“Our endorsement goes to Gregory Bedell, a Chicago attorney who is making his first run for office. Bedell, 49, says the Republican Party in recent years lost its way because it abandoned its bedrock values: low taxes, responsible spending and reasonable regulation. He wants government to take a careful, restrained approach to health care, financial regulation, trade and other issues.”

“Bedell says the government should provide a safety net for Americans who are hurting in the economic downturn by extending jobless benefits and providing emergency funding for Medicaid and Medicare. But he says Congress shouldn’t try to fix the domestic auto industry with a huge commitment of taxpayer dollars and has to avoid the temptation to resort to trade protectionism.”

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While I believe there is a lot of common ground between Republicans and Democrats, what we witnessed last week was a true philosophical divide. I applaud President Obama for his efforts to create bi-partisan support; I believe his outreach to Republicans was genuine. I also applaud his recognition that tax cuts are essential to stimulating the economy.

However, the bill proposed and passed by Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership lacked the President’s insight, discipline and bi-partisan spirit. Rather than pass a bill that the President called for, including tax cuts and infrastructure investment (bridges, roads, power grid, etc.) only about a third of the spending was directed to these needed programs; the rest was big government spending on special interest programs. By now we’ve all heard the stories of the pet projects, totaling billions of dollars, which were put in the bill but which would have no stimulative effect; they would only create further government program dependence and increase the deficit and national debt. Moreover, the Congressional Budget Office’s own analysis suggested that most of the affect of the Democrats’ bill would not been seen by workers for a few years. This is not what is needed.

I credit the Republican Party for standing up for tax payers, now and for generations into the future. If the other programs are worthy, let them be debated on their own merits, stand under the light of day and not be hidden as “stimulus” when the entire country knows this is not the case.

I agree with, and would support, the proposals of the Republicans in Congress. I believe the most effective and rapid stimulation comes from putting money directly back into people’s pockets; I fear the waste and inefficiency that can come from routing it through Washington. I support an immediate suspension of payroll taxes; I would support a tax credit for home buyers and, perhaps, new car buyers; I would support an extension of the Bush administration’s tax cuts as well as keeping the capital gains tax at its current rate.

On the spending side, I do support the infrastructure proposals of President Obama, recognizing, however, that their stimulative effects will not be immediate. I would support loan guarantees to companies investing in technological innovations and I would support the Federal Housing Administration and Federal Reserve programs which help qualified homeowners in mortgage trouble. And, because I believe that at times like this, government must provide a safety net, I would support extension of jobless benefits as well as any emergency funding for Medicaid and Medicare so that those in need of medical treatment can get it.