[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT: A MASSIVE GOVERNMENT-
       SPENDING BILL THAT WILL PLUNGE THE NATION DEEPER INTO DEBT

  (Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Madam Speaker, the American people are 
hurting and our economy is in recession.
  Congress is right to take action to stimulate the economy, but the 
American people know that we cannot borrow and spend our way back to 
prosperity. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a 
massive and wasteful government spending bill that will not stimulate 
our economy but will recklessly plunge our Nation deeper and deeper 
into debt.
  The deficit for the next 2 years is already projected to be $2 
trillion. If deficit spending were an effective economic stimulus, then 
the economy would be on the verge of a recovery. But it isn't.
  Congress can accelerate the process of economic recovery by passing 
legislation that will improve the incentives that drive economic 
activity. Lowering tax rates will create the incentives for individuals 
and businesses to save, to work, to invest their money.
  Madam Speaker, the American people are hurting and they deserve a 
better proposal than this.

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