Sen. Ben Nelson (D), right, arrives with Sens. Joe Lieberman (I), center, and Evan Bayh (D), left, to meet with the rest of Democratic caucus about a compromise deal on President Barack Obama's economic stimulus bill at the US Capitol in Washington on Friday.
(Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)Photos (1 of 1)
Senate forges deal on $820 billion stimulus
Key elements of the plan include a tax cut of up to $1,000 for working couples and $88 billion in new funding for education.
By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor/ February 7, 2009 edition
Washington
Senate negotiators struck a $780 billion deal on Friday that eases the path for a massive economic recovery program. With amendments, the plan comes to $820 billion — just $1 billion more than the plan passed by the House late last month, but it differs in several respects.
The bipartisan compromise, endorsed by three Republican senators, gives President Obama a bare working majority in the Senate. If all Democrats back the plan, as expected, those three Republican votes are just enough to ensure a win, despite strong GOP opposition.
Key elements of the plan, which cover a vast range of federal spending, include: $116 billion in infrastructure improvements; $88 billion in new funding for education; $40 billion for the development of clean energy; $23 billion for programs to help those most hurt by the economic downturn; and $14 billion for healthcare, including $3 billion to jump-start a plan to computerize health records.
The plan includes a tax cut of up to $1,000 for working couples. An amendment adopted this week would add a tax credit of $15,000 for home purchases.
Under the terms of the deal, Senate Democrats agreed to cut some $100 billion from their original proposal. Spending for the states and education took the biggest hit, compared with the House bill. State fiscal stabilization funding was cut back $40 billion, school construction dropped $16 billion, and a proposed $3.5 billion line for higher education construction was zeroed out.
The plan also lopped some $25 billion from $275 billion in proposed new tax relief.
But even with the trims, the plan would top $1 trillion after interest costs are added in. That’s equivalent to all the discretionary spending in a typical federal budget year, the product of months of hearings and votes. This plan came together in just a few weeks.
“The enormity of the legislation before us today can hardly be comprehended,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) of Alabama in floor debate on Friday.
The compromise deal was announced just hours after the release of new unemployment figures showing 598,000 jobs lost in January. (Click here for a look at how job cuts are spreading through the economy.)
“The situation could not be more serious. These numbers demand action,” said President Obama, after Friday morning’s job numbers were released. “It is inexcusable and irresponsible to get bogged down in distraction and delay while millions of Americans are being put out of work. It is time for Congress to act.”
Bipartisan negotiators, led by Sens. Ben Nelson (D) of Nebraska and Susan Collins (R) of Maine, began work on Monday. At any one time, the group involved 20 senators including up to eight Republicans. Talk focused on how to reduce the size of the plan, which had grown to $920 billion in the Senate. Negotiators also aimed to cut new programs that were not targeted to create jobs or would permanently expand the size of government.
“For some people, the top number was not as important as temporary [measures], and for others the top number was very important,” says Senator Nelson. “This was the mechanism to get 60 plus votes. There wasn’t any other way to do it.”
A key dispute was over the size and scope of the final package. Even the negotiators were often hundreds of billions of dollars apart. Early in the negotiations, Senator Collins was proposing a $620 billion recovery plan, but said she was convinced after meeting with President Obama that more stimulus was needed to get the economy back on track.
“This actually cuts over 20 percent of the money recommended for spending by the [Senate] Appropriations Committee. But it comes very close to the $800 billion that President Obama has quite rightly said this country needs to make this stimulus work,” said Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I) of
Connecticut, one of the negotiators.
The White House was deeply involved in moving a compromise bill through the Senate. The president spoke frequently with key senators on both sides of the aisle, and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel came to a Democratic caucus meeting on Friday to endorse the deal.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans – left out of the final negotiations as a consequence of the defection of three of their members – are opposing the package. The House version of the stimulus deal passed without a single GOP vote.
“Now, if most Republicans were convinced that this would work, there might be a greater willingness to support it,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on the floor of the Senate after announcement of the deal. “But all the historical evidence suggests that it’s highly unlikely to work. And so, you have to balance the likelihood of success versus the crushing debt that we’re levying on the backs of our children, our grandchildren, and, yes, their children.”
Even before the Senate moves on a final version of this legislation, Democrats say that negotiations between the House and Senate over those differences are already on track.
