Ensign Votes Against Trillion Dollar Spending Bill

Senator John Ensign voted today (February 10) against the trillion dollar spending bill but discussed a better way to provide stimulus to our hurting economy.  Included below is a statement from Senator John Ensign, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.

 “Our economy is struggling, and few states have felt this downturn more than Nevada. The American people deserve a stimulus package that will fix the housing crisis and create jobs.  The so-called stimulus bill that was passed in the Senate today will result in higher taxes and a tremendous amount of debt with little to show toward the broader goal of helping our economy.   This trillion dollar bill does not adequately address the housing crisis, which means we’re not treating the disease that took down our economy.  Government has a role to play, but Americans deserve a better effort than this bill.  Their hard-earned taxpayer dollars should be spent on legislation that gives them a helping hand during these hard times, not more wasteful Washington spending.”

Ensign: Stimulus Conference Negotiations Should Be Televised

 Senator John Ensign today (February 10, 2009) called for the final negotiations on the stimulus bill to be televised.  With passage today, the stimulus bill now goes to a Conference Committee where the House and Senate work out the differences in the two bills. 

 “The American people want transparency,” said Ensign, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee in the Senate.  “It should probably be standard practice for these to be televised, but they especially should be when you are talking about a bill that spends more than a trillion dollars.”

No rules prevent Congressional Democrats from allowing the Conference Committee to be televised.  A Conference Committee takes place when the House and Senate pass bills that are not identical.  During the Conference Committee, the two chambers work out the differences and send one identical bill back to each legislative body for a final vote. 

 “For too long, these Conference Committees have been the smoke-filled backrooms that frustrate the American people,” said Ensign.  “Let’s have this debate in public so that every American can watch and decide on the merits whether they support this legislation.”

Read Senator Ensign’s Statement Following the Vote