WITH ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF RECOVERY ACT TODAY…
Big Spending Governor Hoeven Opposed the Jobs Bill Last Year, But Has Gladly Accepted $883 Million From Stimulus
Club for Growth: “It’s pretty hypocritical for someone to be against the stimulus and then walk around handing out big checks ... Republicans who did that should be worried”
On the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is calling out big spending governor John Hoeven for his blatant stimulus hypocrisy. Last year, Hoeven was a vocal opponent of the stimulus and continues to criticize the legislation, including in his Senate announcement speech last month. However, Hoeven has been more than willing to accept $883 million in federal stimulus funds. Hoeven has even appeared at events announcing projects funded through the stimulus. With the stimulus providing upwards of $883 million for North Dakota and credited with saving or creating 2,697 North Dakota jobs, does Governor Hoeven regret that he opposed the legislation?
“It took less than a year for big spending governor John Hoeven to think he could trick North Dakota voters with doublespeak but facts are facts – Hoeven opposed the Recovery Act but has now hypocritically accepted millions of dollars in funds made possible through the legislation,” said Deirdre Murphy, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Already stuck between a rock and a hard place because of his big spending habits, Hoeven should explain to North Dakotans if he now regrets opposing the stimulus after accepting $883 million from the legislation.”
Even the conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth noted, “It’s pretty hypocritical for someone to be against the stimulus and then walk around handing out big checks,” said Andrew Roth, vice president of public affairs for the conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth. “I think Republicans who did that should be worried.” [Politico, 1/28/10]
Recently, Hoeven has been under fire for announcing that Dickinson State would receive $10 million in funding to renovate Stoxen Library before announcing that the funding did not even exist in the first place. Although he is a former banker, Hoeven took heat for mishandling the $10 million in taxpayer funds, proving again that he’s all too willing to irresponsibly throw tax payer money around.
Hoeven Criticized the Stimulus in His Senate Announcement. In his Senate announcement speech in January 2010, Hoeven criticized the stimulus. [Bismarck Tribune, 1/11/10]
Spokesman: Hoeven Opposed the Stimulus Bill. In February 2009, Hoeven’s spokesman Don Canton said Hoeven opposed the stimulus bill because he worried it might contribute to the federal government’s deficit spending and raise the amount of ongoing spending. [AP, 2/21/09]
Hoeven Release: State Likely to Get More Than $500 Million in Federal Fiscal Stimulus Funding. In February 2009, a Hoeven release highlighted that the state was likely to get more than $500 million in federal fiscal stimulus funding. In the release, Hoeven said, “It is important that we coordinate our budgeting decisions with these new one-time revenues, being careful to use one-time funding to create long-term benefits for the state, while holding the line on ongoing expenses.” [Hoeven Press Release, 2/09/09]
Hoeven: We Will Use Stimulus on One-Time Projects. According to Hoeven’s 2009 Office of the Governor website, Hoeven planned for North Dakota to use federal stimulus funding on one-time infrastructure projects. He said, “We will use funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the best of our ability on one-time infrastructure expenditures, while making every effort to hold the line on future spending that might result in tax increases for the people of North Dakota.” [American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009 Office of the Governor Website]
Hoeven Joined Secretary of the Interior in Announcing Indian Affairs Funding Under the Stimulus. In April 2009, Hoeven joined Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Senators Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) to announce Interior’s Indian Affairs funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. [Department of the Interior Press Release, 4/24/09]
Hoeven Joined With Secretary of Energy, Senators to Announce Stimulus Project. In July 2009, Hoeven joined U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan in announcing that Basin Electric Power Cooperative was selected for up to $100 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The project selected -- an existing power plant in Beulah, N.D. – would incorporate advanced technologies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. [Conrad Press Release, 7/01/09]
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