Senate Proceeding on Sep 16th, 2009 :: 3:44:55 to 3:48:35
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3:44:52 to 3:45:12( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: this important bill that i think is helping turn around economy around. i thank you very much, and i yield the floor and would note the absence of a the presiding officer: the senator from -- will the senator withhold? mrs. boxer: yes. the presiding officer: the senator from new mr. gregg: madam president, the issue here isn't the stimulus package, although i have very

3:44:55 to 3:48:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Judd Gregg

3:45:13 to 3:45:33( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: serious reservations about that. i would be happy to debate that with the senator from c at some lengthecause clearly i think adding almost three-quarters of a trillion dollars of new debto our children's backs on a package which will spend out through 2019 is hardly stimulus. and especially when you see that

3:45:34 to 3:45:56( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: only 20% of that package is going to spend out by thent of this year and maybe -- end of this year and maybe 50% by the end of next year. and we just had chairman bernanke say we're essentially out of the recession. so clearly that spe going to be outside the recession, it's going to be excessive spending, and it all comes from borrowing that our children will have to pay. and in my opinion, that's not fair to our children to pass

3:45:57 to 3:46:17( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: that sort o $787 billion. but that's not the debate here. the debate is about whether or not we should be self-congratulating ourselves with tax dollars. this is self an congressma the expense of the taxpayer. this i buying advertising going

3:46:18 to 3:46:38( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: out and having the taxpayer pay for it. we can clearly spend these dollars more efficiently doing something else. i mean, sure, they're not a loft dollars. but when you add them all up, you know, $18 milli money and you can do something constructive with putting a sign up that says we're wonderful because we're spending your money.

3:46:39 to 3:46:59( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: i mean, how absurd is that? if we want to put a sign up that says we're -- we're really doing great things for you, so here's the sign telling us what wonderful things we're doing for you, rather than having the people have to pay for that sign to tell them they're going to have money spent for them, let's have the democratic senatorial committee pay for the sign. let's ve the republican senatorial committee pay for the sign if they -- if we really

3:47:00 to 3:47:20( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: think it's that important a piece of political promotion -- which is isn't. i don't think the democratic senatorial committee would pay for these signs because they'd see them as a waste of money. i would pe so. i know the republican senatorial committee would -- or at least i would sp say that this is a waste -- to my committee to say that this i a waste of money, we don't want to pay for signs like this. so these signs are simply a

3:47:21 to 3:47:41( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: waste of money. now, do they create jobs? well, actually the signs in new hampshire are made in the prisons. they cost money because the materials cost money. i guess that's why we get them for 300 bowks. now, they must -- in new jersey, they cost $300 a sign so maybe they're farming them out to some local patronage group to get a sign. but as a very practical matter, i don't think you can argue that

3:47:42 to 3:48:03( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: making these signs is somehow stimulating the economy. all it's doing is saying, hey, we're wonderful, look awhat we've done with y we're going to take your money and tell what you a wonderful job we're doing with your money it's just -- it's just not fair, therefore, that's why i hope people will support the amendment. and as has been mentioned by the senator from california, this is not a major amendment but it's

3:48:04 to 3:48:24( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: an amendment that's -- that states an attitude towards how we spend money. so i do think it's important on that context. and i yield the floor and make a point of order that a quorum is not present. th will call the roll.