One year ago last week, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Projections continue to show that the ARRA has softened the blow of the recession. Without it, the economy would be a lot worse. Don’t take my word on it. The New York Times printed analysis by three macroeconomic forecasting firms. But wait, there’s more. We’re now a year out from the stimulus bill. The data reveal that things are, in reality, getting better. Again, the New York Times published data showing that, immediately following passage, the economy began to turn around. The decreases in both GDP and employment stopped increasing.

The ARRA has had significant, positive effects on the economy. Without it, the job losses would likely be continuing to increases and GDP would still be falling.

With positive results like these – and more to come, because there are more stimulus funds yet to be spent – surely the bill must have passed through Congress with towering majorities.

Wrong. Dead Wrong. It passed the House with ZERO Republican votes. It passed the Senate with Three Republican votes- one of which is now a Democrat.

Despite the fact that House Republicans unanimously declined to help America out of the recession, there’s no shortage of House Republicans trying to take credit for its successes. Among them: Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Adam Putnam (R-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Geoff Davis (R-KY), Mike Castle (R-DE), Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Chris Lee (R-NY), Patrick Tiberi (R-OH), Bill Shuster (R-PA), Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), Dave Reichart (R-WA), Sue Myrick (R-NC), and Jean Schmidt (R-OH). For a complete inventory of their hypocrisy, see here.

Republicans are comfortable fighting tooth and nail against legislation to help put America back on track and taking the credit for the benefits that they had no hand in securing. And they continue to rail against the Recovery Act.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) had this to say: “The Recovery Act has already worked to save or create as many as 2.4 million jobs, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.  In one year, the Recovery Act has provided $120 billion in tax cuts for 95% of working families as well as businesses across the country; loaned nearly $20 billion to small businesses to expand and create jobs; funded more than 12,500 transportation projects nationwide; kept teachers, police officers, and firefighters on the job; and accomplished much more….”

With results like these, and more to come in the coming months, I hope to see more of these signs across the country:

Mike Schillawski ‘10 is the President of the Cornell Democrats.

Update: A video produced by Organizing For America has been making its rounds on the Internet, laying out the impact the Recovery Act had.