Just as certain conservatives have attempted to latch on to Ron Paul’s anti-Fed movement (purely for populist political gain), some also recently discovered that the non-bank known as the Export-Import Bank represents (gasp) a form of corporate welfare! Who knew that Boeing needed a little help from taxpayers like you to sell those beautiful new 737-800s (and they are beautiful) to EgyptAir, for instance? According to the GAO, the Ex-Im Bank finances or guarantees financing for about 25% of Boeing’s sales of wide-body aircraft. Here’s Dr. Ron Paul arguing against Export-Import Bank reauthorization back in 2002:
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, Eximbank distorts the market by allowing government bureaucrats to make economic decisions in place of individual consumers. Eximbank also violates basic principles of morality, by forcing working Americans to subsidize the trade of wealthy companies that could easily afford to subsidize their own trade, as well as subsidizing brutal governments like Red China and the Sudan. Eximbank also violates the limitations on congressional power to take the property of individual citizens and use it to benefit powerful special interests. It is for these reasons that I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 2871, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.
Read the entire statement (which is excellent) here.
