Growls

Pigging out! That is pretty much the bottom line from a meeting on Friday, January 16, 2008 that was requested by Arlington’s U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D) to brief County Board members, and their cohorts from other local governments in Northern Virginia, on the federal stimulus package. Although the public was invited, I believe I was the only member of the "public" in attendance.

We growled about the stimulus bill on Wednesday, January 21, noting that a number of pro-taxpayer groups have organized the ReadtheStimulus.org website, including a searchable public database of the spending projects of the type that Rep. Moran used to get local officials excited about feeding at the trough.

Moran used the opportunity to play what liberals like to do, i.e., class warfare. For example, telling attendees there is a maldistribution of the nation’s wealth, or blaming the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

The only member of the press we could see at the meeting was David Schultlz of the Arlington Connection, who wrote a rather accurate description of the briefing although you can view over taxpayer-subsidzed local television or at the county website. Some of what Mr. Schultz wrote include the following:

“The bill, which was introduced last week, will contain more than $500 billion in spending that — coupled with more than $200 billion in tax cuts — Congress hopes will stimulate the economy and drag the country out of recession.”

“But where will all this spending go? No one’s exactly sure, Moran said, and that is why now is the time for localities across the country to be lobbying for a piece of this federal funding.” (emphasis added)

“The biggest threat, these economists tell us, is that whatever the government does it will be too little and too late. So we’re going to act posthaste,” Moran said. “Those communities, those organizations that are ready with projects that can begin immediately are the ones who are going to get the money.” (emphasis added)

“Moran said that the hastily organized meeting was necessary because of the amount of money involved in the bill and the extremely accelerated pace at which it is moving through Congress.” (emphasis added)

“But Moran said that this opportunity to procure huge sums of federal money would be short lived. “Once this is done the gates may start to close,” he said. “So we need to be on board right now. I’m not sure how much longer we’re going to be able to put out more money given the deficit situation.” (emphasis added)

Schultz’s article included a “preliminary list” of local Arlington projects that could be funded with federal money. So will Arlington officials reduce our taxes by the amount received for this projects from federal taxpayers? Not likely at all; therefore, Arlington taxpayers will pay for those projects twice. Once through their federal taxes, and again from their local taxes since Arlington officials will not reduce our taxes by that amount.

In his opening remarks, Moran said that 19 out of 20 economists have told him that unless the government injects $750 to $800 billion, “the economy will shut down.” We’re not sure of the economists that Moran listens to, but he and his liberal colleagues may want to find another cohort of economists. We’ll have more on the stimulus so visit again soon. The following photo in the Connection story was provided by the Office of U.S. Rep. Jim Moran: