Washington Bureau Blog

Category: The stimulus battle

Note to GOP: We make cars in Michigan

The National Republican Campaign Committee said Friday it will launch a robocall campaign targeting freshman Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, for his vote on the "wasteful spending" stimulus bill. But the research team at the NRCC might want to think a little harder about the "wasteful spending" it cites in Michigan.

Amid the smoking cessation and STD prevention programs the NRCC cites as evidence of Peters irresponsibility come "$1 Billion for Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee Program" and "$600 Million for cars for government employees." The fact that Michigan lawmakers of both parties pushed for the advanced battery funding apparently didn't occur to the NRCC. Nor did the fact that those cars for government employees would be built by Michigan-based manufacturers.

Not to mention the fact that the numbers are a bit off. The NRCC could have accused Peters of being twice as wasteful on the battery program; the final stimulus package contained $2 billion for the program, $1 billion more than was contained in the bill originally passed by the House. And the House approved $600 million for new government cars, but that was cut in half in the final version.

Here's the text of the robocall:

"Congressmen like to brag about being fiscally responsible. They all say they are opposed to wasteful spending. But Congressman Gary Peters has not been voting that way. Gary Peters voted for nearly a trillion dollars in wasteful spending. That's right one trillion dollars of your money and more than 30 entirely new government programs. Call Gary Peters at 202-225-3121. Tell him he made a mistake by supporting wasteful spending. Tell him to guard the taxpayers instead. Paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. The National Republican Congressional Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising."

UPDATE: Peters spokesman Cullen Schwarz responds: "This economic recovery plan means over 100,000 jobs created or saved in Michigan. Congressman Peters has been meeting with local mayors, school administrators, business owners, working families and unemployed residents who are grateful for the job-creating investments and tax cuts this plan will provide. If these guys would get out of Washington once in a while and come talk to real people here, they could see how badly Michigan needs action on an economic recovery plan."