Rep. Smith says economic quandary faces Congress
Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Republican U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith said economic uncertainty is at the top of his agenda as he works in Congress and campaigns to hang onto his 3rd District seat.
With the Fed-engineered bailout of investment banker Bear Stearns and a struggling housing market, Smith said Congress will return from a two-week Easter recess Monday with its plate full of economic uncertainty and tough questions.
"I think we really need to be careful with a payout," Smith said in an interview with The Associated Press. "If we reward poor decisions, we're bound to see new bad decisions."
Smith is seeking a second term representing Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District. He faces Jeremiah Ellison of Grand Island in the Republican primary May 13. Two Democrats have joined the race: Pierce County Democratic Chairman Paul Spatz of Osmond and Jay Stoddard of Grand Island, who has run twice for Nebraska secretary of state and once for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Smith said he hesitated voting for the economic stimulus package that will put dollars in Americans pockets this May, but said he ended up supporting it as a "short-term solution."
Long-term solutions should focus on areas such as transportation infrastructure, Smith said.
Smith said he's interested in the concept of a mileage tax, which a yearlong Oregon study that included gadgets installed in cars concluded was feasible.
"Simply increasing the fuel tax -- at the state level or the federal level -- is a very short-term solution," Smith said, because fuel efficient cars mean people are buying less gas even though they're not driving less.
A big part of building Nebraska's economy is the completion of the so-called Heartland Expressway, Smith said. The project was designed in the late 1970s to link Denver and Rapid City, S.D., by way of the Nebraska Panhandle.
John Craig, director of the state Department of Roads, has said the state sets priorities based on traffic volume, pavement conditions and safety. The Heartland Expressway doesn't meet the "needs" definition, he said.
If the nation had used the same mentality when the interstate system was built, Smith said, "there might not be an Interstate 80 across Nebraska."
"This isn't as much about connecting Chadron to Scottsbluff, it's about connecting Denver to Rapid City (S.D.)," Smith said.
Smith had about $237,000 cash on hand at the end of December to spend on the 3rd District race. He'll report new fund raising totals Monday, which is the first quarter filing deadline for the Federal Election Commission.
In 2006, Smith's opponents criticized him for raising much of his campaign funds through the Club for Growth, a conservative Washington, D.C., group that advocates ending farm subsidies.
Smith defended the donations at the time, saying the Club for Growth supported his record of opposing tax increases.
Smith said he hasn't heard much from the group during his time in the White House, and doesn't know whether they'll support him this year.
"I've cast some votes that they liked. I've cast some votes that they didn't," Smith said. "My record does point to independence" from special interests.
With the Fed-engineered bailout of investment banker Bear Stearns and a struggling housing market, Smith said Congress will return from a two-week Easter recess Monday with its plate full of economic uncertainty and tough questions.
"I think we really need to be careful with a payout," Smith said in an interview with The Associated Press. "If we reward poor decisions, we're bound to see new bad decisions."
Smith is seeking a second term representing Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District. He faces Jeremiah Ellison of Grand Island in the Republican primary May 13. Two Democrats have joined the race: Pierce County Democratic Chairman Paul Spatz of Osmond and Jay Stoddard of Grand Island, who has run twice for Nebraska secretary of state and once for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Smith said he hesitated voting for the economic stimulus package that will put dollars in Americans pockets this May, but said he ended up supporting it as a "short-term solution."
Long-term solutions should focus on areas such as transportation infrastructure, Smith said.
Smith said he's interested in the concept of a mileage tax, which a yearlong Oregon study that included gadgets installed in cars concluded was feasible.
"Simply increasing the fuel tax -- at the state level or the federal level -- is a very short-term solution," Smith said, because fuel efficient cars mean people are buying less gas even though they're not driving less.
A big part of building Nebraska's economy is the completion of the so-called Heartland Expressway, Smith said. The project was designed in the late 1970s to link Denver and Rapid City, S.D., by way of the Nebraska Panhandle.
John Craig, director of the state Department of Roads, has said the state sets priorities based on traffic volume, pavement conditions and safety. The Heartland Expressway doesn't meet the "needs" definition, he said.
If the nation had used the same mentality when the interstate system was built, Smith said, "there might not be an Interstate 80 across Nebraska."
"This isn't as much about connecting Chadron to Scottsbluff, it's about connecting Denver to Rapid City (S.D.)," Smith said.
Smith had about $237,000 cash on hand at the end of December to spend on the 3rd District race. He'll report new fund raising totals Monday, which is the first quarter filing deadline for the Federal Election Commission.
In 2006, Smith's opponents criticized him for raising much of his campaign funds through the Club for Growth, a conservative Washington, D.C., group that advocates ending farm subsidies.
Smith defended the donations at the time, saying the Club for Growth supported his record of opposing tax increases.
Smith said he hasn't heard much from the group during his time in the White House, and doesn't know whether they'll support him this year.
"I've cast some votes that they liked. I've cast some votes that they didn't," Smith said. "My record does point to independence" from special interests.
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