February 6, 2009 1:59PM 

# Congressional ‘Oversight’ 

By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) 

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Here’s an excerpt from an [interview](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june09/stimulus_02-05.html) with Sen. Arlen Specter (R‑Pa.) about the new president’s outrageous spending proposal.

> RAY SUAREZ: Has the president been too optimistic in your view on the number of jobs that could be created by a package?
> 
> 
> SEN. ARLEN SPECTER: No, I don’t believe he’s been too optimistic. I’m prepared to accept his figures. I think the reality is that nobody knows with any relative degree of certainty.
> 
> 
> We pick a figure, and it doesn’t have any scientific basis. I wouldn’t say that it’s picked out of the air, but that’s — that’s pretty close.

And some people believe we’d be in big trouble without career politicians.

##### Related Tags 

[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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