Just two and a half weeks ago, I predicted that Republicans in the legislature would oppose infrastructure spending to create new jobs, including the bogus reason they would use:

Though it is a bonding year, a bonding bill will not be passed. Republicans will call it irresponsible borrowing, and incorrectly compare it to the borrowing they did to balance the operating budget.

I then proceeded to explain why this sort of argument is bogus, and how responsible bonding differs from the Republicans’ irresponsible borrowing.

Sure enough, Speaker Kurt Zellers is already starting to use the dishonest and hypocritical reasoning I predicted:

Republicans remain concerned with the rising financial commitment of debt service. If we have learned anything from the mortgage crisis and subsequent high rate of foreclosures, buying more because rates and costs are low isn’t financially prudent or sustainable.

Oh, you’re concerned, are you? That’s funny, it didn’t stop you from putting us $1.4 billion in debt to pay for our basic operating costs. But now you suddenly object to spending half that on responsible long-term capital improvements? 

Speaker Zellers, your excuses for opposing the jobs bill are as flimsy as they were predictable.