“As a result of the Senate action, we are closer to moving to a conference committee that will finalize legislation President Obama will sign,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a statement after announcement of the Senate deal.
“Despite differences between the House and Senate versions, Congress is committed to sending the President legislation to create or save over 3 million jobs and begin to put our country back on the road to recovery,” she added.
Comments
2. hsr0601 | 02.07.09
The most advanced, emerging countries already implemented stimulus package, on the contrary such countries as Greece, Canada, and India that had delayed it suffered political turmoil accordingly as the middle class collapsed on account of the far-right policy. And admittedly, this tough time commands extraordinary change, however, the defeated party desperately clings to the already failed policy without single fresh idea, alternative proposal other than the failed tax-exempt & ’spend baby spend’ policy guided by the oil firms as always, which has led to this chaos. They without alternative, of course, are not entitled to fault the stimulus project, I think. Not to mention, spending includes two meanings, investing and merely wasting, unlike the one forgetting the democracy rule, the other party seems to take a positive stance, if not perfect, I guess. The average people are under annoying debt, and without job, economy can’t be activated at all. Thanks
4. Kathy#2 | 02.07.09
A large portion of the bill goes toward education which of course sounds like a wonderful thing. Head Start is a lovely concept but it doesn’t produce lasting results. Of course when a conservative says this it’s turned around to “Conservatives don’t care about the children-conservatives want children to fail” etc. etc. Way too many people in this country love to wax poetic to make themselves feel good and look caring and compassionate to others-those would be the liberals where emotion trumps logic at each and every step. If a government project is not producing, pouring more money into it is ridiculous. Said project needs to be analyzed, tweaked, changed or discarded period. But then, of course, that doesn’t sound quite as lovely as the “it’s for the children” mantra that’s spewed daily by the left and the media in general does it? I guess feeling good is more important than actually doing any good.
5. JAB | 02.07.09
Now they have to reconcile the bill. I hope they can do that quickly. People are hurting out here way more than members of congress with their large salaries, secure housing and excellent health care and retirement can ever know. I thank two GOP Senators for seeing the need, and I thank God for Barack Obama for continuing to hold up hurting people rather than the rich corporate interests.
6. Muff | 02.07.09
How can Mitch McConnell complain about a huge deficit resulting from the stimulus package after what he and his republican colleagues did during the Bush years. Talk about hypocracy!!
7. Damon | 02.07.09
I would love to know what the 3 republican senators are bringing back to their states. This is tragic.
8. Tracy Rees | 02.07.09
It looks like the people lose again to big government. We should rename our country to “The United Socialist States of America” because Democracy has been defeated by the Marksist Regime of Barack Obama.
9. VL T | 02.07.09
Even though I am concerned about the amount of spending and whether it will trickle down to those most in need, I applaud President Obama for putting his heart into this package. He truly cares about what happens to Americans. He drives a hard bargain, but he’s doing it for us, not special interests. The Republicans need to get on track or they might has well not show up to work with the majority the Dems have. This is a major win.
10. jjh91326@verizon.net | 02.07.09
Just goes to show that those who predicted a socialist country during the Abominable Administration were explicitly correct.
11. Dino Gobaw | 02.07.09
That’s it ! The process of America’s remaking needs bold decisions like this one.I think the Republicans has to see beyond party lines…just put aside your differences and work to save the day ! Do not oppose for the sake of opposing !….
12. jb | 02.07.09
What happened to the car buying tax credit? Without it I am not buying a new car until at least a year.
13. TomD | 02.07.09
I’m glad to read that Mitch McConnell (R) used the subject “we” when he expressed his concern with the “crushing debt that we’re levying on the backs of our children.” This comes a bit late, however. Where was his concern when the previous administration ran up record deficits? Which is more responsible — borrowing to build infrastructure that will pay dividends, or borrowing to pay for military action that takes our most productive people out of the country and puts them on the public dole in a totally unproductive endeavor?
14. jon smith | 02.07.09
What a joke! What will one thousand dollars do for you? While the big companies get billions.
15. Robert Yunque | 02.07.09
—————–
“The enormity of the legislation before us today can hardly be comprehended,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) of Alabama in floor debate on Friday.
