FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4th, 2010
CONTACT: Aaron Baer
225-389-4495

Baton Rouge – A new report this week exposed additional failures in Charlie Melancon’s $787 billion stimulus package.  The report finds that the “stimulus” even led to jobs loses while pushing our debt over $13 trillion and funding non-job related projects like studying the effect of cocaine on monkeys, cell phones for smokers trying to quit, and the study of exotic ants in Africa.

And in addition to funding advertising devoted to the promotion of the “stimulus” bill itself, they’re spending $200,000 to study people’s perception of the “stimulus.”  Based on a Rasmussen poll released last month that found just 29% believe the “stimulus” plan helped the economy, Charlie Melancon and his liberal “stimulus” allies won’t be liking the results of their $200,000 study.

As CNBC reported:

“Two Republican senators have conducted an exhaustive survey of the Obama administration’s $787 billion economic stimulus spending and found that some of the spending didn’t create jobs — it actually led to job losses. Call it the federal law of unintended consequences. All in all, Senators Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) scrutinized 100 projects, finding that some eliminated jobs, and others were simply questionable expenditures of money. The report, obtained in advance by CNBC, spotlights everything from federal stimulus money that went to study the effects of cocaine on monkeys to dollars that went to construction projects that blocked access to local businesses — which laid off employees as a result.”

Read the Full Report Here

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune noted that, “Stimulus money is going toward iPods for high school students in Utah, cell phones for smokers trying to quit in Washington and advertising devoted to the promotion of … the stimulus.”

When Charlie Melancon helped Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama pass the stimulus bill in February of 2009 our nation’s unemployment was at 8.1 percent.  Today it stands at a painful 9.5 percent and underscores the failure of Melancon’s stimulus bill to create new jobs.

“Charlie Melancon proudly stands by Barack Obama’s failed stimulus that is not creating jobs, but instead funding a myriad of ludicrous projects such as how monkeys react under the influence of cocaine,” said Republican Party of Louisiana Communications Director Aaron Baer.  “This type of reckless spending is why we need to return the true conservative members of our Congressional delegation to Washington, D.C. and elect a Republican in the 3rd Congressional district.  They have fought and will fight for Louisiana jobs with common sense solutions like lifting the job killing moratorium and fighting against the big-government agenda espoused by Barack Obama and Charlie Melancon.”

Melancon Voted For The Failed “Stimulus” Bill:

Melancon Voted In Favor Of The $825 Billion House-Passed “Stimulus” Bill. (H.R. 1, CQ Vote # 46: Adopted 244-188: R 0-177; D 224-11, 1/28/09, Melancon Voted Yea)

Melancon Was The Only La. Congressman Voting In Favor Of Aid Package. (Keith Magill, “Melancon Only La. Congressman Voting In Favor Of Aid Package,” Thibodoux Daily Comet, 1/28/09)

Melancon: “This Bill Is The Right Thing To Do For America’s Future, And I Am Proud To Support It.” (Congressman Charlie Melancon, Press Release, “Rep. Melancon Supports Economic Recovery Plan To Create And Save 50,000 Jobs In Louisiana,” 2/13/09)

A New Report On The Economic Stimulus Shows That Charlie Melancon’s $787 Billion Government Spending Program Has Led To Job Losses And Lavished Taxpayer Dollars On Outrageous Wasteful Projects. (Sens. Tom Coburn and John McCain, “Summertime Blues: 100 Stimulus Projects That Give Taxpayers The Blues,” link, 8/10)

According To The Report, Small Businesses Across The Country Experienced A Decrease In Business Due To Stimulus-Funded Road Construction Projects And Other Unintended Consequences.

The Report Also Found That Taxpayer Dollars Are Being Thrown At Dubious, If Not Outrageous, Projects, Including: