Sen. Shelby defends stimulus opposition

By Dale Liesch (Contact) | Dadeville Record

Originally published 07:16 p.m., February 25, 2009
Updated 07:16 p.m., February 25, 2009

The federal stimulus package, the automobile manufacturing bailout, immigration and the future of the Republican Party were the hot topics as U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., met with Tallapoosa County constituents in Dadeville Thursday morning.

Shelby told visitors to the Home Plate Café that most of the stimulus plan was not going to stimulate the economy and would instead lead to increased national debt.

“I don’t believe we can borrow our way to prosperity as a country,” Shelby said. “Now with the signing of the stimulus, we’re $12 trillion in debt. We are the biggest debtor in the world.”

While Shelby supports some of the infrastructure programs within the larger stimulus package, he believes the best way to stimulate the struggling U.S. economy lies with the banking system.

“We need to strengthen our banks,” Shelby said. “Turning the banking system around should be our number one priority.”

Shelby said loaning money to U.S. auto manufacturers to help keep them from bankruptcy is also a mistake given those businesses had insisted on selling vehicle models he said are failures.

“I worry about the auto bailout because these companies have already lost money because their models are wrong,” Shelby said. “We’re going to have some big fights coming soon with the auto makers.”

Shelby also said U.S. immigration laws aren’t working. He said the U.S. has at least 12 million illegal immigrants.

“If this is the case, you know our immigration policy is broken,” Shelby said. “We’ve lost control of our borders and I think that is a shame. My record speaks for itself. I have voted for the strictest, toughest immigration reform that has come in front of the U.S. Senate.”

Shelby told the group of constituents he hopes Republicans can regain a majority during the next set of elections and even named some traits the next, ideal GOP candidate for president should possess.

“We need someone who can attract not only the hardcore Republicans, but some independents as well,” Shelby said. “I don’t know who that is going to be, maybe someone nobody has heard of yet, but it’s something we need.”

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