Hypocrisy Watch: Vitter for Stimulus Money, After He Was Against ItHypocrisy Watch: Vitter for Stimulus Money, After He Was Against It

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Senator who criticized stimulus bill as 'laundry list of government spending projects' now thinks stimulus funds are 'vital to our economy and communities'

(Baton Rouge) Months after railing against the economic stimulus plan that became law earlier this year as wasteful and ineffective, U.S. Senator David Vitter yesterday proposed the allocation of $7 billion in stimulus funds for infrastructure projects he claims will boost the economy.

In February, Vitter said the economic stimulus plan before Congress amounted to "little more than a laundry list of government spending projects." Vitter referred to the stimulus bill as "more pork-barrel spending" which would not "promote real economic growth and help create jobs." [Release 2/10/09]

Yesterday, however, Vitter made a full about-face, asking the Senate for unanimous consent to spend $7 billion of the stimulus funds on what he called "shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects... that are vital to our economy and communities." [Release 7/29/09]

"Once again, David Vitter has proven himself to be among Washington DC's leading advocates of hypocrisy and empty political rhetoric," said Louisiana Democratic Spokesman Kevin Franck. "David Vitter can preach conservative values and fiscal discipline all he wants, but in practice he's a philanderer who always seems to bring home his share of pork."

Franck said the Louisiana Democratic Party does not oppose fully funding the National Highway Trust Fund or the use of stimulus funds to create jobs in the state.

"Funding infrastructure projects like I-49 North, LA 1 or I-10 is absolutely vital for Louisiana's economy and we're glad David Vitter thinks so today, even though he said the exact opposite a few months ago and no one knows for sure what he'll say tomorrow," Franck added.

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