———————-
I say:
Mr. Sessions, the enormity of the mess the last eight years of Republican leadership has put us in also can “hardly be comprehended”
—————-
“Now, if most Republicans were convinced that this would work, there might be a greater willingness to support it,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell
—————
I say:
Most Americans voted for President Obama because the American people are convinced the path chosen by the GOP is definately not working and has almost destroyed America as we know it.
—————-
“But all the historical evidence suggests that it’s highly unlikely to work. And so, you have to balance the likelihood of success versus the crushing debt that we’re levying on the backs of our children, our grandchildren, and, yes, their children.”
———————
The “crushing debt” is a necessary result of the irresponsible policies of the last eight years.
The choice now is to pass on the cost of reviving America to our children, or to pass on the tomb filled with the rotting remains of what was America.
16. RHarrisonScott | 02.07.09
I’d be a lot more comfortable with this bill if some knowledgeable expert would explain in detail how this bill is going to “create or save” 3 million jobs. I can see how it will save the jobs of a lot of public employees, but those folks don’t contribute to GDP. They’re a drain on it.
17. Colin Treadwell | 02.07.09
I read statistics yesterday stating that $1.00 tax relief puts generally puts $1.04 back into the system, infrastructure spending puts $1.57 and food stamps puts $1.74. My numbers could be a few pennies off, but you get the idea. In addition, tax relief is only effective for people with good income. I thought that the idea of stimulus was to get the people who are hurting back into the game. Given this, I am very disappointed with the Republican stance.
18. abdul simjee | 02.07.09
this spending or any kind of stimulus spending will not work .throwing huge pile of money on a problem thats been festering for decades is the typicalsolution for both republicans and democrats. the core of our problems is the imbalance in trade with other countries and our hige budget deficit .it dont take a geneious to figure out if you keep buying fromm some one but cannot sell any thing inn return eventually you will not have any money to buy from that person anymore .that is what happening in this country and europe and other high labor cost countries they are increasingly unable to produce any thinng that can be sold competitively with other low cost countries so we borrow money massive amount of money to purchase those so called yummy deals from wall mart and target and other mass immpoters.
so next time you sit at home watchinng soap opera in thee middle of the day picking your nose and saw all those good deals on the tv advertisement you see that is your job that went overseas and some one is working out there while you watch the soap opera in the middle of the day.
19. Kyle Thompson | 02.07.09
The article explains that this is a compromise bill. There are several mentions of working together. Aside from whether or not we think this is good from the country, citizens should be aware that this stimulus bill is not a bipartison bill. If only a handful of Republican law makers approve, can we realy say it was a compromise?
20. KP | 02.07.09
820,000,000,000 divided by 3,000,000 equals 273,333 dollars per job. How many jobs could an average business create for 273,333 dollars… perhaps a couple more than ONE!!! This is just another example of how government wastes our taxes. Attention all middle class taxpayers.. YOU ARE SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO DON’T WORK AS WELL AS PEOPLE ON WALL STREET. Isn’t time to vote out the any politicians who support these policies.
21. Opa2 | 02.07.09
It is painfully evident that Republicans, with few exceptions, are far more interested to see this president fail than they are about helping to recover the economy. Republican ways of major tax cuts to the favored few has failed and their insistence of less and less regulations have left our blessed country in the shape we find ourselves in. Yet they insist on more of the same. Tax cuts and more tax cuts! It was Republicans who in 2000 kept telling us that “elections have consequences.” Now however they seem to have forgotten that slogan. My guess is that President Obama will soon get discouraged with his attempts at bi-partisanship and just pass his programs with the majorities he has. When Franken gets seated it will give the Democrats 59 votes and you can always find one republican who is up for re-election to help you out. The closer we come to 2010, the more this will be so.
22. bruce bunting | 02.07.09
nafta and cafta shuold be stopped !!
if a company moves to another country the owners should be deported with there business and not be alouded to ship products back to the us.
this to me is a act of treason and should be judged as that . you can’t
create new jobs and put people back to work if the companies are not in
the us. bring our country home so we can be a great country of proud
americans again !!!!!!!!!!!!!
23. C. Max | 02.07.09
Whatever happened to ‘Enough is enough?’ He speaks with a forked tongue. And only $1000 for working couples. That is an insult. I paid in almost 20k in taxes last year, and I will only get $500. These guys up top are crazy stupid to think that $500 is gonna make even the slightest difference for anyone. If anything the money is used for debt. What they really should have done is given us money back each month in the form of lower taxes on our checks.
