Where GOP stimulus support is needed
TEXT OF STORY
Steve Chiotakis: Of course, we know about recession in these parts, and President Obama wants a massive economic stimulus package to get things moving again. He’s set to meet with House Republicans next week seeking their support. But these days, is GOP support all that important? Here’s Marketplace’s Nancy Marshall Genzer.
Nancy Marshall Genzer: House Republicans want President Obama to stick with tax cuts he included in his stimulus proposal. Congressional Democrats toned them down. Republicans won’t be more specific before the meeting.
But Dave Camp, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, says the Democrats’ stimulus plans are wasteful:
Dave Camp: The American people know we cannot spend our way to prosperity.
President Obama probably doesn’t need GOP help in the House. But he will need a handful of supportive Republicans in the Senate to stave off a filibuster.
James Thurber teaches political science at American University. He says the terrible economy will prompt Republicans to cooperate.
James Thurber: When there’s a clearly perceived crisis, one can come to a solution more quickly. And I think the Republicans realize that they have to be responsible and do that, and not just say no.
Otherwise, they could be blamed for a situation that appears to be getting worse every day.
In Washington, I’m Nancy Marshall Genzer for Marketplace.
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