Stimulus is Too Heavy on Spending, Say Growing Number of Senators

[Zoom-boing]

Some Senate Democrats are joining the Republican chorus in opposition to the $900 billion economic stimulus package.

President Obama is stressing bipartisanship when it comes to the $900 billion economic stimulus plan being considered in the Senate, and he may get it -- in unity of opposition.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he "can't believe that the president isn't embarrassed about" the stimulus packages that have passed the House and the Senate appropriations and finance committees.

The Senate is set to take up debate on the plan Monday afternoon. Republicans insist it won't go through in its current form.

"It'll need to change if it'll do any good. I mean, things like $150 million honey bee insurance and $650 million to buy government employees cars is not what the American public had in mind," McConnell said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Republicans appear to have the support of some Democrats, including North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, head of the Budget Committee, and Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson.

"As it stands it would be very hard for me to vote for this package, because I don't think it is fully targeted, timely and temporary," Conrad said. "I think there is widespread dissatisfaction with the package that came over from the House."

Stimulus is Too Heavy on Spending, Say Growing Number of Senators - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com

$900 billion. Eh, what's in a number, right? Obama says he wants bipartisanship, yet he and the Dems don't want compromise. No compromise (on both parties), no bipartisanship. At least, that's how I see it. The Dem's rebuttal against the gianormous pork in this package doesn't even address the pork. They just keep saying we need this, the economy sucks, there are tax cuts in there, jobs will be created, etc. Isn't this suppose to be a stimulus package to stimulate the economy rather than a pork package? I thought Obama said he was going to do away with pork. Maybe it's just me but do you consider $150 million honey bee insurance and $650 million to buy government employees cars as 'stimulus'? I consider it 'package'. And how come Obama hasn't gone through the budget 'line by line' like he said he was going to? Wouldn't that be a good place to start cutting pork? Seems like he likes his bacon extra fatty.

 

[Gun Clingin']

Wouldn't that be a good place to start cutting pork? Seems like he likes his bacon extra fatty.

He can't touch pork, he's a muslim.

 

[WillowTree]

Look who wrote the bill, DUmmies that's who.

 

[pete]

"It'll need to change if it'll do any good. I mean, things like $150 million honey bee insurance and $650 million to buy government employees cars is not what the American public had in mind," McConnell said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

WTF ... public transportation inst good enough?
900 Billion ... it keeps going up!
This is a joke ....

 

[Gun Clingin']

"It'll need to change if it'll do any good. I mean, things like $150 million honey bee insurance and $650 million to buy government employees cars is not what the American public had in mind," McConnell said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

WTF ... public transportation inst good enough?
900 Billion ... it keeps going up!
This is a joke ....

900 billion? Fuckin' A!!!! How much is that REALLY? I can't do the math in my head, that's for sure!

 

[Old Rocks]

"It'll need to change if it'll do any good. I mean, things like $150 million honey bee insurance and $650 million to buy government employees cars is not what the American public had in mind," McConnell said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

WTF ... public transportation inst good enough?
900 Billion ... it keeps going up!
This is a joke ....

900 billion? Fuckin' A!!!! How much is that REALLY? I can't do the math in my head, that's for sure!

A bit less than a third of what the Iraq FUBAR will cost us altogether. Find any WMD yet?

 

[del]

WTF ... public transportation inst good enough?
900 Billion ... it keeps going up!
This is a joke ....

900 billion? Fuckin' A!!!! How much is that REALLY? I can't do the math in my head, that's for sure!

A bit less than a third of what the Iraq FUBAR will cost us altogether. Find any WMD yet?

it's always a good idea to justify stupid ideas by citing other stupid ideas.
nice work!

 

[jillian]

900 billion? Fuckin' A!!!! How much is that REALLY? I can't do the math in my head, that's for sure!

A bit less than a third of what the Iraq FUBAR will cost us altogether. Find any WMD yet?

it's always a good idea to justify stupid ideas by citing other stupid ideas.
nice work!

true. but taking the advice of people who are pushing the same ideas that screwed everything up in the first place also probably isn't particularly wise.

 

[oreo]

Some Senate Democrats are joining the Republican chorus in opposition to the $900 billion economic stimulus package.

President Obama is stressing bipartisanship when it comes to the $900 billion economic stimulus plan being considered in the Senate, and he may get it -- in unity of opposition.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he "can't believe that the president isn't embarrassed about" the stimulus packages that have passed the House and the Senate appropriations and finance committees.

The Senate is set to take up debate on the plan Monday afternoon. Republicans insist it won't go through in its current form.

"It'll need to change if it'll do any good. I mean, things like $150 million honey bee insurance and $650 million to buy government employees cars is not what the American public had in mind," McConnell said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Republicans appear to have the support of some Democrats, including North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, head of the Budget Committee, and Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson.

"As it stands it would be very hard for me to vote for this package, because I don't think it is fully targeted, timely and temporary," Conrad said. "I think there is widespread dissatisfaction with the package that came over from the House."

Stimulus is Too Heavy on Spending, Say Growing Number of Senators - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com

$900 billion. Eh, what's in a number, right? Obama says he wants bipartisanship, yet he and the Dems don't want compromise. No compromise (on both parties), no bipartisanship. At least, that's how I see it. The Dem's rebuttal against the gianormous pork in this package doesn't even address the pork. They just keep saying we need this, the economy sucks, there are tax cuts in there, jobs will be created, etc. Isn't this suppose to be a stimulus package to stimulate the economy rather than a pork package? I thought Obama said he was going to do away with pork. Maybe it's just me but do you consider $150 million honey bee insurance and $650 million to buy government employees cars as 'stimulus'? I consider it 'package'. And how come Obama hasn't gone through the budget 'line by line' like he said he was going to? Wouldn't that be a good place to start cutting pork? Seems like he likes his bacon extra fatty.