24. Rob Curedale | 02.07.09
Just as important as the $800 billion is a carefully considered mechanism to prevent the banking industry from creating the same problem again in a few years.
25. Robert Taylor | 02.07.09
Taxes need to be placed on high dollar , luxery items to make up for some of the spending needed to revive the economy. Put a higher tax bill to people like Warren Buffet, who has more money than the US period. The top 5 percent of the money holders could bail us out and not miss a thing.
26. Jimmy | 02.07.09
This is the final blow to our great country.
Please name the Senators that gave this country away????
27. Desi | 02.07.09
The two republican senators agreed in favor of this package with their amendment requiring TARP benefited banks to stop hiring immigrants for two years. This encourages banks to outsource their operations in complete, that saves them more money in addition to what they are benefiting from TARP. This does not save or create any jobs for Americans. The senators and our representatives need to look for real solutions rather than blaming legal immigrants which are mere .04% of workforce in these banks.
28. A barafi | 02.07.09
Perfect. Just get the 60 votes, pass something that has enough heft in it to stop the downward economic spiral, and don’t worry about the appearance of bi-partisanism. Obama can make nice to the losers, later, when the consequences of failure are not so severe.
30. A. L. Flanagan | 02.07.09
The Republicans are playing a very dangerous game here. Sure there’s a lot of unnecessary pork that shouldn’t be in the bill. When the economy recovers, though, people are going to remember that the House GOP voted unanimously for “no.”
31. dullard | 02.07.09
I hate spending more than most, but I have to laugh at those Senator’s now decrying “the debt we leave our children”… Mitch McConnel and the other republicans voted to raise the legal debt ceiling 3 times in the last 8 years, and suspend “pay as you go” rules that the first Bush sacrificed his second term to get enacted. Its beyond hypocritical to now suggest he’s discovered he has a principle to follow.
The truth is that both parties in congress always want to spend as much as they can and could care less about the future, beyond next election cycle. So the republicans against this bill get exactly what they want, they get the spending, and get to play to their constituents that they are fiscal conservatives in an attempt to drive the next election cycle. Its terribly un-patriotic.
32. Barbara Knowling | 02.07.09
Please don’t reduce the EDUCATION budget. That is our future generation. They are going to have enough trouble paying off these horrible loans.
33. Andy Rucker | 02.07.09
McConnell wasn’t worried about the debt left to our children when he backed Bush’s war, and the policies that dragged down our economy in the first place.
34. Barbara Nicoletti | 02.07.09
This bill MUST be passed. Our country is in deep trouble, and something must be done NOW! Our county in Florida is in deep trouble, our state, and our nation. Our elected officials either have never had to experience any hardships, or they are too selfish to care. They talk Big, but do nothing to help the people in dire trouble. Maybe they should not have so many perks. They might feel a poor in spirit and hardships in their habitual lifestyles. Thanks for letting me comment.
35. Jared | 02.07.09
I find it incredibly interesting that the primary argument from the GOP against this legislation is its “likelihood of success versus the crushing debt that we’re levying on the backs of our children”.
Do they not think this is worth a try just as much as the past 8 years of tax cuts that similarly got us into massive debt?
These individuals provide us with little needed action and even less needed content in explaining their decisions.
36. Steve Savasky | 02.07.09
There should be no road construction worker unemployed
this summer. We need to fix roads and bridges, NO more
bridge failures. Amtrak needs to get bigger not smaller.
$4 a gallon gas will be back and we need to be ready.
37. Kim Bunting | 02.07.09
Congratulations to all who have worked to get this done. Those of us our here in the real world recognize that doing nothing, or not doing enough, would cripple us.
It’s too bad the Republicans could not find a way to get past their political stance. If Mitch McConnell was actually concerned about history, he’d know that in the great depression, when we heaped “crushing” debt on our children, grandchildren and their grandchildren’s children… it a) was not enough spending because it was held back by politicans afraid to spend, b) that debt equaled 120% of our GDP compared to the less than 40% that we are looking at now, and c) the surplus we saw in the 1990’s suggests that future generations can and will take care of what is left to them (if we leave a country with an infrastructure strong enough to keep up with future).
38. Paul Stewart | 02.07.09
The Republicans are sore losers, selfish and are on a path to marginalizing themselves. It is a pity - they are unable to see, hear or understand the greater good. They only understand idiology (spelling intended) which seems to be leading to idiocy…..
