Midlothian Va. House Republicans will spend the fall portraying the economic stimulus law as a waste of taxpayer money while depicting Democratic attempts to retool the health system as potentially ruinous to small businesses says Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.
Cantor told reporters the GOP would continue to offer alternatives on health care and the economic recovery.
If were going to oppose what Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the administration are doing were going to proffer coherent counterproposals that we believe make more sense" Cantor said.
The second-ranking House Republican spoke to the media Monday during a half-day job fair that he sponsored at Clover Hill High School in the suburbs west of Richmond. More than 3000 job-seekers jammed the road in front of the school and parked cars on nearby lawns to meet with some 80 employers inside.
Cantor who has emerged as one of the Obama administrations sharpest critics said that the throng of jobless residents was a measure of the faltering effects of the stimulus law (PL 111-5) that Republicans contend was too focused on infrastructure spending that will increase the federal debt.
Cantor called for redirecting stimulus money toward small businesses saying they are capable of creating jobs quickly.
If were not going to direct them funds in the direction of job creators we ought not be spending taxpayer dollars" Cantor said. Referring to the job-seekers he said These people they have real dire circumstances."
On health care the GOP continues to strongly oppose liberal Democrats push for a government-run health plan to compete with private insurers and argues that House Democratic leaders call for a surtax on individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $250000 would hurt small-business owners.
Cantor predicted the administrations overhaul would be paid for on the backs of small businesses the ones we need most to answer the plight of the people here today."
As an alternative House Republicans are promoting less ambitious measures such as expanded medical savings accounts and a proposal to permit small businesses to join across state lines to buy group health coverage from private insurers.
Cantor said that Republicans have not yet decided whether to offer a detailed substitute amendment as an alternative to the House Democratic health plan (HR 3200) or pursue a more narrowly targeted motion to recommit the Democratic bill. The decision will hinge on what a final version of the bill contains and how Pelosis leadership team decides to structure floor debate.
The majority has been adept at blocking our ability to offer alternatives that well have to see what theyll allow. But clearly the American people want to see an alternative that works" Cantor said.
In general he said Democrats were too enamored with attempts by Washington to fix every problem under the sun" instead of focusing on stimulating the economy and creating jobs. He suggested applying more stimulus money to tax breaks.
We ought to seriously sit down roll up our sleeves and begin to prioritize how we go about deploying those resources" he said.
Democrats have brushed aside criticism of the stimulus by Cantor and other Republican leaders and rejected the idea or redirecting some of the funds contained in the $787 billion package.
Midlothian Va. House Republicans will spend the fall portraying the economic stimulus law as a waste of taxpayer money while depicting Democratic attempts to retool the health system as potentially ruinous to small businesses says Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia.
Cantor told reporters the GOP would continue to offer alternatives on health care and the economic recovery.
If were going to oppose what Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the administration are doing were going to proffer coherent counterproposals that we believe make more sense" Cantor said.
The second-ranking House Republican spoke to the media Monday during a half-day job fair that he sponsored at Clover Hill High School in the suburbs west of Richmond. More than 3000 job-seekers jammed the road in front of the school and parked cars on nearby lawns to meet with some 80 employers inside.
Cantor who has emerged as one of the Obama administrations sharpest critics said that the throng of jobless residents was a measure of the faltering effects of the stimulus law (PL 111-5) that Republicans contend was too focused on infrastructure spending that will increase the federal debt.
Cantor called for redirecting stimulus money toward small businesses saying they are capable of creating jobs quickly.
If were not going to direct them funds in the direction of job creators we ought not be spending taxpayer dollars" Cantor said. Referring to the job-seekers he said These people they have real dire circumstances."
On health care the GOP continues to strongly oppose liberal Democrats push for a government-run health plan to compete with private insurers and argues that House Democratic leaders call for a surtax on individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $250000 would hurt small-business owners.
Cantor predicted the administrations overhaul would be paid for on the backs of small businesses the ones we need most to answer the plight of the people here today."
As an alternative House Republicans are promoting less ambitious measures such as expanded medical savings accounts and a proposal to permit small businesses to join across state lines to buy group health coverage from private insurers.
Cantor said that Republicans have not yet decided whether to offer a detailed substitute amendment as an alternative to the House Democratic health plan (HR 3200) or pursue a more narrowly targeted motion to recommit the Democratic bill. The decision will hinge on what a final version of the bill contains and how Pelosis leadership team decides to structure floor debate.
The majority has been adept at blocking our ability to offer alternatives that well have to see what theyll allow. But clearly the American people want to see an alternative that works" Cantor said.
In general he said Democrats were too enamored with attempts by Washington to fix every problem under the sun" instead of focusing on stimulating the economy and creating jobs. He suggested applying more stimulus money to tax breaks.
We ought to seriously sit down roll up our sleeves and begin to prioritize how we go about deploying those resources" he said.
Democrats have brushed aside criticism of the stimulus by Cantor and other Republican leaders and rejected the idea or redirecting some of the funds contained in the $787 billion package.
