create jobs," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th.
Cantor
"We need jobs, not mountains of debt," Rep. Eric I Cantor, R-7th, said on the House floor.
"Americans are weary of the Washington bailout approach, and are increasingly frustrated by the plethora of reckless government spending being rammed through Congress with zero accountability. We need to protect and create jobs, and Congress can do better than this," he said in a statement after the vote.
In a repeat of his January performance on the bill, the No. 2 House Republican kept the entire caucus united in opposition to the bill.
"This vote isn't about a Democrat or Republican win, it's a about a fundamental difference in how we create jobs and grow the economy," said Cantor, who had pushed for more tax cuts in the plan.
Boucher
"In December I urged that the needs of rural communities be addressed in the stimulus legislation, and the measure that was approved by the House today includes robust grant funding for broadband deployment, school improvement and water and wastewater projects," said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th.
Wolf
"Leaving our children and grandchildren buried under a mountain of debt is an economic, moral, and generational issue," Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th, said. He has opposed the bill for failing to address federal entitlement spending.
Connolly
"Today, Congress is delivering on President Obama's historic plan to start to get the American economy back on track," said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th. "This economic recovery plan will create American jobs now, provide one of the largest tax cuts in American history for 95 percent of American workers, and lay the foundation for long-term growth through clean energy, innovation, and education."
SENATORS
WEBB
"Great deliberation was put into this process. What we have crafted is a significant improvement over the bill originally presented in the Senate. In my view, we have done what the country has expected of responsible leaders," said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.
WARNER
"This bill is not perfect, and it is only one piece of the ultimate fix for our troubled economy. We still must address the home foreclosure crisis, and we need to repair our banking system so credit will begin flowing again," said Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va.
Wittman
"Any bill that provides only $13 of relief a week to each family now, while saddling them with $9,418 in new debt in the future, is not a fair shake for the hardworking taxpayer," said Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st.
"I was deeply concerned with the pace at which this bill was pushed through the House. We agreed this week that any stimulus bill would be available for public review for 48 hours and just 12 hours after we received the legislation, we were voting on it," said Wittman.
Nye
"This recovery package is not perfect, but I'm pleased that it includes critical tax cuts to help our businesses and veterans," said Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2nd.
Nye pushed for the inclusion of a $2,400 tax credit in the bill for businesses who hire Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who have served in the last five years.
Scott
"Urgent and targeted action is needed to stabilize our economy and the legislation passed today will do just that," said Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd.
"No bill is perfect, but the legislation passed by the House today will help jumpstart our economy by providing tax relief for hardworking American families..."
Forbes
"Unfortunately, the economic stimulus package we voted on today is nothing more than a redistribution plan. Americans know the answer to our economic situation is to grow our economy, not to grow our government," said Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th.
Perriello
"This is not a fix to everything. This is at the very least to stop the bleeding and start the healing," said Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th.
"For those who understand how close we are to going off the cliff there is a deep sense of urgency we need to get something done," he said.
Perriello and Nye, two of Virginia's three freshman Democrats, both cast procedural votes with Republicans Friday to seek more time to read the compromise bill before it went to the floor.
Now, Periello said city and county officials will have to unite to be sure transportation funds allocated to the state get funneled to local projects to create local jobs.
"Where we need to fight with the governor's team or work with them, we'll do that," Perriello said.
Goodlatte
"There's not enough in there to create jobs," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th.
Cantor
"We need jobs, not mountains of debt," Rep. Eric I Cantor, R-7th, said on the House floor.
"Americans are weary of the Washington bailout approach, and are increasingly frustrated by the plethora of reckless government spending being rammed through Congress with zero accountability. We need to protect and create jobs, and Congress can do better than this," he said in a statement after the vote.
In a repeat of his January performance on the bill, the No. 2 House Republican kept the entire caucus united in opposition to the bill.
"This vote isn't about a Democrat or Republican win, it's a about a fundamental difference in how we create jobs and grow the economy," said Cantor, who had pushed for more tax cuts in the plan.
Boucher
"In December I urged that the needs of rural communities be addressed in the stimulus legislation, and the measure that was approved by the House today includes robust grant funding for broadband deployment, school improvement and water and wastewater projects," said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th.
Wolf
"Leaving our children and grandchildren buried under a mountain of debt is an economic, moral, and generational issue," Rep. Frank Wolf, R-10th, said. He has opposed the bill for failing to address federal entitlement spending.
Connolly
"Today, Congress is delivering on President Obama's historic plan to start to get the American economy back on track," said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th. "This economic recovery plan will create American jobs now, provide one of the largest tax cuts in American history for 95 percent of American workers, and lay the foundation for long-term growth through clean energy, innovation, and education."
SENATORS
WEBB
"Great deliberation was put into this process. What we have crafted is a significant improvement over the bill originally presented in the Senate. In my view, we have done what the country has expected of responsible leaders," said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.
WARNER
"This bill is not perfect, and it is only one piece of the ultimate fix for our troubled economy. We still must address the home foreclosure crisis, and we need to repair our banking system so credit will begin flowing again," said Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va.

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