"As the U.S. House voted with strong bipartisan support for a $146 billion economic boost Tuesday, three Virginia Republicans were among the 35 representatives opposing the measure.

“We need to be sure this is not election stimulus, instead of economic stimulus,” said Rep. Randy Forbes, R-4th, who called the $30 billion in tax rebates simply a spur for “retail therapy.”

Reps. Virgil Goode, R-5th, and Tom Davis, R-11th, also voted “no” on the measure.

“I just think to just borrow all of it, you’re just increasing deficit.” Goode said.

The congressman’s likely opponent in the general election, Democrat Tom Perriello, quickly highlighted Goode’s vote against the rebates in a news release.

“Families in our communities are hurting, and this tax rebate will help them put food on the table, pay for gas, and catch up on rent and mortgage payments,” Perriello said.

Goode said he had received calls from constituents telling him to oppose the plan.

“I had some say, ‘Are you crazy? All you’re doing is borrowing,’” Goode said. “It’s true. To just borrow all of it, you’re just increasing deficit.”

The House plan, which passed with 385 votes, would give most workers a $600 rebate, with those with children able to receive another $300 per child.

While Goode said he felt parts of the resolution were good, such as the 50 percent bonus depreciation on equipment businesses put in service in 2008, there were other areas that needed amending.

“I questioned the $300 rebate for each child,” Goode said. “It should have had a family cap on the total rebate.”

Goode also said it didn’t do enough for senior citizens and the disabled, who had paid into Social Security for many years.

“It’s a $33 billion ticket; some programs needed to be cut (to pay for it), such as foreign aid,” he said.

Proponents of the plan point out businesses would get $45 billion in incentives for making new purchases.

“This bill provides critical tax relief to our small and medium-sized businesses, which will provide and create incentives to retain and create jobs,” Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7th, said Tuesday.

The bill, worked out with congressional leaders and President Bush well before Monday’s State of the Union address, avoided the scrutiny of the committee process.

“The bill was delivered to us at 9 (a.m.) and we were to vote on it at 3 (p.m.),” Forbes said.

Goode said he would have supported cutting spending for foreign aid, volunteer programs and the arts to pay for the economic package, but had to oppose it as it was.

“It was very quick, a little more analysis might be good,” he said. “But I understand the argument to hurry up and get it done.”

Looking at the international competitiveness of the U.S. economy, Forbes said the bill may work now, but he said stabilizing the economy requires long-term solutions, not short-term boosts whenever the stock market appears shaky.

“Every time we want to bump the economy, we tell people to go spend, spend, spend,” he said. “The result has been they’re running credit card debt through the roof.”

“We have to encourage saving, not just spending,” Forbes said. “I don’t think this package does that.” (Neil H. Simon, Danville Register & Bee, January 30, 2008)

Register & Bee staff writer Denice Thibodeau contributed to this report.