...on wasteful spending in the "stimulus" package:
"House Republicans are setting up "a stimulus-watch program" that will allow watchdog groups and private citizens to report findings as contractors and agencies start spending billions of dollars on roads, schools, renewable energy projects and other initiatives, said House GOP Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia. "We'll be taking a look in detail" and "really providing accountability and transparency," Cantor said in an interview Wednesday. House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio said in a statement: "House Republicans are concerned about the potential for abuse of taxpayer funds in the massive trillion-dollar spending bill that the president signed into law this week. ... We will remain vigilant in our oversight efforts."
Good for them. But they've got work to do to convince Americans that they really mean it, after the past 8 years. They're going to have to prove their bona fides here, in their votes...and in being willing to criticize their own who accept pork for their own states and districts. They can start with the 4 Republican governors who welcomed the "stimulus" money...such as Florida Governor Charlie Crist.
UPDATE: by the way, there are some Republican governors willing to say no:
"My concern is there's going to be commitments attached to it that are a mile long," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who considered rejecting some of the money but decided Wednesday to accept it. "We need the freedom to pick and choose. And we need the freedom to say 'No thanks.'"
Good for him.
