Ehrlich on Washington column, December 2, 2001

\EWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Rood. Suite 304 Lulhwvill*. Morylond 2 1 093 315 Cannon Houm Office Building Wathington. D.C 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of December 2, 200 1 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Collecting Dust in the Senate Six weeks ago, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives, with President Bush’s support, adopted an economic stimulus package that puts America on the road to economic recovery. With Christmas fast approaching and economists formally declaring a recession, this initiative is needed to restore consumer confidence and jumpstart America’s economic engine. If enacted, HR. 3090, The Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2001 , will boost consumer spending and increase business investment at a time when our economy needs it most. It helps low-income working families and couples by delivering a full $300 rebate to individuals and a $600 rebate to couples who received a partial rebate from President Bush’s $1.35 trillion tax relief initiative. H.R. 3090 also provides a sorely needed lift to our businesses by helping create jobs and spurring investment. It allows small businesses to claim refunds on losses incurred as a result of the recent economic downturn so that money can be directed into employee salaries and benefits. Write-offs could also be used to increase business investments in office equipment, which would slow layoffs in the nation’s manufacturing industry. Finally, H.R. 3090 would permanently repeal the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, one of the biggest disincentives for small businesses to invest in new jobs, equipment, and employee benefits. Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle seems content killing this proven plan for economic revival by loading it up with billions of dollars in unnecessary government spending. To make matters worse, instead of bringing H.R. 3090 to the Senate floor for a fair up-or-down vote, Senator Daschle and other Democrat Leaders packed their bags and took off for a tour of Mexico last week, thereby signaling that Mexico’s economy is more important than our own. Like you, I want leadership in the Senate that understands the concerns of Americans who are forced to search the Want Ads during the holidays. Right now, that type of leadership is painfully absent.