By DANIEL SUDDEATH
Congressman Baron Hill voted in favor of the $819 billion economic stimulus package approved by the House on Wednesday.
“Though flawed, this legislation addresses both our immediate and long-term economic issues,” Hill, a Democrat, stated in a news release, in which he described the cost of the economic package as startling.
“As a fiscal conservative, spending this amount of money is a responsibility I take very seriously. However, the cost of doing nothing is incomprehensible,” he said.
The Senate is expected to begin deliberations on a similar bill this week. The Democratic-controlled House passed its measure 244-188.
Reasons offered for supporting the measure by Hill included Indiana’s 8.2 percent unemployment rate and dismal economic climate.
Hill said the package is directed toward hard-working families and will create and preserve jobs. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, voted against the bill, as he disagreed with the notion it would help unemployment.
“It won’t create many jobs, but it will create plenty of programs and projects through slow-moving government spending,” he said.
The bill is comprised of $544 billion in federal layout and $275 billion in tax cuts. A significant portion would back highway construction projects.
Other funding would be directed to states to lessen budget cuts of their own.
Most of the money will go for unemployment benefits, health care and food stamps.
The plan includes a $500 tax break for single workers and $1,000 for couples. Hill said Indiana stands to benefit from the package.
“Indiana is set to receive more than $3 billion dollars from this recovery legislation — funds that will supplement major gaps in the Indiana budget, such as higher education and job training,” he said.
The White House backed the legislation and pushed for its quick passage.
Hill stated that himself and colleagues in the Blue Dog Coalition, a Democrat-led Congressional group that supports a balanced budget, have raised concerns to President Barack Obama over the national deficit.
“This recovery package should not serve as an indication of future fiscal measures that will receive my support,” Hill said. “However, this is what is required during this time of economic instability.”
Hill had an economic town hall meeting scheduled for tonight in Jeffersonville, but it has been canceled because of weather.
— The Associated Press contributed to this article.
