Lungren Praises Stimulus Project He Voted Against
Republican Congressman Dan Lungren of Gold River praised yesterday’s announcement that SMUD would receive $127.5 million in federal stimulus...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2009/10/lungren-praises-stimulus-project-he.html
Republican Congressman Dan Lungren of Gold River praised yesterday’s announcement that SMUD would receive $127.5 million in federal stimulus money to install so-called smart meters in every home and business in its service area.
The smart meters will provide real time information to consumers of electric use and are believed to be an important tool in energy conservation efforts.
The SMUD grant was part of a larger $3.4 billion in grants issued Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Energy. The energy funds were part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Investment Act that was approved last winter.
On his website, Lungren said he advocated for SMUD in a July 27 letter to the Department of Energy saying the project was win-win for person and national stewardship of our resources.
“We have arrived at a point where our energy, environmental and national security interests all point to the need for a common solution," Lungren said on his website. "This is why I endorse SMUD's effort."
While Lungren says he supported SMUD request, he is not being entirely honest on his support for the project according to Andy Stone, Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
“After voting against landmark clean energy legislation and the economic recovery package, now Congressman Lungren is claiming credit and hailing the results as the solution to ‘energy, environmental and national security issues,’” Stone said. “This latest example of Lungren’s hypocrisy, saying one thing in Washington and another in California, is off the charts.”
The SMUD grant came from stimulus funds contained in the American Recover and Revinetment Act. Lungren voted no on the package.
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No surprise here. This sort of hipocracy is his stock in trade. We need effective representation, Dr. Bera perhaps?
SMUD was going forward with the installation of smart metering regardless of federal stimulus monies. Indeed, we were able to significantly reduce the district's overall cost of installation by shifting the burden to the future taxpayer via this stimulus/subsidy.
This is a tree falling with no one to hear it -- if the stimulus didn't promote an economic activity that wasn't going to happen without it, is it really even a stimulus?
Sarah - You know that Congressman Lungren opposed the stimulus bill as presented by Democratic leadership, but because it passed, he recognizes his obligation to help his constituents receive our district’s fair share of stimulus funds. If Congressman Lungren didn’t attempt to deliver these Federal funds, would you be critical of him as well? This is the classic “damned if he did and damned if he didn't.”
The crucial point to this reality is that Congressman Lungren understands the priorities and needs of his district. Despite his opposition to the stimulus – his reasoning being that it saddles future generations with an insurmountable debt -- no matter what his vote was, since the bill passed, he will work hard to make sure his district receives funds.
I agree with Congressman Lungren that the stimulus package as written was poor legislation. But I am also grateful that he is not going to let the district languish because he opposed the bill. He will continue to fight for the 3rd CD residents – both before and after legislative bills are debated and decided.
The blathering of the DCCC toady underscores my point. it's nothing but political posturing, and those in the know won't fall for it.
Tim Murphy
Well, Tim, I guess I should simply defer to your wisdom?? No, my feelings about Lungren do not come from the DCCC toady, rather from my personal experience and face to face observations of him.
I find it quite disappointing that you seem to feel the need to be an apologist for certain political figures. When you go "on the record" with this stuff, it may come back to haunt you.
My support for Lungren's fight to get our district's fair share of federal tax dollars is going to haunt me? I know Halloween was yesterday, but that's a ghost that wouldn't scare me, Sarah!
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