By Michael OBrien The Hill
Published: 02-19-09
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) blasted congressional Democrats handling of the stimulus package last week calling his own partys rushing of the bill an abomination.
Cooper a centrist Democrat and member of the Blue Dog coalition supported the conference version of the stimulus bill after initially voting against the House version but blasted Democratic leaders for rushing the bill through Congress.
It was an abomination the procedure that they used to rush it through right before the Presidents Day recess Cooper told engineers gathered at the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee luncheon according to multiple reports.
I still didnt like the fact that we didnt have enough time to read it and go through it.
Cooper had earned the enmity of liberal bloggers and some House Democratic leaders during the debate over the stimulus after saying the Obama administration had quietly encouraged him to vote against the House version of the stimulus.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) cooly brushed off questions about Coopers dissent.
Cooper also alleged that some GOP lawmakers might have supported the package but were too afraid of House Republican leadership to vote for the final $787 billion stimulus. All House Republicans voted against passing the initial House and final conference versions of the stimulus.
Spending money is painful its very painful Cooper said but sometimes its necessary.
This is like Christmas in February Cooper added.
