Matthews did not challenge Sen. Collins' claim that recovery bill will not stimulate economy

Written by Lauren Auerbach

Published

On Hardball, Chris Matthews did not challenge Sen. Susan Collins' claim that the economic recovery bill included “spending that had nothing to do with creating jobs, turning our economy around, or providing relief to the American taxpayers.” In fact, in its analysis of the House and Senate versions of the bill, the Congressional Budget Office stated that it expects both measures to “have a noticeable impact on economic growth and employment in the next few years.”

On the February 10 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews did not challenge Sen. Susan Collins' (R-ME) claim that the economic recovery bill included “spending that had nothing to do with creating jobs, turning our economy around, or providing relief to the American taxpayers.” In fact, as Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted, in analyzing the House version of the bill, H.R. 1, and the proposed Senate version, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stated that it expects both measures to “have a noticeable impact on economic growth and employment in the next few years.” Additionally, in his January 27 written testimony before the House Budget Committee, CBO director Douglas Elmendorf said that H.R. 1 would “provide massive fiscal stimulus that includes a combination of government spending increases and revenue reductions.” Elmendorf further stated: “In CBO's judgment, H.R. 1 would provide a substantial boost to economic activity over the next several years relative to what would occur without any legislation.”

As Media Matters documented, several media figures and outlets -- including Fox News' Sean Hannity, nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh, the Associated Press, and the Politico -- have advanced the Republican claim that the economic recovery legislation will not stimulate the economy.

From the February 10 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:

MATTHEWS: Senator Collins, does the speaker of the House know who she's dealing with? Does she know you senators, you three Republicans, especially, are going to be as tough on this as you are?

COLLINS: I hope --

MATTHEWS: Does she know what she has to deal with here, not just [Rep.] Steny Hoyer [D-MD] and the education lobby, but deal with you folks?

COLLINS: I certainly hope that the House will see our efforts as constructive. As Senator Specter mentioned, without our efforts, there would be no bill. The bill would be caught up in a filibuster.

One of the -- you asked what happened. One of the things that happened is this bill became a Christmas tree upon which members hung their pet programs. They put on spending that had nothing to do with creating jobs, turning our economy around, or providing relief to the American taxpayers. And we worked very hard to come up with a bill that was more targeted, more effective, as well as bipartisan.

So I understand the friction that always exists between the House and the Senate -- that's nothing new. But I would hope that our colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle in the House would talk to some of the centrist Democrats on the Senate who believe exactly as we do and who have joined with us in crafting this compromise that has allowed this stimulus bill to move forward.

MATTHEWS: Well, here's the president today. I want you both senators to respond. Here's President Obama down in Ft. Myers, Florida, today. I'd like you to respond to what he said.