Response to Simulus Package, Senator Corker

Dear Mrs. Agnew,

Thank you for contacting my office regarding tax rebates for Social Security and VA disability recipients in addition to Homeowner Assistance Plan financial relief for military and wounded warrior homeowners in the economic stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

I know right now our country is experiencing tremendous economic turmoil and people are hurting. My heart goes out to all those who find themselves in financial situations that in many cases are beyond their control. I assure you that the difficulties being faced by Tennesseans during these times of economic uncertainty and hardship are of the utmost concern to me, and my staff and I will be using all the resources and options at our disposal to help in the months ahead.

While I share your concern regarding our veterans and service members and believe that many of the programs receiving funds in the stimulus package have merit, I believe that these funding issues are more appropriately considered in the normal appropriations process rather than through emergency spending. Going forward, I am hopeful that we will take a deliberate approach to this year's appropriations process that will not only ensure that worthy projects receive the funding they need, but also maintain a fiscally responsible approach guaranteeing long-term economic growth.

As you may know, I was not able to support the stimulus package and I believe our priority should be to address the problems in our credit markets and get banks lending again. Additionally we need to take steps to improve the challenges in the housing market. I certainly applaud those who worked together in a bipartisan way to try to improve the legislation, but trying to make this package 10 percent better, while admirable, is not really doing our country the justice that it deserves. Until the housing and credit markets are dealt with in a serious and real way, I believe that anything else we do for the economy is just throwing good money after bad.

Despite not being able to support this package, I look forward to working with Governor Bredesen in any way I can to ensure that the money provided to Tennessee is put to its greatest use possible to enhance the economic opportunity for all Tennesseans. And as we move forward, I hope to continue working with the White House and Congress to try and deal appropriately with the continuing housing and credit crisis, which I believe are essential to this spending having the stimulative effect needed to restart our economy.

Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,

Bob Corker

United States Senator