Obama let Nancy Pelosi write this so-called stimulus package. Big mistake! It is nothing more than a 15 year wish list of the very liberal left wing of the democrat party. Nancy wouldn't even let republicans give an opinion on this bill when it was on the floor for debate.

It's a rush bill that they're trying to shove down our throats. There's a reason for the rush. Every single day--we learn more about the pork in this bill.

Barack Obama is up to his neck in this now. Yesterday, he is on video pushing the rush on this bill & claiming that only 1% of this bill is pork. In reality 80% of the bill is pork.

Over 65% of this nation disapprove of this bill as written--senators are feeling the heat, & so is Barack Obama.

They need to "trash" this bill & move toward a responsible bill designed only for economic stimulus.

 

[Meister]

WTF ... public transportation inst good enough?
900 Billion ... it keeps going up!
This is a joke ....

900 billion? Fuckin' A!!!! How much is that REALLY? I can't do the math in my head, that's for sure!

A bit less than a third of what the Iraq FUBAR will cost us altogether. Find any WMD yet?

Old Rocks, only 25% is going to stimulate the economy. 75% is going for pork and social agenda's. Come on now, we can't live in the past we need to move forward in a prudent way. We're talking over a trillion with interest, to go along with the 750 billion already spent. There is also talk of another package after this 900 billion. I know your not a socialist, but we all will be if this gets out of hand.

 

[jreeves]

WTF ... public transportation inst good enough?
900 Billion ... it keeps going up!
This is a joke ....

900 billion? Fuckin' A!!!! How much is that REALLY? I can't do the math in my head, that's for sure!

A bit less than a third of what the Iraq FUBAR will cost us altogether. Find any WMD yet?

The War in Iraq Costs
$594,218,868,906


Cost of War | National Priorities Project

 

[Meister]

Hmm, guess some numbers were crunched wrong...this happens a lot when you want to achieve the results that you want.

 

[jreeves]

Hmm, guess some numbers were crunched wrong...this happens a lot when you want to achieve the results that you want.

It would appear so...

 

[oreo]

On Monday, Congressional Republican leaders put out a list of what they call wasteful provisions in the Senate version of the nearly $900 billion stimulus bill that is being debated:

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's. (sexually transmitted diseases)

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

 

[Gun Clingin']

On Monday, Congressional Republican leaders put out a list of what they call wasteful provisions in the Senate version of the nearly $900 billion stimulus bill that is being debated:

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's. (sexually transmitted diseases)

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

I agree with most of that.

 

[KittenKoder]

Well ... at least this time they are spending money we don't have on stuff we need instead of the last admin.

 

[Lycurgus]

This stimulus package just humors me to no end. The fact that these people would even present it as a way to really help our economic situation is enough for me to want them fired and kicked out of Washington. They have no business making decisions for this nation.

And what about the congressional meetings held at high priced resorts?

Um, I may be wrong but don't we tax payers already pay to provide them meeting space in Washington for this?

There is no change in Washington and Obama offers none which is really of any substance.

 

[WillowTree]

Well ... at least this time they are spending money we don't have on stuff we need instead of the last admin.

O"Rally? then can you explain where all the money that has been collected on gasoline taxes, toll roads and bridges has gone? That money was supposed to fix our "infrastructre" what did they spend it on..doyathink? where is it?

 

[jillian]

I just love watching loonies push policies that caused the problems in the first place.

It's so amusing.

 

[editec]

Finally somebody takes the time to list what they think is pork.

Thanks Oreo!

On Monday, Congressional Republican leaders put out a list of what they call wasteful provisions in the Senate version of the nearly $900 billion stimulus bill that is being debated:

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

Lst year's DoE is probably not the same as this years DoE. Since I don't know (and none of you know either) whether or not this project is a good one, we can't know if they're right about this.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

Sound's porcine to me. I'd like to see the real bill to assure myself that the abreviated version of it is really accurate.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

I ALWAYS thought this was pork...even before the bailout.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

Is that pork? Sounds senible enough to me.

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

Homeland security.. ha!

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

That might make great sense. I can easily see how it might pay for itself in gas savings AND help the auto industry at the same time

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's. (sexually transmitted diseases)

Gonna put people to work saving lives (and HC dollars, too). Sounds sensible to me on two fronts

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

This sounds very sensible to me, too. Good infrastruture investment.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

This is not a good infrastructure invesment why?

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

Again, a good investment. Aren't museums a boon to the commweal?

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

Census is a constitutionally mandated event. What's porcine about funding it?

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

Yeah, that'll work. PORK

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

It's be better if any of those cpmputers were actually made in the USA, of course, but computers and education are sort of in sinq, aren't they?

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

You mean they've been working for free all this time? Say they are good Americans!

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

I wish somebody would pay me not to drink.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

Does the Mississippi ever flood? Who knew?

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

I'll do it for nine mil!

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

This is not a good idea? If by doing so we decrease our energy consumption seems to me that's a sound investment.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

How can we know if this is pork or not?

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

Let 'em burn? We need to know WHY they object to this, don't we?

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

Idle hands are the devil's playthings.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

Does it need renovation?

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

Seems to me keeping the CDC functional is a public good.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

Same as above.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

That's what I want to be for a change...a paid volunteer.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

Given how many dead people vote, one can easily understand why they're being paid off in pork.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

To expand passenger service to midCoast Maine, one hopes.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

YOu could probably pay off the nations children to not eat lead paint chips at half the cost. I know I'll eshew eating them for $100 cash!

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

Is it pork? Again how can we know?

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

I'm informed that the entire government's computer system is antiquated.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

Like to see the details, but it sounds porkie to me.