Biden visits Phoenix to tout stimulus

PHOENIX -- Vice President Joe Biden predicted Monday that some Republican lawmakers will support the Obama administration's economic recovery efforts in the future as economic conditions improve across the country.

Biden said there is a fair number of Republican lawmakers who believe the stimulus efforts make sense, but face heavy pressure from within their own party to oppose them.

The vice president said all Republican governors and mayors he has spoken to about stimulus spending have thanked him for the administration's efforts to help lift their economies.

Biden discussed the stimulus package at a roundtable, following a fund-raising breakfast for two Arizona Democrats who are up for re-election next year -- Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick and Harry Mitchell.

Gov. Jan Brewer said Biden's office did not invite her to the roundtable. Two representatives from her office planned to attend.

"Hindsight is always a good thing, I guess," said Brewer. "You can always look back and say, `Yes, it would have been a good thing.' I don't know exactly what they're discussing there, I would guess it would be the stimulus dollars."

Biden's office said the roundtable would focus on the stimulus effect on small business lending, public works projects and teaching jobs.

State Superintendent Tom Horne has credited stimulus funds with saving hundreds of teachers' jobs in Arizona.

Republican Sen. John McCain offered a little light-hearted advice to the vice president.

"We're always glad to have him here and we hope he spends a lot of money while he's here," McCain said.

In a more serious vein, McCain said, following a meeting with west Valley mayors last Friday, that the stimulus has had little, if any, effect on the Valley's economic recovery.

"I hope that he (Biden) understands that Arizona is hurting very, very badly, and the stimulus has not done anything that I know of, significant, to lower our real unemployment rate nor has the stimulus done anything to really help the economy," McCain said.

McCain added, "I hope while he's here, he will be able to listen to people and get some suggestions as to how Arizona can be helped. It's their dollar."

The vice president's wife, Jill Biden, accompanied him to the Valley. She planned to visit Gateway Community College and Gateway Early College High School to show the administration's commitment to community colleges.