39. Milo Fabian | 02.07.09
As a republican, I am disappointed in the partie’s position. We need to move favorably on this to proposal to help the states, many of which are facing drastic cuts, to help those people out of work and with unemployment benefits about to disappear. and to jump start the alternate enegy programs.
40. Lynn Hanigan | 02.07.09
I would like to know how the Republican members of congress can even think about criticizing any plan that has been put forward. They had total control of the government for 6 LONG years and you can see where there ideas have gotten us.
The Republicans say they are so concerned about the debt we will leave to our children and grandchildren. IF we don’t do something and do it quickly, there won’t be a country to leave them that even resembles America. They sure didn’t worry about that huge debt when they were in contol.
Come on people…knock off the political **** and do SOMETHING beside tear down any ideas out there now.
41. Beth | 02.07.09
So how does this help me and MY family?!? How does this help our family business which has been hit hard by the economy?!? How come WE can’t get a government bail out wiht our tax money?!?
42. Rick Brandt | 02.07.09
The $15,000 sounds intriguing. One home finance professional has informed me that the $15,000 must be repaid eventually when the home is sold. so part of the stimulus is apparently a partial home loan. Are financial institutions required to repay a share of the original market stimulus? I see a little shadiness here.
Inequity. Redistribution of the wealth, in an upward direction…
43. Willem van Oranje | 02.07.09
Of course Mitch McConnell believes the New Deal didn’t work: it didn’t work out for his party and for the people he works for: the uberrich.
It did work for the other 90% of the US, and they rewarded the Democratic Party by voting for them for several generations.
Mitch McConnell and his Party wants to revise history and steer the US to even bigger catastrophy in the hope that voters will elect them back in 2010.
44. Mark Hager | 02.07.09
Your reporting showed $291 billion in expenditures. Are you saying the other $529 billion are in the form of tax breaks? Sounds like the Republicans won on this deal.
45. R. Ours | 02.07.09
I don’t think this package will work. I hope I’m wrong. But the one area you cut the most was Education this should not have be a cut. We need to improve are education standards. This is our future and please do not cut Defense. Without a strong Military this Country is going down the tubs.
46. Tom Brady | 02.07.09
Why is it that every time there is a need to go forward and get something positive for the good of the country that there are republicans getting in the way? Proof of this was in the last presidency. For every brainless idividual that supported Bush……there you have it for your proof of the country falling apart.
47. R. King | 02.07.09
I am a teacher, and while I am reading that this plan includes $88 billion in new funding for educaton, I sincerely hope that the majority of this money will NOT be used as “incentive” money for teachers to increase scores on state mandated tests. The politicians who seem to be controlling how and what we teach in our schools, don’t seem to be aware of the elephant in the room. The fact is, like it or not, college is not always a realistic goal for ALL children in America. They are being “left behind” because our education system offers them no other choice other than, graduate with skills for college,(if they can afford it), graduate and try to survive on minimum wage, or drop out try to survive somehow. A large part of this $88 billion dollars needs to go toward putting blue collar skills training back into the high schools. Some students don’t want to go to college, have disabilities preventing them from being successful at college, and/or they just can’t afford it! If students graduate with job skills which would put then in a position to step out into the world and begin working in a trade, as soon as they graduate, then they wouldn’t be “left behind”. The drop out rate and unemployment rate would decrease, thereby strengthening our nation’s economy. It doesn’t take rocket science to figure this one out… ask any teacher USA!!!
48. Norm | 02.07.09
What about putting some CAP’s on Prices.Thay CAPED CEO.
Such as GAS. and Houseing,Just what is aforable HOUSING?
Give something to the Retired Pople !
Thay need help too.
49. Tim Lee | 02.07.09
Once again, in order to get something passed, education takes the greatest hit, which is arguably more of an investment than any proposed piece of spending.
50. Don The Ditch Digger | 02.07.09
Can someone help me understand why Thursday’s “one more day” delay is now extended to (quote)”may come on Tuesday”? Should we make them stay put until they finish?
