Friend Report Weathermen predict the weather. (Where did that weekend snow come from?) Economists predict the economy. (Some say economists have predicted 25 of the last two recessions.) Politicians predict the outcome of legislative initiatives. (Their percentage isn't so hot, either.) Someone with experience in any given area can be an expert and make predictions. Predictions can be helpful for making plans. They can be helpful for making business decisions. They can be helpful in sales and purchase decisions. Predictions also can be wrong. Some among us predict the federal stimulus package will lift the United States out of its economic funk and put Americans back to work. It certainly takes guts to vote for that prediction, especially if you haven't read the stimulus bill. You are only relying on the "truly upright" word of the bureaucrats writing the stimulus bill. In our Indiana General Assembly world, we stress the importance of 48 hours to examine a spending bill - the budget - before we are forced to vote on it. There must be time to read and comprehend the facts in the bill. "Trust me, and sign this" is not enough. Hoosiers and all Americans deserve better than a "rah-rah" speech from our president and a discussion of how bad off we are. The president said times are worse than the Great Depression. Obviously, he doesn't have to wait in line for dinner on Friday or Saturday nights like us common folk. The majority of people could not afford to eat out during the Depression. They were struggling just to eat. Congress has passed a spending bill aimed at stimulating our American economy. Indiana may receive $6 billion or more of the $800-plus billion package. The stimulus will be directed at many different areas in our state. Education, unemployment, roads and infrastructure, and various other economic development measures are on the wish list for stimulus money. Perhaps your community is included in a road or sewer project. Take advantage of the money and help your local community. This has all happened so quickly that nobody understands the logistics. When the federal money starts to rain down on all of us like manna from heaven, we should take advantage and complete what is necessary. If we don't use the money in our own communities, it will go to some other state. This is a departure from my usual philosophy of independence, but this is a totally different ballgame. I don't have any inside track on this stimulus plan, but I do know that if we back away from the federal money on the moral high grounds, then others will take the fresh crisp dollars, and use them against Indiana to attract companies and jobs. The question now becomes, "Who is the biggest fool?" The state must play ball with the feds and distribute the money to the neediest and the most advantageous projects. I think that's a definite prerequisite for proper stewardship of the money. My goal for District 23 and Indiana has always been to do what is right and best for everyone. We collectively have a much different situation before us. As a state and nation, I think we may be in for more rough economic times. This is my prediction: This country and state will successfully overcome our economic recession. Despite the media bias, we will be just fine. A little optimism can make a bad situation merely a challenge. More later,
Rep. Bill Friend |
