US Senate economic stimulus package

[alan1]

A few things included in the Senate Economic Stimulus Package.

• $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.

• $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. (OK, I have to wonder what the hell a "paid volunteer" is)

• $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.

What GOP Leaders deem wasteful in Senate stimulus bill - CNN.com

 

[sealybobo]

The fact is, the GOP didn't spend on stuff like this for 8 years, so it is now needed.

The GOP spent our tax dollars on the top 10% for the last 8 years. The rest of us got shit on.

So now the Dems are going to spend on 90% of us.

None of these projects seem important, but the money spent will end up out in circulation.

When Bush gave it to Bankers and Defense contractors, those contractors moved their HQ's offshore so they could avoid paying taxes. And the CEO's and VP's took all the profits for themselves.

Now the treasury is empty.

 

[sealybobo]

There are 2 Senators in every state. Here is what Obama should say/do.

If you vote for the package, your state will receive $. If only one of your two senators votes for it, then you get half the money.

And so McCain won't get any money, for example, because he is against it. So let the free market work itself out in Arizona.

So McCain doesn't want to fix the economy for his constituents? Fine with us. But Michigan needs the help, so Debbie Stabinow and Carl Levin will vote for it.

 

[Andrew2382]

lol the gop didn't spend money on these things so now we have too?

We have to buy officials hybrid vehicles, when they all make 6 digits+ and they could afford one themselves?

god you are stupid

 

[Skull Pilot]

There are 2 Senators in every state. Here is what Obama should say/do.

If you vote for the package, your state will receive $. If only one of your two senators votes for it, then you get half the money.

And so McCain won't get any money, for example, because he is against it. So let the free market work itself out in Arizona.

So McCain doesn't want to fix the economy for his constituents? Fine with us. But Michigan needs the help, so Debbie Stabinow and Carl Levin will vote for it.

talk about a fucking abuse of power.

Coerce senators into voting for a bill?

Well then the people of the great state of Arizona should not pay any taxes to the fucking federal government.

Well why not, the stimulus money for Illinois was contingent upon ousting Blago.

Again this type of extortion is NOT what the government of hope and change should be involved in but if obama does it it's just fine right?

 

[Paulie]

There are 2 Senators in every state. Here is what Obama should say/do.

If you vote for the package, your state will receive $. If only one of your two senators votes for it, then you get half the money.

And so McCain won't get any money, for example, because he is against it. So let the free market work itself out in Arizona.

So McCain doesn't want to fix the economy for his constituents? Fine with us. But Michigan needs the help, so Debbie Stabinow and Carl Levin will vote for it.

talk about a fucking abuse of power.

Coerce senators into voting for a bill?

Well then the people of the great state of Arizona should not pay any taxes to the fucking federal government.

Well why not, the stimulus money for Illinois was contingent upon ousting Blago.

Again this type of extortion is NOT what the government of hope and change should be involved in but if obama does it it's just fine right?

That's just those sour grapes talking again isn't it?

 

[DavidS]

A few things included in the Senate Economic Stimulus Package.
What GOP Leaders deem wasteful in Senate stimulus bill - CNN.com

If I went through every single bill that was passed last year, including the bailout bill which had hundreds of billions of dollars worth of pork in it (wooden arrows?), I would also find many GOP Senators who voted FOR it.

The only reason why the GOP Senators are voting AGAINST it is because the POTUS has a (D) next to his name and they want to try their hardest to de-reail his presidency. The GOP has spent trillions of dollars in wasteful spending over the years - and NOW they complain??

HOWEVER

I will say that this bill is about as stimulative as a drunk slut in a coma.

We need rebate checks AND tax breaks AND infrastructure spending. Give money to us RIGHT NOW, give money to us by the end of the tax year and give money to us within 24 months. We need to jolt this economy back to life.

If this stimulus package is rejected.... all hell will break loose.

 

[Paulie]

It's not about derailing the presidency. It's about putting on a front to the conservative voters to try and lure them back, and establish credibility again.

It's the same shit they did during Clinton. Pretend they're conservative, and then when they eventually get full congressional power and a R president, they go hog wild liberal. Because they ARE liberals. Republicans are liberal-lite.

The sooner voters realize that, the sooner we can get some things REALLY changed.

 

[alan1]

A few things included in the Senate Economic Stimulus Package.
What GOP Leaders deem wasteful in Senate stimulus bill - CNN.com

If I went through every single bill that was passed last year, including the bailout bill which had hundreds of billions of dollars worth of pork in it (wooden arrows?), I would also find many GOP Senators who voted FOR it.

The only reason why the GOP Senators are voting AGAINST it is because the POTUS has a (D) next to his name and they want to try their hardest to de-reail his presidency. The GOP has spent trillions of dollars in wasteful spending over the years - and NOW they complain??

Hehe, it's all partisan.

HOWEVER

I will say that this bill is about as stimulative as a drunk slut in a coma.

We need rebate checks AND tax breaks AND infrastructure spending. Give money to us RIGHT NOW, give money to us by the end of the tax year and give money to us within 24 months. We need to jolt this economy back to life.

If this stimulus package is rejected.... all hell will break loose.

Less taxes and less government spending.
Hell, Mr Bush and the GOP spent money like crazy and it didn't do shit to help the economy, why does anybody think that just because a different political party is now spending the money that it's any different?

