Menuhaeo's Stimulus Plan Will Work, Sommerheim Says

Billionaire banker says president's plan is 'the best plan proposed so far'

MADAGEN, CEA--Billionaire businessman Steven Sommerheim says President Menuhaeo's stimulus plan to spur economic growth is the "best plan proposed so far," according to the GBC.

Mr. Sommerheim, who is the founder and CEO of Nexford Corp., told the GBC Wednesday the president's stimulus plan will help create jobs amidst the nation's struggling economy.

"This stimulus plan will take the money the government is spending, and invest it in things like infrastructure and public works programs," Sommerheim told the GBC's Jason Dent. "It also puts money back into the hands of the Grassadellan people, which will help stimulate our economy."

The president also has several allies in Congress. Among the most vocal supporters of the stimulus package are Sens. Brian Brookes (N-CEA), Paul LeBouse (N-KLN), and Grace Kemp (N-TRI), who have made several appearances on television and radio shows to lobby for the spending plan's passage.

"It's critical that we act and we act quickly," Brookes told the STAR Radio Network. "And in order for this to be a successful stimulus package, we have to provide spending provisions for the national government as well as state and local governments."

Senator LeBouse also urged approval of the spending bill by the Bodies.

"The Grassadellan people are hurting, and the government must come to their aid immediately. We cannot afford to wait. We must take action now," LeBouse told the National Press Federation (NPF).

But critics of the president's proposed stimulus plan, worth $650 billion, say the package is too expensive, and does not include enough tax cuts. Conservative legislators say the stimulus package also contains funding for questionable spending projects.

"Should we really be using this money for research for things like insects and riverbeds? No, we shouldn't," Sen. Sam Byelle (C-CAR), told STAR Radio. "We shouldn't be spending tax-payer dollars on projects and programs that aren't absolutely necessary to our economic strength," Byelle said.

Sen. Jhana Schueler (C-BIE) was also skeptical the spending bill will work, telling GNN's Marie Watson Wednesday "the chances of this bill creating a substantial amount of new jobs is very slim."

While some Nationalists in Congress have announced their approval of the bill, many have reserved comment on the bill, largely in part because the final amount of special project-spending has not been determined yet.

"If the bill has a lot of special project-spending (SPS), many Nationalists won't support it," an NAT source, who asked not to be identified because of party protocol, told GNN News.

Some Conservatives, such as Sen. Robert Maclan (ARA) and Victoria Albright (CEA), have crossed party lines in support of President Menuhaeo's plan. But most CNS senators remain opposed to the bill.

"I don't foresee a compromise on this bill unless the administration cuts back on SPS and inserts more tax cuts into the bill," Sen. Newton Jeffs (C-WIK) said Wednesday.

Finance Secretary Jay Goodling said he will work as a "deal broker" between the president and members of Congress.

"Part of my job as Finance Secretary is to reach a compromise on issues like this, and I expect that will be my role in the coming weeks," Goodling said at a press conference Tuesday.

Collester Press Secretary Adam Kolbert called the bill "vital to the nation's long-term economic viability," but said the president himself will not comment on the bill in the next few days.