Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is the second Republican senator to propose an amendment that would scrap the entire stimulus and replace it with tax cuts. Via Marc Thiessen:

Senator John Thune today introduced an across-the-board middle class tax rebate amendment (S. AMDT #538) to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Senator Thune’s amendment would strike the entire $936 billion Senate stimulus bill and replace it with a $936 billion across-the-board-middle-class tax rebate for 182 million Americans. The amendment would result in a tax rebate of $5,143 for single filers and $10,286 for married couples who file jointly. Eligibility is capped for all tax filers at 2007 adjusted gross income of $250,000.

“There seems to be a great deal of discussion over how to spend American taxpayers’ money and future earnings. Instead of investing billions in wasteful government programs that won’t provide immediate help to our troubled economy, my amendment invests in the American people.”

DeMint’s bill at least contained some targeted tax cuts that he’d been looking at for years. This is just a stunt: it makes Art Laffer’s napkin look like the A Monetary History of the United States.