House Passes Bill to Pay Back Teacher's Unions for Supporting Obama and Democrats with $26B State Bailout Bill

UPDATE: Wondered how long it would take our Democrats in Oklahoma to put out their hands for money from this bill -- took less than 24 hours:

WASHINGTON — Oklahoma officials will work quickly to apply for emergency school aid that won final approval on Tuesday, with the hope that at least some of it can be spent in the 2011-12 academic year, the state's schools superintendent said.

Oklahoma officials prepare to apply for emergency education aid after House approval

Sandy Garrett said school districts could start spending money immediately but that some flexibility would be helpful, particularly for those districts that have already begun classes.Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3484098#disqus_thread#ixzz0wLedEfiN

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Democrats for Sale describes the passage of this State Bailout to pay back the Teacher's Unions for their support of Obama and the Democrats. Teacher's Union members were complaining recently that Obama had not done anything for them. So what happens, they cobble together a $26B State Bailout bill for teachers to keep them happy. In some states, they don't have teacher layoffs but they are getting the money anyway to do with what they want. Might generous of Democrats to feel they give away our tax dollars with 'zero' accountability.

We decided to let you read what some Republican members of Congress are saying about this huge State Bailout bill that they were called back to Congress to vote on yesterday. We have comments from Republican Leader Boehner (R-OH), an interview with Cong Pence (R-IN), and email from Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK).

This bill also contains $9B in permanent tax increases to pay for a temporary bailout bill? Something is wrong here bringing into question why have we heard so little about the tax increase? Until we heard the interview with Cong Pence below, we had no idea that there was an $9B permanent tax increase attached to this bill. We had heard about cutting food stamps.

Thought Democrats were the party who supported the poor and downtrodden but Republicans were the ones fighting yesterday to keep the Democrats from raiding the food stamp program. Looks like the bottom line is that Democrats love to talk how they support the poor but when the chips are down they will bailout their teacher union members instead by raiding the food stamp program this time.

This bill touted to save teacher jobs doesn't even have the money reaching states until the end of September which is about six weeks after school starts and classrooms are already set. The Democrat idea that States can spend the money on additional school employees is wrong. This is a temporary bailout so why add more expense to a school budget or do states plan to ask for more next year. Time for school districts to live within their budget along with the State Governments.

Republican Boehner is absolutely correct that "We can't afford to bail out states" and may we add cities since New York City will likely be looking for a handout in the future.

Boehner: We can't afford to bail out states
August 10, 2010

House Minority Leader John Boehner said Tuesday before voting on a bill to aid cash-strapped states that the states need to figure out their budget woes on their own.

“We are broke. We do not have the money to bail out the states. It’s time for them to get their arms around their own problems,” he told reporters.

House members were called back to vote on the measure, which would give states $26 billion to prevent layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police officers. President Barack Obama urged the House to pass the bill Tuesday morning, saying it would save hundreds of thousands of dollars and help parents and children.

"I suppose if America's children and the safety of our communities are your special interest, then it is a special-interest bill," Obama said. "But I think those interests are widely shared throughout this country."Republican leaders who had to rush back to Washington lamented that they must spend time fighting what they label an extension of the stimulus funding approved last year when they could be helping people in their districts.

Read More at: Politico.Com

Cong Mike Pence, (R-IN) who is Chairman of the House Republican Conference is interviewed about this massive state bailout including $9B in permanent tax increases. His interview starts at about the 3 1/2 minute mark. The commentary including comments on Press Secretary Gibbs take place before the Pence interview. Looks like Gibbs has made the Democrat base mad now.



Today we received the following email from Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK) who is running for Oklahoma Governor that gives her reasons for voting NO on the $26B State Bailout Bill. We believe her comments reflect the sentiment of those who stood up for the American taxpayer and voted 'NO.'

Will the Oklahoma Democrat Governor Henry take the bailout funds that will cost the taxpayers more money in the end? Somehow Democrats saying they will offset this bill with cutting food stamps is not flying as now they say they will find something else to offset the loss to food stamps. This is like a shell game by the Democrats once again.

January 2011 cannot come fast enough when Oklahoma has a new Republican Governor and fiscal responsibility is returned to State Government in Oklahoma.

Email from Mary Fallin, August 11, 2010:

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, House Speaker Pelosi called an emergency vote on a $26 billion plan to "bailout" state budgets. I cancelled several campaign events so I could return and cast a resounding "NO" vote.

I opposed this plan, like I opposed similar wasteful spending measures, for one simple reason: we cannot keep printing and borrowing money and calling it "stimulus." Whether it's the stimulus spending bill or Obamacare, the big-government, big-spending agenda pursued by Washington has not created jobs or helped middle-class, working Americans. What it has done instead is bury our children and grandchildren under a mountain of debt.

Now, the liberals in Washington and our opponents in Oklahoma are trying to say I don't support education or teachers because of my opposition to this bailout. That's just not true. What I don't support is a $26 billion plan to bailout states like California, which have spent themselves into deep trouble. And I certainly don't support the $9.8 billion in job-killing tax increases that were also added to this legislation. That's the old recipe for disaster that Washington Democrats are intent on pursuing even during a recession: tax and spend, and more tax and spend.

The bottom line is that we shouldn't be asked to bailout other states that have acted irresponsibly. What we should be doing is focusing on creating more and better jobs, supporting our small businesses and getting more businesses to locate in Oklahoma. When we do that we'll create more opportunities for working Oklahomans and we'll also generate the revenue stream we need to adequately fund state agencies. That's how, as governor, I'll work to support our teachers and our health care providers the right way, without wasteful government bailouts or Washington interference.

I'll also lead the way in making government more efficient and more effective, so we don't need taxpayer-funded bailouts to provide essential services. And, of course, I'll continue to stand up to Washington and make sure the agenda we pursue is one that creates jobs and prosperity, not one that designed to support the political elite.

The best way for Oklahoma to fight big-government spending policies like the one I voted against yesterday is to restore conservative leadership and fiscal responsibility to the governor's office. That's exactly what I plan to do, and why I hope I'll have your vote in November.

God bless,
Mary Fallin

The Country is fortunate to have so many Republican fiscal conservative candidates with very good plans and ideas running for House, Senate, and Governor on November 2nd. It is time for 'We The People' to make sure they have the help and resources they need to begin to Take Our Country Back on November 2nd from runaway spending and taxing by today's Democrats.