John Shadegg: Stimulus Bill is Bad Policy, Bad Economics

It's surprising and unfortunate one of our other Congressmen, Trent Franks, doesn't share this position.

To: Shadegg Friends
From: Congressman John Shadegg

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On Tuesday, the U.S. House voted on H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Bill. As you may know, I was one of only 25 Republicans to vote against the bill.

Every American knows that the Federal government does not have the money to pay for these rebates. We will have to borrow it.

It makes absolutely no sense to me to go give away money we don't have. These rebates will push us even further into debt to China and Saudi Arabia and impose the burden of this debt on our children and grandchildren.

Temporary rebates will not stimulate economic growth. The most they'll do is make politicians feel good.

We are, in fact, not all Keynesian's now.

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Also, contrary to the claims being made by some, under the House stimulus bill, illegal aliens who filed tax returns last year will receive rebate checks. These checks will be in the amount of $600 per individual or $1200 per family plus $300 per child as provided in the law. This will happen, even though a provision of the bill stipulates that rebate checks are not to be sent to 'any nonresident alien individual.'

The reason that illegal aliens will nonetheless receive rebate checks is that under the terms of the bill, checks are to be automatically sent to all people who filed a tax return and earned the requisite $3000. Because tax returns do not disclose a taxpayer's legal status, rebate checks will automatically be sent to all illegal aliens who filed a tax return.

It's a little like going out on Halloween and telling your babysitter that she should only give out candy to kids from your neighborhood. But, she has no way of knowing which kids are from your neighborhood and which are from somewhere else, so she just gives it to all the kids who come to your house.

Simply put, the IRS has no way to know whether the individual who filed the tax return is an illegal alien or not. As a result, it will issue checks to all illegal aliens who filed a return.

According to a New York Times story from last April, the number of illegal aliens who file tax returns has risen recently and has hit a record high.

The Democrats continue to try to attack my record and they have been making automated, pre-recorded calls (so-called "robocalls") to voters in the 3rd Congressional District attacking me.

I sent out a press release - partially tongue-in-cheek - that said, "I want to thank the Arizona Democratic Party for educating voters about my vote against increasing the national debt and giving rebate checks to illegal aliens. I hope the Democrats call every voter in CD 3 so that people know that I oppose going further into debt to foreign countries like China and Saudi Arabia and I oppose giving tax rebates to illegal aliens.

The Democrats are required to report the cost of the calls to the FEC, and because the calls are providing direct support to my re-election efforts, it may be considered an in-kind contribution.