Rogers, Segall speak out on bailout bill
Congressional Third District candidates Josh Segall, D-Montgomery, and incumbent Mike Rogers, R-Anniston, sent statements (or releases) regarding Friday’s bailout bill. Here’s what they had to say:
Mike Rogers
Congressman Mike Rogers released the following statement today following passage of the Economic Rescue Plan in the House.
“I despise the Wall Street greed and arrogance that put our economy in peril, and am angry that already suffering taxpayers are being asked to save our economy. But this turmoil is now threatening Main Street, which is why I believe Congress must act now.
“The hard lesson of not acting in similarly dire economic circumstances – the Great Depression under Herbert Hoover – is far too big a risk to take. Main Street is threatened by this crisis – our jobs, our savings and our home values – and because of that, it is with serious reservations that I supported this less than perfect compromise.”
Josh Segall
Josh Segall, candidate for Congress in Alabama’s third district, responded to incumbent Congressman Mike Rogers’s second vote in support of the $700 billion bailout.
Segall criticized Rogers for once again failing to justify his vote on the bailout bill, saying that he still has not explained to the people of Alabama where the number $700 billion comes from, exactly how they’re going to use our money, or what Congress plans to do make sure such a crisis does not happen again.
The original House version of the bailout failed on Monday because of the overwhelming opposition of members’ constituents, who were angry that the bill did more for Wall Street than for Main Street.
“Mike Rogers failed to do anything to ensure that this bill was good for the people of Alabama,” said Segall. “His votes in favor of deregulation[1] and against homeowners[2] helped get us into this crisis, and he’s done nothing to address those issues.”
Segall also criticized Senate leaders, who authored the bill that passed today, for not taking the opportunity to craft a new bill that both recognized the need for a sound financial system and provided relief for people struggling with their mortgages. The Senate bill was nearly identical to the House version, but included more than $100 billion in pork.
The “sweeteners” added to the bill – including money for film and television productions, wooden arrows for children, Puerto Rican rum, wool research, railroads, auto racing tracks and mine safety equipment – will cost taxpayers an extra $105 billion.
“Congress has rushed through a bill that fails to provide homeowners the help they need and that increases our debt without any guarantee that taxpayers will recover their money,” Segall said. “The American people deserved better.”
My response to the bailout bill ... just give me a Coke and let me watch football this weekend. I’m tired of thinking about it.