Secondly, The lack of work (and I mean none) allows me time to do the stimulus bill research. From my research, if the stim pkg. is too small, we fail. Also, doing nothing will cost, and add, in excess of 1.4 trillion per year to our fed. defeceit. If this is so, why are we trying to lower HR1 so much? Please let me know at daruester at yahoo.com
51. Werner Strasser | 02.07.09
Passage of Stimulus Bill = Death of two party system:
Absurdity: The Stimulus Bill is fixing the problem of excessive debt with more debt? How does that work? Doesn’t that just make the problem worse?
No it doesn’t make it worse for Obama/Pelosi followers, it just makes it worse for you the detractors. And who would be so ignorant to think the bill’s intend was to solve the economic crises? That’s not the purpose of the bill at all:
Obama promised us transparency. It is very transparent that with this pork barrel stimulus Obama is another step closer implementing Chicago’s style government and providing a sound financial foundation for his re-election.
To insure his re-elections he nominated and installs lobbyist, crooks and tax-cheats into high offices. Now, Obama/Pelosi rammed this bill through Congress to secure the financial means promised to his flock of followers and cronies, using our tax dollars, making certain of heavily back-end loading of the bill to secure/finance his reelection in 2012.
The stimulus bill is no more than a bill to stimulate Obama’s re-election, to install a one party system, to reward his faithful, to oppress industry and to shackle the individual to dependency.
What will stimulate the economy and help the housing crises?
It was very important that the stimulus bill be passed right now, which meaning before the administration can ask lawmakers for the next round for even more money for the banks:
Tax Evasion Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, as expected, will announce on Monday Feb 9, at noon a “comprehensive plan” to stabilize the financial system. Geithner will brief the respective houses of Congress on a variety of new measures meant to ease the credit crunch.
Geithner told reporters that the financial rescue package would be designed to “reinforce the recovery and reinvestment plan now working its way through Congress.”
So, Lets figure out how much more money needs to be printed to cover the $3,6 trillion the
banks are estimated to need to restore confidence in the financial system and get credit flowing again.
52. Don The Ditch Digger | 02.07.09
Can someone help me understand why Thursday’s “one more day” delay is now extended to (quote)”may come on Tuesday”? Should we make them stay put until they finish?
Secondly, The lack of work (and I mean none) allows me time to do the stimulus bill research. From my research, if the stim pkg. is too small, we fail. Also, doing nothing will cost, and add, in excess of 1.4 trillion per year to our fed. deficit. If this is so, why are we trying to lower HR1 so much? Please let me know at daruester at yahoo.com
53. Patricia Shannon | 02.07.09
That tax credit of $15,000 for home purchases will help mostly the rich and well-off, who already had their taxes greatly reduced by George Bush. If Ronald Reagan hadn’t done away with income averaging, this tax credit would have been more useful to more people. It’s the usual Republican tactic of finding ways to transfer wealth from the many to the top 1/2 of 1%
54. DENNIS LINGLER | 02.07.09
I realy think if every AMERICIAN voter had the chance to read the STEMULUS BILL an had a chance to vote on it it would go down in smoke. Obama knows that the more the voters learn about this bill the less they would support it. Thats why he wants to rush it through. It’s another liberal way of doing busness in D.C.
55. HiloBob | 02.07.09
The Pubs made this mess. Now they’re obstructionists. Let’s all remember this on the next election cycle. Cutting education is ridiculous. Education means higher paying jobs which in turn means more revenue… idiots!
56. Glen G. | 02.07.09
Where was Mitch McConnell’s fiscal sobriety for the last eight years? Giving huge tax cuts to the rich helped create the nightmare economy we are enduring right now, and Mitch was behind it all the way. Normal party politics is why the Republicans voted against the bill and I’m just proud of the three Republicans who voted to do something for the benefit of the country rather than their party.
57. sk battle | 02.07.09
agree with the bill. Many Americans have lost jobs.As citizens we support aid sent throughtout the world. Now it is time to support our people!!
58. gg | 02.07.09
Oooh Socialism! Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes seem to be doing Ok? What’s the problem? Oh wait, capitalism is more efficient and will ensure we get the correct and fairly priced mix of energy saving autos and houses, as well as safe peanut butter, tomatoes, strawberries, whatever. I think the “invisible hand” has a very stiff middle finger.
59. Gee, I see… (GIC) | 02.07.09
Orson Scott Card’s “Empire” — Read it.
Then re-read any thread of comments about anything politic-related.
Then understand why I tremble in fear at the future of our country.
60. Jafar | 02.07.09
So let’s review the problem: 7.6 percent unemployment, more than one million jobs lost within last two months, and several banks has shut down one after another.
