Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) released the following statement in reaction to President-elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus speech today in Virginia:
I continue to hear from more people across the state, on farms and in our cities, that are having trouble making ends meet. The national economy is affecting every corner of the country, and something needs to be done to spur development and create jobs.
However, the devil is in the details, and right now we only have a broad outline of the economic stimulus plan. I expect this to be a bipartisan effort that helps America’s working families, and I hope that I can support it in the end.
I would like to see a plan that focuses on the middle class and infrastructure, but also includes a Native American and rural America component. We should take this opportunity to invest in education, research and technology, and energy independence that will aid our nation for generations. South Dakota already has played a leading role in alternative fuels, and we can play a larger role yet.
Congress will soon begin the process of reviewing a bill. This will likely be an expensive proposal, but the hope is that it kicks starts the economy, creates jobs and brings us out of this recession. While I think it is crucial that we get this right, I also agree with the President-elect that this should not be bogged down and delayed to a point that hurts us further. If we work together, it will be possible to act swiftly.
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For more information on Senator Tim Johnson visit his website at http://johnson.senate.gov.
