Michele Bachmann on The Stimulus

Summary

Congresswoman Bachmann strongly and vocally opposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the Stimulus. She opposed not only the content and size of the stimulus package, but also referred to the manner in which it was passed through Congress as perverse.

In a late January floor speech on the stimulus, Congresswoman Bachmann lamented the cost of the stimulus program, and the burden that it would place on the next generation. She called the package a bailout for big government. In place of the stimulus, she proposed the Economic Recovery and Middle-Class Tax Relief Act. This legislation had a permanent 5 percent across-the-board income tax cut, an increase in the child tax credit to $5,000, made the lower 15 percent capital gains and dividends rates permanent, repealed the AMT, increased by 50 percent the tax deduction on student loans, and permanently repealed required distributions on retirement accounts and made all withdrawals from IRAs tax- and penalty-free during 2009.

In a separate floor speech, Congresswoman Bachmann stated that Congress could not forget it's responsibility to the taxpayers simply because something was labeled a crisis or a response to a crisis. She was highly critical of the content of the package and specifically the low percentage of infrastructure and tax relief.

In a final floor speech on the matter before the conference report on the legislation was passed, Congresswoman Bachman noted her opposition to the perverse manner in which the legislation was passed through Congress.

Glenn Beck Appearance

In January of 2009, Congresswoman Bachmann appeared on the Glenn Beck Program and spoke about the pending stimulus package. She urges people to call into their Representatives and urge them to vote against the Stimulus legislation.

Initial Opposition to the Stimulus Plan

On January 27, 2009 Congresswoman Bachmann spoke on the House floor about her opposition to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Response to Stimulus Vote

In January of 2009, Congresswoman Bachmann released a statement noting her reaction to the vote to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Press Statement - Opposition to the Stimulus

In February of 2009, Congresswoman Bachmann released a statement noting her opposition to the stimulus legislation.

Reaction to Conference Report

When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed the Senate and came back the House in a conference report on February 11, 2009, Congresswoman Bachmann gave a speech on the House floor denoting her opposition to the legislation. She is interrupted briefly by a fellow Congressman.

Reaction to Availability of Stimulus Bill

On February 13, of 2009, Congresswoman Bachmann spoke on the House floor about the recent publication of the conference report version of the stimulus bill. She referred to the legislation as having a high level of disrespect for the citizens of the US, and the process used to pass the bill through the Congress as perverted.

The Stimulus is Not Creating Jobs

In January of 2010, Congresswoman Bachmann wrote an op-ed discussing the effects of the stimulus and her belief that the stimulus simply did not create jobs.

The Stimulus a Year Later

In February of 2010, Congresswoman Bachmann released a press statement noting her opposition to the stimulus a year later. She cites recently publicized unemployment rates and state that those rates indicate that the stimulus measure is not succeeding in it's intended goal of stabilizing the economy.

Voting Record

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Also known as the stimulus, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed the House along mostly party lines 244-188 in January of 2009. Michele Bachmann voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

This representative has not been identified as sponsoring or cosponsoring significant legislation related to this title.

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