Old fashioned Republicans exist

From Richard Corveti: Another way to look at the free money we are paying for, after taxes and the government's vigorish:

STIMULUS BILL

Georgia Republicans unhappy about rebate

By BOB KEMPER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/09/08

Washington — President Bush is expected to sign a $168 billion economic stimulus bill next week, and about half of Georgia's congressional delegation will be applauding him.

But it won't be the Republican half. All seven Georgia Republicans in the House on Thursday voted against Bush's plan to stimulate the economy by sending checks to taxpayers in hopes they'll spend the money and kick-start a lagging economy.

(ENLARGE)

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland is among the seven House Republicans who voted against the Bush plan.

• Georgia's stimulus estimate: $3.6 billion • More Business news

"This legislation promises tax rebates, but it's not a tax rebate when we're borrowing money from China to write checks to ourselves," said Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Grantville Republican.

The Georgia Republicans said one-time tax breaks would drive up government debt while doing little to improve the economy. Republicans wanted to replace the rebate checks with permanent tax cuts that they said would do more good over the long term.

"If you were having trouble meeting your monthly budget, what would your reaction be if my advice to you was to start using your credit card to cover those bills?" said Rep. John Linder, a Duluth Republican. "It's not a very sound long-term economic solution."

Meanwhile, the state's six Democratic congressmen are hailing the package as a bipartisan effort that strategically injects money where it's most needed: the pockets of taxpayers and small-business owners....

WHOLE ARTICE (mostly boring) HERE