CNNis reporting that Congressional Democrats and Vice President Biden are hoping that the $787 billion in stimulus funds that were passed in February can be spent quicker. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer stated that the stimulus package pushed by President Barack Obama to create jobs was taking too long. Hoyer also said that they are “looking at ways to get the money out more quickly.”

Democrats, led by Vice President Joe Biden, contend the stimulus money will begin launching more construction projects and other job-creating programs now that necessary mechanisms have been established and contracts signed.”

While we may share Minority Leader John Boehner’s contention that there shouldn’t have been a stimulus package at all, and that taxes should have been lowered to allow business and the taxpayers spend their money to stimulate the economy, we hope that this message will get to Democrats in the State Legislature and Governor Paterson.  In this stimulus package, $13 billion in funds was given to the State of New York. 

However in the budget that was negotiated behind closed doors by three Democrats from New York City, only $8 billion of that money was spent.  $5 billion was determined to be left sitting in a bank account untouched.  Instead of using that $5 billion to help stimulate the economy and create jobs like the President wanted, Governor Paterson, Assembly and Senate Democrats had decided to use this money as a slush fund so they could fund Democratic member items grants during an election year to ensure their reelection and create a dominate majority in the Senate.

Rarely due we agree with Congressional Democratic Leadership but I share Hoyer’s cry, spend the money!