Harper and Thompson Vote Together
In something you don’t see everyday, Representatives Gregg Harper and Bennie Thompson both opposed a House bill, while Representative Gene Taylor and Travis Childers both supported it. The bill was the $15 billion jobs bill that recently cleared the Senate (that Wicker and Cochran supported). The final House vote was a rather close 217-201.
Harper joined 165 Republicans in opposing the bill mainly for fiscal reasons. But Thompson joined several other members of the Black Caucus who opposed the bill arguing that it does not spend enough and therefore will not make a difference.
Meanwhile the two Blue Dogs, Taylor and Childers, supported the bill saying that it will create jobs while not going overboard in spending. Childers promptly sent out a press release saying this bill will “create new small business and construction jobs, spur private sector hiring, and help rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.”
This may be one of the first times I remember the Black Caucus joining the GOP in opposing a bill, while the Blue Dogs join rank-and-file Democrats in supporting it.
This is an example of just how out of touch our elected officials are. Once again Cochran and Wicker voted for something they both should know is just another spending bill. I hope Nunnelee and Ross drill this point home against Childers. You know the government does not create jobs. This will be like the original stimulus bill that has been a major flop. Good job Harper and I’ll give Thompson props for voting against although for different reasons.
If not for the TARP and stimulus bills and whatever else the administrations of Bush and Obama have put out there to prevent another great Depression, the soup kitchens would be the busiest places in our communities. My savings lost 40% in 2008 (under Bush) and gained 30% in 2009 (under Obama). That change does not leave me ecstatic but I certainly feel better now than I did in 2008. Most people who talk about government not creating jobs are ignorant of the CCC boys and all the improvements they made in what became state parks and roads, etc. that later played a role in tourism and transportation. I know that was of another generation but the stimulus monies are currently helping in many ways that are ignored by those that want to emphasize the negative.
As I recall, most of the CCC and WPA jobs were physical labor type jobs, something many of our unemployed do not want. My widowed grandmother worked in a sewing factory, other relatives planted trees, worked on roads, and other manual labor jobs. They were proud of their jobs and of their strong work ethic. I don’t see much of that today. I would like to see a great wall on our southern border. Billed as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world, it would one of those tourist attractions you mentioned.
How?
Check this out Gene Taylor and Bennie normally vote together
http://www.opencongress.org/people/compare?person1=400399&person2=400402&representatives=true
Voting Similarity
Gene Taylor and Bennie Thompson have voted together 2304 times on roll call votes since January, 2007 in votes where neither abstained, representing a voting similarity of 83%.
Nancy Pelosi and Bennie Thompson have voted together 217 times on roll call votes since January, 2007 in votes where neither abstained, representing a voting similarity of 96%.
I appreciate your support for Tegerdine and dislike for Taylor but you don’t need to go about with this stuff in every comment especially when its not related to the post/ other comments.