Local News
GOP leaders bash stimulus bill
Somerset — Republicans may now be the minority in Washington, but that doesn’t mean they’re going away quietly. Two of Kentucky’s most prominent GOP leaders are speaking out against what they perceive as irresponsible spending in the economic recovery bill currently being hashed out by Congress.
Lawmakers spent lots of time Thursday bargaining on the $790 billion piece of legislation, debating over tax cuts and federal spending before reaching an apparent final agreement more than 24 hours after announcing a deal. Lingering controversy over school-modernization money, a scaled-back tax break for businesses and other issues forced a delay in final votes on the legislation, but Democratic leaders still hoped for final passage by the weekend.
Their Republican counterparts, however, are hopeful more conservative heads will prevail. Somerset’s own Harold “Hal” Rogers, the Fifth District U.S. Repre-sentative, believes the stimulus bill would create a gigantic debt that would drop a significant financial burden on future generations.
“Instead of engaging in constructive solutions to address the economic crisis gripping the nation, the Majority chooses to take advantage of it — using fear tactics to try and shame us into supporting over a trillion dollar spending package loaded with questionable programs that have nothing to do with getting the American people back to work,” said Rogers in a statement Wednesday.
Rogers noted that at the end of January, the federal debt stood at “a whopping” $10.6 trillion — and that third of that figure was held by foreign nations, including communist China,. Moreover, this month has a record debt sale announced, which Rogers attributes in large part to “our failed $700 billion Wall Street bailout.”
“A staggering $941 billion was added to our children’s tab this year alone,” he said, “and with passage of this latest package, the federal debt will reach a record breaking $13 trillion by the end of (the fiscal year).”
Rogers maintains the measure designed to boost the economy will actually have the opposite effect.
“Interest rates will soar, inflation will rise, the value of the dollar will plummet,” said Rogers. “The world has never seen a nation borrow so much money in the span of just a few months. Any temporary gains or glamorous headlines brought on by this stimulus bill will soon be forgotten when the recession deepens and our children bear the long term affects of a massive government spending spree.”
Louisville’s Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, agreed with his Kentucky colleague, saying the bill as it stands does not take “the smart approach” and says both today and tomorrow’s taxpayers will have “a mess” to clean up.
President Barack Obama, the man behind the current stimulus strategy, feels differently. Speaking from Peoria, Ill., where the Caterpillar Inc. heavy machinery company says they may start hiring back some of the 22,000 layoffs they’ve made if the bill passes, said that companies “may be able to start growing again. Rather than cutting jobs, they may be able to create them again."
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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LCADTF could lose big bucks
Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force officials estimate that the City of Somerset’s lack of involvement in the task force could lead to a loss of some $250,000 in federal funding per year — a chunk which could easily force the task force to close its doors.
David Keller, deputy director of Appalachia HIDTA, a major funding source for the local drug task force and the reason why federal and state law enforcement officers are able to be a part of the agency, says the agency’s current situation is more serious than many people realize.
Keller says HIDTA has made a “huge investment” in the LCADTF, but that folks shouldn’t get too comfortable with the agency’s ability to obtain grant money at the federal or state level.
“This is not entitlement money. ... Our grant is performance driven, and it’s sought after by competitive forces,” Keller said. “If this agency doesn’t produce, they stand a risk of not having the task force funded. That money will go someplace else — to another county that would love to have it.” -
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Less than a decade ago, Pleasant Hill was a pastoral community. Modern homes were tucked among shaded lawns. Cattle grazed peacefully at day and fireflies blinked in darkness. The area was served by a friendly little road called Clifty.
Things have changed and are changing. In a relatively few days, huge electric bulbs will glow, turning night forever into day. Horseless carriages will trek in places where tailpipes have belched never before. -
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