Rep. Shuster Bashes The Stimulus As A Failure While Taking Credit For Its Success
Rep. Shuster Bashes The Stimulus As A Failure While Taking Credit For Its Success
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) is a vocal opponent of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act who not only voted against the stimulus, but goes out of his way to mock it as “going nowhere” and doing “nothing to encourage growth.” Using the “failed” stimulus as his evidence, Shuster has been claiming that the government is incapable of reforming healthcare. But while Shuster tries to gain political points by bashing the stimulus, he has been quietly claiming credit for its benefits in his district, as well as advocating for an expanded role for Recovery Act money in his community:
– Last week, Shuster attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a sewage treatment plant for the Blairsville Municipal Authority. Republican State Senator Don White noted that the project was only possible because of the stimulus, which allowed the state Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to provide a $10.4 million grant and a $3 million low interest loan for construction.
– On November 4, Shuster asked Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) to use some of the state’s stimulus money to reopen the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children. Shuster noted that using the Recovery Act money for the school would save 134 full-time jobs.
– In July, Shuster joined 14 Pennsylvania lawmakers — including fellow stimulus-opponents Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Charlie Dent (R-PA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), and Todd Platts (R-PA) — in writing a letter asking that stimulus money be used towards public universities.
– In June, Shuster hailed the stimulus-funded initiative to build a high-speed rail line between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The Post-Gazette quoted Shuster praising the project: “I believe we are about to experience a new era in passenger rail in this country. I want Western Pennsylvania to participate in this new era and to enjoy the benefits of increased and expanded passenger rail service.”
Today, Roll Call reports that Republican lawmakers are planning this week to announce the GOP’s new “December Attack Plan,” which will focus on denigrating President Obama’s stimulus. Presumably, rank-in-file members like Shuster will participate in the attack, even though they have taken credit for the stimulus’ success. And to add to the irony, the attack is being led by Republican Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), who has now hosted multiple job fairs in his district filled with employers hiring directly because of the stimulus.
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And when the media reports on these GOP attack plans, will they also point out the hypocrisy of those who decry the stimulus plan while taking stimulus money – and worse, taking credit for the stimulus money?!
November 30th, 2009 at 4:07 pmMy money says, no — the media will remain silent monkeys.
Yet, another one. He joins the hypocricy brigade of Jindal, Crist and countless others who flaunt their big checks and tell the sheeple they are doing a bang-up job! Christ, I need a drink AND fast.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:14 pmThis will all come up in 2010, don’t worry.
These dawgs are digging a mighty deep hole for themselves.
We should thank them.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:17 pmSo…a typical Republican?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:18 pmUmmm….. These guys are aware of the invention of the ‘Internets’ aren’t they? The ‘Tea-Baggers’ will take the footage of all these hypocrits and they will run them out of town on a rail. Already Rubio is trashing Crist. This might get interesting….
November 30th, 2009 at 4:24 pmWell, that’s ok; his dad, Bud Shuster, was a crooked member of Congress who got forced out of office…[ahem]“resigned…in 2001 under a 5-year-long ethics cloud that had many Pennsylvanians referring to him as “Bud Sheister”. The apple obviously don’t fall far from the tree…
November 30th, 2009 at 4:25 pmLOL! We have a vote down troll in our midst. I wonder why he hasn’t spoke up. Maybe he doesn’t like the fact Repugs are hypocrits?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:30 pmSeems like the repubs need to trade thar R in for an H because everyday they act more like the party of hypocrites.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:31 pmThis looks like a job for the Dems to expose the hypocrisy and the MSM to point out that fact. The Dems need to get their public relations people on this to embarrass these legislators while they are shooting their mouths off.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pmpags!9, I really wish the Dems would grow a spine like Rep. Greyson. The Repugs have been lying for years and MSM and the Dems don’t call them on it. It pisses me off.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:39 pmHey troll! At least show yourself.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:40 pmI live in PA, I will do my part to help vote these hypocrits out of office.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pmssc@12, Hello, my fellow Pennsylvanian!
November 30th, 2009 at 4:44 pmHello P.D.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pmLOL! I just got voted down for welcoming a neighbor. I guess this particular troll doesn’t like me very well. I think I can live with that.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Never trust anyone who speaks with an American flag behind him or her. They are trying to sell you a bill of goods. Never trust a man who wears a blue shirt and a tie with red and white stripes. He is trying to sell you a bill of goods. Never trust a Republican, especially one Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Taliban).
November 30th, 2009 at 5:03 pmHey P.D., the trolls are a pathetic bunch arent they.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:03 pmYes, America…chookuk…we Republicans can sh!t money…chookuk…we have magic plastic backed by China…chookuk…Luke, I am your father.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:19 pmThank you TP for the “Related Links”.
Nine instances of this vomitous hypocrisy and counting.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:25 pmssc@18, Sorry, I didn’t respond. Had to feed the kiddies.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:38 pmI don’t get it. The stimulus fund projects were heavily weighted to building / maintaining infrastructure (which was sorely in need of repair).
Repubs like infrastructure because it helps business (I think it was Molly Ivins who said there was a slogan for Texas: Like Missisippi but with great roads).
So why don’t they like it ?
November 30th, 2009 at 5:54 pmOT
These repugs are becoming more predictable and more repugnant every day. This is the latest:
The hosts of Fox News’ Fox & Friends seem to believe that President Obama’s frequent use of the word “unprecedented” could be big political trouble for the White House.
Echoing a Politico article,… Fox reported that President Barack Obama has reportedly used the five-syllable, word 129 times since taking office, to describe everything from the economic crisis to health care reform and Afghanistan policy.
Of course, the fact that Obama has inherited an unprecedented confluence of horrible circumstances from their boy-king is irrelevant to the air-heads at Fox.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:02 pmAnother priceless IOKIMBY moment.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:16 pmShocker.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:27 pm.
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NOT.
The children of America have never known an America at peace.
Thanks for the reminder about reality Mr. Grayson!
November 30th, 2009 at 6:42 pmTypical of unethical repubscum.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:55 pmTypical immoral rethuglican. Why doesn’t everyone from thinkprogress email the fool and request he give the money back and stop taking credit for what it is doing?
November 30th, 2009 at 7:13 pmSounds like a model politician.
No post about the Obama SURGE?
November 30th, 2009 at 7:47 pmIs it the time for a full page ad in their home district newspapers? Split the page into two columns….one side is “What they say,” and the other, “What they do” Local Dems could have a field day. Next year’s elections should be filled with this. Let them defeat themselves or fall over from spinning their defense.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:29 pmWell, if the Dems let them get away with it any don’t hit back by showing the resulting economic growth, infrastructure programs and ask what the GOP would have done for jobs, then the Dems deserve to get killed in 2010.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:57 pm