Capitol at Night

Washington, Jan 28, 2009 -

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement in support of HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, known as the stimulus plan.  Kucinich points out that in light of the suffering of the American people, there may be good reasons to question but not oppose the stimulus plan.

“A 93 year old man freezes to death in his home because he can’t pay the electric bill; a family of seven perishes in a murder-suicide over financial and job related matters; a 90 year old woman tries to kill herself when the Sheriff arrives to take her house; and a 75 year old woman is buried today after predatory lenders drove her to suicide. More and more Americans are being driven to desperation over losing their jobs and their homes. This economy is literally killing people.  

“The banks get a $700 billion bailout as they continue to kick people out of their homes. We must get help directly to the American people. There are good reasons to question the $825 billion stimulus, but there is no good reason to oppose it; not when every crooked interest in this country has been in a long parade at the public trough, while factories are shut, jobs are lost and homes are foreclosed.
 
“Congress must act today for the people. We must come back again and again with a more comprehensive jobs program, to rebuild infrastructure, fund education, including preschool, and create a universal health program.
 
“We must gain control of our money system and stop the taxpayers from being robbed by the banks. The banks already have $700 billion, and they’re looking for another trillion.  Its time we start to look out for number one, the American people, and pass HR 1 for the American people, and give the American people back some of their money.”

Kucinich later added:

“This debate should not be about Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, blue dog, yellow dogs or deficit hawks. Our economy is failing; millions of jobs have been lost, we need to act now.

“HR 1 is only a first step, but it is an important first step.  What we are doing here is like using battery cable to jump-start a car with a dead battery. We are not buying a new battery. We are not buying a new car. We are simply jump-starting the battery of a dead economy.  We are still going to have to buy a new battery and eventually we are going to have to buy a new fuel-efficient car. Right now if we want to move forward, we better get out those jumper cables and put them on the battery.  Vote for the stimulus HR 1.”

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