McCann: 'I Voted With My Heart' On Stimulus Package

KLN senator says stimulus package violates capitalist principles

LAMBERTH, KLN--The economic stimulus package recently passed by both houses of Congress is in "clear violation" of basic capitalist ideals, Senator Shannon McCann (C-Kalnier) said Monday.

Speaking to a local newspaper in central Kalnier, McCann told a reporter she voted 'no' on the legislation because she believed it went against the principles of capitalism.

"I voted with my heart on this one, and I ended up voting 'no' because I believe that the government should not be taking additional money from the citizens of our country. The federal government already does that and it's called taxes," McCann said.

The $315 billion economic stimulus package passed in the National Assembly by a vote of 145-131 and in the Senate by a vote of 55-35.

Conservatives argued the stimulus was unnecessary because the economy was already on the upswing. Nationalists countered the economy was still in a fragile state and could slip back into a long-term period of recession.

"The whole purpose of the stimulus package was to ensure that our country gets out of this recession as quickly and painlessly as possible," Assistant Senate Majority Leader Bruce Kellney (N-Trinton) told the GBC.

McCann held her ground, however, insisting that the government does not need to be more involved in the economy.

"This is just a bad idea that takes money away from people at a time when most Grassadellans are saving their money and not spending it. The best way to stimulate the economy is to give tax breaks to the Grassadellan people," McCann said.

McCann, who is up for re-election in 2010, was the only senator from Kalnier to vote against the stimulus package. She was joined by two of Kalnier's Assembly members in opposing the legislation. The state's four other senators and sole NAT Assembly member voted for the bill.