The return of the REAL Republicans

The House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America (USA), passed the so-called $850 billion Stimulus Package. Notable about this was that all 177 Republicans voted against this pork bill. Also 11 House Democrats voted against this legislation.

Why was it important for the Democrats to have the Republicans support this legislation when they clearly did not need a single Republican vote? That is because when this legislation fails to stimulate the economy, the Democrats want to share the blame with Republicans. But finally the Republicans developed a spine and stood in unison against this pork spending.

This is $850 billon to borrow us out of debt. Per The Wall Street Journal (WSJ),
only 12 cents of every dollar that can be considered stimulus. Tax breaks would do more to stimulate the economy more than this bill.

Here is some of the spending found in this legislation, much of which is not authorized by the Constitution:

$87 billion to help fund state Medicaid cost
$79 billion to stabilize states, half in 2009, the other half in 2010
$30 billion for highway
$140 billion for education
$500 for each worker, including those without Social Security numbers.
Undocumented immigrants who are not eligible for a Social Security number can file tax returns with an alternative number

Senate will vote on this in February.

The vote in the House was as such:

Vote 244 for, 188 (177 Republicans, 11 Democrats) against.

Pelosi kept Republicans out from contributing to this bill.

Most spending begins in 2010

Here are the brave Democrats who voted in favor of the Constitution and against the Stimulus pork package:

Bobby Bright (Alabama)
Parker Griffith (Alabama)
Allen Boyd (Florida)
Walt Minnick (Indiana)
Brad Ellsworth (Indiana)
Frank Kratovil (Maryland)
Collin Peterson (Minnesota)
Gene Taylor (Mississippi)
Heath Shuler (North Carolina)
Paul Kanjorski (Pennsylvania)
Jim Cooper (Tennessee)