[Ashland, Wis.] Ashland County District Attorney and Congressional Candidate Sean Duffy today questioned state Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) on her support for the newly proposed bailout bill for state and local governments.  Lassa sits on the state's budget-writing committee and helped craft a bill that used more than $2 billion in one-time federal taxpayer monies to plug ongoing state expenses.

With today's report of a spike in new jobless claims and unemployment hovering at 10 percent, the President this week rolled out a new massive spending bill that will be directed toward deficits in state and local budgets.  The $50 billion plan is being sold as necessary to avoid layoffs of the most popular and important government employees, yet little of the spending package invests in job creation in the private sector.

The $50 billion request would increase the deficit over ten years by $80 billion.  The US debt is projected to surpass the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2012 which would further hamper job growth and an economic recovery.

Duffy pointed out that Lassa voted to take the money the first time and avoided making tough budgetary decisions.  With debt soaring, our nation facing records deficits, now Duffy is wondering if Lassa would take the money all over again and ignore the growing reality that this level of debt is unsustainable.

"As I travel the district, it's clear people are worried about the level of debt and spending by Washington.  On one of the most important issues our country is facing, people want to know where candidates stand on the issues," said Duffy.  "We have to balance the budget and put this country back on the track to fiscal stability."

The President's plan comes on the heels of retiring Congressman David Obey's call for another stimulus bill.  Duffy also questioned whether Senator Lassa, who was handpicked by Cong. Obey to succeed him, would support another stimulus bill.

"There is no way around it; the first stimulus was a bust.  They touted how important the $787 billion bill was to job creation.  Since then, America has lost more than 4 million jobs," Duffy said.  "Government does not create jobs, it creates debt.  If leaders in Washington keep spending at this rate, our situation will only get worse.  We have to reduce spending."

Facing a budget deficit of more than $6 billion, Lassa voted for the 2009-2011 state budget which added 263 new government employees, increased spending by 6.2 percent, included $3.6 billion in borrowing and more than $2 billion in tax and fee increases.  It also left the State of Wisconsin with a structural deficit of more than $2 billion.

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