The federal stimulus bill appropriates the “greater Asheville area” with $5.6 million for infrastructure projects. Rep. Heath Shuler says it is not enough.
Last week, the House passed an $825 billion stimulus bill. Shuler, D-Waynesville, was one of 11 Democrats who voted against the bill. No Republican supported it.
A revised bill could come before the House again next week after the Senate and House draft a compromise bill. Rep. Shuler says he supports a stimulus package but wants a bill that focuses on job creation and is done in a bipartisan fashion.
“If it is done in a bipartisan way and if we can put some infrastructure (spending) in it,” Shuler said.
The former NFL quarterback opposed the process used to craft the stimulus bill. The majority of the bill was written in the House Appropriations Committee and members of Congress had limited input.
“Let us be able to put amendments on it,” Shuler said. “That is our responsibility to create the best piece of legislation. … It went from appropriations to the House floor.”
When the stimulus package was first presented, the goal was to improve infrastructure and create jobs. The economy is in a severe recession, and the new administration wanted the legislation to revive the economy. The bill, Shuler said, mostly contains pet projects for House members.
“Members of the U.S. House chose to make it a Christmas tree,” Shuler said. “There were things (in the bill) that they should have let stand alone.”
The bill does not focus on infrastructure needs, Shuler said, or putting people to work.
“To be honest, this is a bailout of the states, like California, which has so many problems,” Shuler said.
The bill has provisions to increase Medicaid and food stamp funding. As the recession has grown, more and more people are qualifying for social programs and the states are having a hard time meeting those obligations.
“This is supposed to stimulate the economy,” Shuler said.
He said the bill contains numerous earmarks, which President Obama promised would not be in the stimulus bill.
“The bill is a misuse of funds, which I predicted,” Shuler said.
He said he wants to see a bill that is embraced by the Republicans and Democrats. A bill crafted in the middle will have more support than one done by the extreme wing of either party, Shuler said.
