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StumblePublished Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 | 1:44 p.m.
Updated Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 | 1:44 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- Greetings, Early Liners, where the Senate will be voting this afternoon on the $820 billion economic recovery plan that will not likely get Republican Sen. John Ensign’s support.
Ensign was the hot ticket this weekend, with his Sunday appearance on “Meet the Press.” Anyone who hadn’t yet heard his opposition to President Barack Obama’s recovery plan got the message loud and clear on the show.
Ensign reiterated his belief that sending federal money to help the states was a waste because state budgets are bloated.
“The states have grown, in their budgets, faster than population growth, faster than inflation for the last several years -- actually, probably about the last 15 years,” Ensign said. “Their budgets are bloated, the federal government's budget is bloated. What we should be doing is cutting back. Instead of just spending money, we should eliminate wasteful Washington spending and also require the states to have some fiscal discipline.”
In fact, Ensign went one step further this afternoon and said the bill should be scrapped.
“I would suggest we start over,” Ensign said on the Senate floor. “Start over, so we get this … right.”
Lest Washington become too serious in these recessionary times, comes the sleeper hit of the weekend:
The debut of the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid character on "Saturday Night Live."
When told of the spoof, Reid deadpanned to an aide: Did Robert Redford play me?
If you missed it live, enjoy the recap here.
That’s it for now. Lots of political news from Carson and Washington today. Check back often for updates.
I suggest to Mr. Ensign that he waive his salary for the remainder of his term. It would be a very nice "Goodwill," gesture to show the people of Nevada that he is truly sincere in reducing spending.
This brings up a seemingly obvious point. We have seen the truest colors of both major political parties over the last decade. 9/11 happens and Republicans scream war! The economy is hurting and the Democrats scream, lets spend money!
I saw Sen. Ensign on Chris Matthews. What an empty suit! How pathetic. His IQ must be around 80. I am sick of those typical conservative lies. New Deal spending brought unemployment down to 10%. Easing up on the New Deal to answer republican charges brought it up again. And... by the way, Chris Matthews was right, and Ensign clearly evaded the question... it was GOVERNMENT SPENDING during the Lend Lease and WWII that ended the depression. GOVERNMENT SPENDING, you conservative hack!
Ensign is ridiculous. Yeah... he has friends who are private investors who want to build high speed rails. We've waited for 60 years without any major private rail investments. Republicans are the party of DO NOTHING!!!!! We will wait another 60 years before Ensign's right wing cronies decide rail is profitable.
Republicans lecture us like they are the only ones who understand the economy. STOP LECTURING. The last 8 years prove YOU KNOW NOTHING. Right wing extremists like Ensign should shut up and get out of the way so the rest of us can move the country forward.