Congressman Rooney Explains Vote

Voices Regret Over Economic Stimulus Bill

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), representing portions of Hendry and Glades county released the following statement regarding the vote on the Democrat Stimulus bill:

"Americans are struggling and help is needed to restart the economy. The Democrat majority claims that it is their plan or nothing, which is simply not true.  The plan I support would have provided real tax relief to working families and small business owners while kick starting the economy by creating twice as many jobs at half the price of the Democratic plan.

I cannot support the Democrats' expensive stimulus bill that levees our economic future on the backs of our children while spending billions on projects that will do little to stimulate the economy. This bill doesn't provide enough tax relief for the people of the 16th District and doesn't do nearly enough to help with the record number of home foreclosures, job losses, and take-home pay.

We didn't receive the bill from the majority party until late Thursday night, fewer than 24 hours before being asked to vote on the measure.  Where is the transparency my Democrat colleagues promised the American people?  The majority locked the Republicans out of all deliberations.  I sincerely hope in the future we will work together to find real solutions, that is what people expect from their Congress and they did not get it today."