Offered solution is a stimulus bill that is mostly concentrated on education, development of clean energies, tax cut, healthcare system, and infrastructure improvement.
For 8 years, during Bush’s era, energy, time and money of this country have gone to unnecessary wars. Now we are facing consequence of those expenditures. Who believes that this plan will help to recover a massive economy recession immediately? What about the money of this bill? Where it come from?
Honeymoon for President Obama is over!!!
61. Ted | 02.07.09
No to “stimulus” bill. Here’s why:
Since Obama’s earnest drive to convince the nation to weaken its economic strength through redistribution as well as weaken its national defense, has confirmed the very threats to our Republic’s survival that the Constitution was designed to avert, it no longer is sustainable for the United States Supreme Court and Military Joint Chiefs to refrain from exercising WHAT IS THEIR ABSOLUTE CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO DEFEND THE NATION FROM UNLAWFUL USURPATION. The questions of Obama’s Kenyan birth and his father’s Kenyan/British citizenship (admitted on his own website) have been conflated by his sustained unwillingnes to supply his long form birth certificate now under seal, and compounded by his internet posting of a discredited ‘after-the-fact’ short form ‘certificate’. In the absence of these issues being acknowledged and addressed, IT IS MANIFEST THAT OBAMA REMAINS INELIGIBLE TO BE PRESIDENT UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. Being a 14th Amendment ‘citizen’ is not sufficient. A ‘President’ MUST BE an Article 2 ‘natural born citizen’ AS DEFINED BY THE FRAMERS’ INTENT.
62. lightnin | 02.08.09
Obama keeps telling the Republicans that the “American people” chose HIM last November, so they should rubber-stamp anything he wants in the stimulus package! That’s not true, the “American People” didn’t vote for Obama, 3 1/2% more voted for Obama, who won 53/46. Had that 3 1/2% voted for McCain, there would have been a tie, that’s simple math. That’s 3 1/2 people out of a hundred, certainly NOT a landslide, he HAS no mandate! After seeing Obama trying to push Richardson and Daschle off on the country, and seeing Geithner APPROVED as head of Treasury and the IRS despite failure to pay his OWN taxes, there’s a pretty good chance that Obama would NOT win the election if it was held today, and according to the news, only 37% of the American people APPROVE of the stimulus proposal now, which IS a mandate AGAINST it! The Republicans should stand their ground until the berserk spending proposals of the “democrats” that do nothing to help the current economy are gutted from the bill.
63. Carrie | 02.08.09
That’s right, cut education. Go ahead. The big businesses that run our country (you only THOUGHT it was our elected officials) want cheap labor. Uneducated kids means cheap labor. Illegal immigrants mean cheap labor. They don’t want our children to be able to pay off this horrendous debt. The more in debt our kids are and the less educated they are, the more and harder the big businesses can work them. Our children are being pushed into a world in which they will be worked to death for their rich overlords. Can you say serfdom? Legal slavery, and ignorance and fear will keep them from having the revolution they probably should.
Pardon me while I pack to expatriate to one of those socialist countries where their people are actulaly happy and their children are educated. At least in one of those countries, my children will have a better future.
64. JIm Smith | 02.09.09
I am retired and don’t see any advantage to this so called stemulus bill. To me it is just another Democrat spending bill with so much pork in it it should be oinking. I think doing nothing and letting private business and small companies work our way out of this mess that the Democrat controlled congress has caused in the two years they were in control of congress. The democrat so-calles leaders have really made a mess of the whole darn thing. Nancy Polosi needs to go back to where she came from and let someone else that knows what to do lead. Where is the retirees’ advantage to this fiasco???
66. brenda lewis | 03.03.09
I worked in a gov. agency remember it’s the working men that give’s the chief his job. If you don’t take care of the hard working American you want have a job either.
Most Goverment Agencies think if it’s practical it’s not logical.
They have a lot to learn - We all have to work harder and smarter ! AMEN
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1. trudy | 02.07.09
McConnell is worried about the “crushing debt that we’re levying on the backs of our children, our grandchildren”?
But it doesn’t bother him that Bush’s Iraq war that he voted for has cost about this much every 1-2 years?
Or that the environmental measures he opposes are needed to save the planet from widespread disaster in our children’s, grandchildren’s, etc. time?