Biden defends stimulus package in Henrico
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At J. Sarge, Biden discusses how stimulus package...
Introduced by Ashland businessman John Fernandez, Vice President Joseph Biden says stimulus will help small-business owners across the nation and restore dignity to men and women out of work.Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. strongly defended the Obama administration's $787 billion economic-stimulus package yesterday, saying it has prevented the country from going into an even deeper recession.
"I am absolutely, positively confident that we are on the right track," he told an audience of about 140 students, faculty members and invited guests at the Henrico County campus of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.
Biden later attended a private fundraiser in Henrico for state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee for governor.
At J. Sargeant Reynolds, Biden urged patience for the stimulus plan and noted that employment is the last aspect of the economy to recover.
"No serious recession has ever been led out of by creating jobs. That's the last thing that happens," he said. "You've got to restore the underpinnings."
"I ask those critics . . . would they not help prevent [layoffs] of thousands of teachers, firefighters, cops? Would they not give a tax cut to the 95 percent of the hardest-working people in America? Would they not give them an extra $68 a month [through decreased withholding taxes] to help them through it? That's billions of dollars to be poured back into the economy. . . .
"Would they sit back and let the economy collapse?"
Biden announced a $1.59 million grant for law enforcement in Richmond. Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood shared the stage with the vice president and referred to him once as "Vice President O'Biden."
The vice president joked about the slip by noting that he is Irish.
Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones; Frank Cardella, president of the Chesterfield Education Association; and John Fernandez, owner of an Ashland food company, testified to the benefits of the stimulus package before Biden delivered a 30-minute speech.
Fernandez, whose firm, Daystar Desserts, makes desserts for the wholesale trade, said a small-business loan-guaranty program in the stimulus package helped him stay in business and expand, when his bank wouldn't give him a loan during the credit crunch.
Jones, who accompanied Biden to the event, said he had asked the vice president to do two things: "bring high-speed rail to Richmond, and bring it before I go out of office."
Biden, attending two events in Rep. Eric I. Cantor's 7th Congressional District, appeared to taunt the House GOP whip.
Without naming Cantor, Biden said: "The very guy who says this [stimulus] is not working wants to make sure you get high-speed rail. . . . Now where do you think that money is coming from?"
Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, has been one of the leading critics of the stimulus package, saying it has not produced the jobs the Obama administration promised.
Cantor also has pushed for stimulus money to build a high-speed rail line between Petersburg and Washington, through Richmond. The stimulus package includes $8 billion for high-speed rail.
In a conference call with reporters yesterday ahead of Biden's visit, Cantor said he supports high-speed rail "as a stand-alone bill." But he said "the merit of this one project does not excuse the thousands of others that do not create jobs, the billions in pork projects, and the lack of pro-growth policies to immediately create jobs."
Biden said the Obama administration inherited the deep recession from Republicans who did little to help the middle class.
"The American people are tough enough, strong enough, understanding enough to know that this cannot be done overnight, but we've got to stick with it," he said.
Virginia first lady Anne Holton was among the guests at the community college. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was out of state. Today, Kaine will be in Biloxi, Miss., to attend the annual meeting of the National Governors Association.
Biden sprinkled his speech with references to Virginia. He noted that $6.5 million from the stimulus is funding the paving of portions of Interstate 295, creating 100 new jobs. Also, a total of $24 million saved 685 jobs in law enforcement, he said.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or
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Reader Reactions
At least this package is being put to good use by a company that can create real, long term jobs. John Fernandez said it right…this is a Blessed nation…and we need to fight to keep it that way. This government has spent more money without any results…FINALLY…some results with Daystar Desserts. I pray for great success for Daystar Desserts.
“As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights. Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions.“
—James Madison, March 27, 1792
Biden and his socialist boss Obama should read the constitution. It’s requirements are in direct conflict with their socialist programs.
Joey Pluggs is a dangerous fool.
And since Biden has been consistently on the wrong side of history over the last 30 years… his DNC-vaunted foreign policy “experience” has little value… this aparatchik doesn’t appear to have learned a thing.
He opposed every step of Reagan’s defense buildup that won the cold war, and later proposed surrender and 3-way partition in Iraq. He frequently appears to have no idea what he’s talking about, but this has little effect on the quantity of output from this mother-of-all-loose-cannons. Biden really shouldn’t be let out the door unless chained to a TelePromTer.
What a schlameel
Biden,
How about reading the Constitution and Federalist Papers before you give another speech and put your foot in your mouth (again).
The purpose of Biden’s visit was a fundraiser for Creigh Deeds whom I believe has the POTENTIAL to be a very good governor. I am increasingly concerned, however, about the extent to which Mr. Deeds continues to closely ally himself with the Obama administration and DNC “party line” rather than concentrating on directly proposing solutions to the issues that affect Virginians and for which the next Governor will be responsible.
We do not need a puppet or parrot - of any party - in the Governor’s mansion, and I am most interested in having the candidates propose concrete measures that directly address Virginian’s problems from a Virginian’s perspective. In my opinion, the Federal Government has considerably exceeded its constitutional authority and Virginian should expect Virginia’s Governor to be primarily concerned about the Commonwealth’s well-being and not about ingratiating himself to any National Party.
The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
- Mark Twain
Suppose you were an idiot; and suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.
- John Adams
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
- P.J. O’Rourke
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!
- Pericles (430 B.C.)
I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
- Will Rogers
Rev,
“How do you know that it’s a recession and not a depression? Your neighbor lost his job, but you didn’t lose yours.“
Reverned, there was a time when I would have agreed to answer anything that a politician said with, “whatever,“ but I’ve concluded that gives them the impression that I don’t care, which in turn gives them cover to to whatever they bloddy well please.
They may still go ahead and do what they please, but at least they know that someone is watching, understands what is going on and cares very deeply about it.
I do agree that there’s not a dimes’ worth of difference between Republican or Democrat.
Ya’ll are too long winded on this subject. It’s a politician, doesn’t matter the party. Just answer their statements with “Whatever.“
As once said, “How do you know a politician is lying? Easy, his lips are moving.“
Another one “What’s the difference between a crook, and a politician? There isn’t one.“
While it is difficult for most to deal/comment on only the centrtal issues and not sub-plots, I will try to accomplish this task.
One, the article is mainly about two issues. A) The economy/recession and B) how the current administration is trying to solve the problem.
First, drhoagie is correct that all spending at the federal and I believe all state levels is done through the legislative branch. So since 2006, the Democratics have been in charge. These are facts, not opinions. So they are more responsible for the current condition of the economy but both parties are to blame. If you have to pick on someone, pick on Rep. Barney Frank. Who was and is in charge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That is how we started to get into this mess but there are other issues that helped as well but that would be the starting trigger.
Second, how do we get out? I don’t know…at least I’ll admit it. If I knew, I would be living at 1600 Pennslyvania Avenue. But I do know that saving a few jobs here and a few jobs there for the cost we are spending is NOT the answer. Especially since that money was allotted for a different purpose…i.e. National Infra-Structure.
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