Stimulus Funded Luxuries
[Oshkosh, WI] In 2009, Russ Feingold voted for a stimulus bill he said would create jobs and pontificated that the funds should be spent wisely. But since that time Wisconsin has lost more than 78,000 jobs, Feingold is defending his vote, and a new report details 100 egregious examples of unwise stimulus spending.
When the Fullington Auto Bus Company of Pennsylvania needed some extra cash to help them purchase a brand new luxury bus to add the their 50 motorcoach fleet, Senator Russ Feingold’s vote for the stimulus bill helped turn this into a reality. The new bus which includes Wi-fi and personally controlled airvents can transport up to 57 lucky passengers to various towns in Pennsylvania – all thanks to the generous American taxpayers.
Senator Feingold promised that the stimulus bill would create jobs and improve the economy, but with more than 78,000 jobs lost in Wisconsin since the stimulus was passed into law, the stimulus legislation has fallen far below its goal.
“I’m sure voters in Wisconsin would be curious to hear Senator Feingold’s explanation as to how purchasing a luxury bus is helping put our state back to work,” said Juston Johnson, Campaign Manager for Ron Johnson for Senate. “The government is taking our country in the wrong direction and driving us deeper into debt by voting for reckless legislation such as the stimulus. It is time for Wisconsin to have a Senator with a proven record of creating jobs who will go to Congress and make fiscally responsible choices.”
The Johnson Campaign will be highlighting wasteful stimulus spending projects Russ Feingold believes are getting the job done for Wisconsin families until Election Day.
Stimulus Facts:
Feingold Said “Stimulus” Must Be Spent Wisely. “Now that the economic recovery package has been signed into law, our focus must be on the challenges ahead, including getting our fiscal house in order and making sure that there is strong oversight of these taxpayer dollars. These funds must be spent wisely if they are to truly work for Wisconsin’s families.” (Editorial, “Russ Feingold: Stimulus Package Makes Sense,” La Crosse Tribune, 2/25/2009.)
Three days prior to the signing of the stimulus, Senator Feingold issued a press release saying the stimulus would create 2.4 million jobs in the first year, and about nine million jobs in the first three years. (Senator Russ Feingold, ”Statement of U.S. Russ Feingold On The Economic Recovery Package,” Feingold Press Office, February 10, 2009.)
Feingold Provided the 60th Vote for the Stimulus Package. (H.R. 1, 2009 Roll Call #64: Adopted 60-38, 2/13/09, Feingold Voted Yea)
The National Economy has lost over 2.2 Million jobs since the stimulus was signed. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed July 27, 2010.)
Since the Stimulus was signed, the State of Wisconsin has lost 82,000 jobs. (Source, Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed July 27, 2010)
Feingold Defends Stimulus Vote. “I don’t apologize for those votes. Those were the right votes.” (“Feingold defends voting record, Hudson Star Observer, 7/28/2010)
New Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending. “Stimulus money is going toward iPods for high school students in Utah, cell phones for smokers trying to quit in Washington, D.C., and advertising devoted to the promotion of … the stimulus. The findings are part of a 74-page report put out by a pair of Republican senators who contend the $862 billion program is fraught with needless spending.” (“New GOP Report Details Misdirected Stimulus Spending, Associated Press, 8/3/2010)
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