Graves Agrees with Senators Report on Wasteful Stimulus Bill

ABC News reported this week that U.S. Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain released an oversight report showing the Obama Stimulus is filled with wasteful projects that do not create jobs.

The report by the two United States Senators identified 100 stimulus projects which were considered wasteful, including flat screen televisions for the State Department and a better way to freeze rat DNA.

U.S. Rep Tom Graves agreed with his colleagues from the Senate and said the Obama Stimulus has added billions to the federal debt and failed to create the jobs as promised.

“I’ve opposed the stimulus bill from day one because it puts our country further into debt and government-funded stimulus does not create private sector jobs,” said Rep. Graves. “The Senators’ report shows the wasteful spending mindset that prevails in Washington and why the unused portions of the stimulus bill must be repealed.”

Rep. Graves is a co-sponsor of H.R.3140, Reducing Barack Obama's Unsustainable Deficit Act.

“This report demonstrates the need for leaders who are committed to restoring fiscal responsibility in Washington,” said Rep. Graves. “North Georgia needs a leader who recognizes Washington’s wasteful spending when he sees it and will oppose tax, spend and borrow mentality that now dominates Congress.”

Lee Hawkins, Rep. Graves’ challenger in the August 10th Runoff Election, embraced stimulus funding last December when he joined Vice President Joe Biden at a pep rally for the bill.

NorthGAPolitics.com reported Hawkins attended the rally and Hawkins went on to brag about joining the Vice President at the rally in a campaign press release and his Twitter update.

After taking criticism from conservatives for attending the event, Hawkins removed the press release from his website and repeatedly said he did not attend a stimulus rally.

Several months later, pictures surfaced with Hawkins sitting on the front row.

Hawkins again changed his story, this time saying he did attend the event because he was the Chairman of the State and Local Governmental Operations Committee in the State Senate, but that it wasn’t a stimulus rally.

The Gainesville Times reported though the Vice President Biden was in town to announce $183 million in projects that were funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Obama Stimulus.

However, Hawkins’ new reason for attending doesn’t explain why his campaign sent out a press release touting his appearance with the Vice President.

“There is a clear difference between my challenger and me. I oppose the stimulus bill, and have co-sponsored legislation repealing the unused portions of it, while Lee has shown support for the President’s stimulus bill,” said Rep. Graves.

Rep. Graves was elected on June 8th in a Special Election Runoff to fill the remainder term for the 9th District. Hawkins is challenging Rep. Graves for the full term on August 10th in a runoff election. Rep. Graves has defeated Hawkins three previous times.

Rep. Graves received 49.5 percent of the vote in the July 20th GOP Republican Primary, taking a commanding 22.8 percent lead over Hawkins going into the run-off election.

For more information about the Graves campaign, visit www.GravesForCongress.org.