Nevadans Should Expect Higher Taxes and Little In Return

Senator John Ensign, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, voted against the so-called stimulus bill today (February 13, 2009) because it costs more than a trillion dollars when you add interest, reckless spending and little to help small businesses and homeowners.  After the vote, Senator Ensign released the following statement:

“Today’s vote is more of the same in Washington – spend, spend, spend.  Government has a role to play, but the American people deserve a better effort than this.  For Nevada, when you peel back a few layers, this bill is not as beneficial as it first looks, and it will ultimately increase taxes.

 “Let’s consider education funding for Nevada in this bill.  According to the Congressional Research Service and the Census Bureau, Nevada ranks last in education funding per capita.  As a result of this so-called stimulus bill, Nevadans will pay higher taxes to subsidize education in other parts of the country.

 “Let’s talk about taxes, because this bill has plenty.  Not only will this bill increase your taxes but it includes few tax incentives for small business, which historically pulls our economy out of recessions.  This bill overlooks small business yet rewards General Motors with a $3 billion tax earmark exclusively for them.

 “When you look at the spending in this bill, it’s even worse.  Tax relief only makes up 25 percent of the bill, so a large bulk is more government spending.  With only a day or so to read the bill, we’ve already found $165 million for fish hatcheries and up to $3 billion for groups like ACORN, a group we learned a lot about in Nevada late last year.

 “I believe Congress squandered a unique opportunity.  If the process started with Democrats and Republicans working together, we could have achieved more for the American people.  We should have sent President Obama a truly bipartisan bill that fixes housing, creates jobs and boosts our economy.”