Before the Senate voted to pass the so-called stimulus bill, I e-mailed nobody's senator but mine -- the distinguished Herb Kohl.
I encouraged him not to vote for it. I knew it was a complete waste of time, but I e-mailed anyway.
I got exactly what I expected from Kohl -- a "yes" vote for the stimulus bill and a canned response.
The e-mail is a very boring and generally annoying read, so I've highlighted the relevant portion in red.
Our sinking economy has dominated news coverage for months, and Americans everywhere are struggling to make ends meet. The facts and figures are staggering. We now have a 7.2% unemployment rate and 791,000 good paying manufacturing jobs were lost last year. Consumer confidence is at or near an all time low. In the last quarter of 2008 the economy shrank by the most in 26 years.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act combines tax relief, investments in infrastructure, and assistance to state and local governments - putting people back to work and jump-starting our stalled economy. The average Wisconsin family would receive a $900 tax cut this year from the legislation. The bill also saves jobs and stimulates growth through important tax incentives and benefits for businesses.
Targeted investments in the American economy and the American workforce are a critical component of the recovery package. The goal is not to create temporary "make-work" jobs that do not contribute value to the economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act builds a foundation for long-term economic growth and prosperity through investments in infrastructure, energy independence, education, health care, and small business. These investments will create millions of 21st Century jobs across the country. Our goal is to ensure that the American economy remains the strongest in the world for decades to come.
I support the economic recovery package, but I do have reservations. The price tag on this bill is enormous, and I understand the opposition to this legislation by those who feel it costs too much money. To address these concerns, the Senate voted to reduce the cost of the legislation by over $100 billion through cuts in education, modernization of federal buildings, health information technology, and other areas. While I believe many of these programs are valuable initiatives worthy of funding, I supported this compromise to help keep spending under control and to ensure passage of this vitally needed legislation.
On February XXth, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. This plan is not perfect, but it is a bold and responsible action that will help our economy get back on its feet, put people to work and put more money in their pockets. I heard from thousands of Wisconsinites with many different views on this legislation, and this input was very helpful to me as I considered this issue. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, and please feel free to contact me again in the future if I can be of assistance to you in any other matters.
Sincerely,
Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator
Blah, blah, blah.
"On February XXth, 2009...."
What?
I didn't know Kohl was a fan of Roman numerals. Very impressive way to say "February 20th." It's so dramatic and manly. It's so Super Bowl.
One problem: Obama signed the bill on February 17th.
Either Kohl is confused about the date of the signing or someone on Kohl's staff failed to replace the "XX" with the proper date before sending off the canned e-mail.
I'm not sure. It's a tossup.
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