WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Wednesday regarding the GAO report on the stimulus bill and the lack of transparency and accountability:

 

 

“This week's GAO report on the administration's Economic Stimulus plan validates the serious concerns that many of us repeatedly expressed prior to its passage.  This trillion-dollar spending plan was neither timely, targeted, nor temporary, and funds were extremely difficult to track.  This is precisely the result that concerned us when advocates short-changed the debate and overpromised on results, including assurances that unemployment, now approaching 10%, wouldn't rise above 8 percent.

 

 

“According to the report, assurances on transparency were off base, as was the promise that we’d be able to accurately track jobs.  The GAO report should add to growing public concerns about the Administration's tendency to rush and to overpromise on results when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars and increasing the national debt. But it shouldn't surprise anyone who followed the debate.

 

 

“Americans should be skeptical anytime someone in Washington downplays scrutiny and overplays speed. They have even more reason to be skeptical now.”