[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 14, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ECONOMIC RESCUE PLAN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, many of us originally supported the 
economic rescue plan because we recognized we needed to act immediately 
to prevent an economic disaster.
  I heard from a lot of Kentuckians last fall who were hurting and 
wanted the Government to help, and I am still hearing from many small 
business owners and others across Kentucky who still need help. But 
those same Kentuckians are quick to call for assurances that whatever 
the Federal Government does should be undertaken with the assurance 
that taxpayer money will be spent wisely and will actually stimulate 
economic growth.
  The American people have questions and so does Congress. We want 
assurances that if we decide to release additional funding, this money 
will not be wasted, that it will not be used for industry-specific 
bailouts that some House Democrats are already requesting.
  We will be receiving briefings from the new President's team later 
today, and we look forward to hearing from them; that is, my Republican 
team. I know the new President was up here yesterday talking to the 
Democrats.
  While I feel strongly we must continue to stabilize the economy, I 
would find it exceedingly difficult to support use of additional 
taxpayer funds without serious assurances from the incoming 
administration that the taxpayers will be protected.
  I yield the floor.

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