 

[SwingVoter]

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
[/url]

Does this cover the whole country, or just Obama?

 

[alan1]

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
[/url]

Does this cover the whole country, or just Obama?

I'll quit smoking for a mere $100k

 

[Skull Pilot]

There are 2 Senators in every state. Here is what Obama should say/do.

If you vote for the package, your state will receive $. If only one of your two senators votes for it, then you get half the money.

And so McCain won't get any money, for example, because he is against it. So let the free market work itself out in Arizona.

So McCain doesn't want to fix the economy for his constituents? Fine with us. But Michigan needs the help, so Debbie Stabinow and Carl Levin will vote for it.

talk about a fucking abuse of power.

Coerce senators into voting for a bill?

Well then the people of the great state of Arizona should not pay any taxes to the fucking federal government.

Well why not, the stimulus money for Illinois was contingent upon ousting Blago.

Again this type of extortion is NOT what the government of hope and change should be involved in but if obama does it it's just fine right?

That's just those sour grapes talking again isn't it?

Not at all. Do you honestly believe that extortion and coercion should be the hallmarks of our government?

Do you want the government handing down edicts like "vote for this or else"?

wow man look at the big picture here. This has absolutely nothing to do with party politics and everything to do with the government exercising powers it has no right to exercise.

 

[Skull Pilot]

It's not about derailing the presidency. It's about putting on a front to the conservative voters to try and lure them back, and establish credibility again.

It's the same shit they did during Clinton. Pretend they're conservative, and then when they eventually get full congressional power and a R president, they go hog wild liberal. Because they ARE liberals. Republicans are liberal-lite.

The sooner voters realize that, the sooner we can get some things REALLY changed.

you mean the sooner we all fall in line and stop putting controls on the government right?

 

[wimpy77]

doesn't matter the current senate version isn't gonna pass and they will have to start all over again.

 

[driveby]

good ....

 

[Zoomie1980]

The fact is, the GOP didn't spend on stuff like this for 8 years, so it is now needed.

The GOP spent our tax dollars on the top 10% for the last 8 years. The rest of us got shit on.

So now the Dems are going to spend on 90% of us.

None of these projects seem important, but the money spent will end up out in circulation.

When Bush gave it to Bankers and Defense contractors, those contractors moved their HQ's offshore so they could avoid paying taxes. And the CEO's and VP's took all the profits for themselves.

Now the treasury is empty.

Regardless of how worthy these may or may not be, they are NOT stimulus and belong in separate bills so they can go through the normal process.

And yes the treasury is completely empty. Most don't realize how dire that is. They announced Tuesday they needed an immediate 460 Billion in loans.....so far, they've raised less than a quarter....the Chinese and Arabs, the main lenders, are not lending....

Treasury cannot afford to actually send the next batch of TARP out unless they get this 460billion in notes sold!!! If they can't raise TARP money, there will be NO stimulus at all! Do people realize that? Congress can pass and President can sign, but if Treasury cannot borrow the funds, THERE WILL BE NO MONEY PASSED OUT!!! It will be limited to what treasury takes in in tax receipts, ONLY, not borrowing, no deficit spending even possible.

 

[Maple]

for the economy.

The stimulus bill
With the economy still shedding jobs and the unemployment rate
well above administration forecasts, a growing number of
analysts have declared the first stimulus plan a failure and called
for a second one. A second group of administration critics agree
that the stimulus was a failure, but call for a moratorium on
spending the rest of the money. With less than 10% of the
stimulus money spent, it seems a bit premature to declare the
program a failure. With more than $700 billion still to be spent,
the economic impact of the stimulus is yet to come.
However, if the economy continues to shed jobs in the face of
rising government spending, more Americans will come to view
the stimulus program as a failure. With so much of the stimulus
spending going to politically connected groups, the administration
will be open to criticism that its goals with the stimulus were more
politically motivated rather than economically.
To make sure that the stimulus bill lifted U.S. economic activity,
Congress included a “Buy American” provision into the law. Such
a provision probably violates the World Trade Organization
(WTO) rules and has prompted threats of retaliation from U.S.
trading partners. In addition to angering U.S. trading partners and
hurting global trade, such protectionism makes it difficult for the
United States to push through additional free trade agreements
including those pending with South Korea, Columbia, and the
Doha round of trade negotiations on farm and service trade.

Note the line. " With so much of the stimulus spending going to politically connected groups, the administration will be open to criticism that its goals with the stimulus were more politically motivated rather than economically."

No kidding Sherlock, this bill was never designed to help the peasants, that's us, the rest who have been left in the dirt. This run away train wreck with Obama as the train engineer
has now put the pedal to the metal on health care. Let's just add a few more Kzillion dollars to the deficit and see what happens. Ridiculous, it is high time someone slammed on the brakes and the American people are doing just that in these town hall meeting.

 

[mascale]

U. S. Car Manufacturers know too little. Foreign manufacturers of little cars did better than Ford, GM, and Chrysler combined!

Clunkers Closes With a Bang for Toyota, Honda - Behind the Wheel with Phil Lebeau - CNBC.com

Bill Clinton first came up with the concept, "We have Plenty of Gasoline, Now!" when he was still in office. That was before Al Gore was inventing the internet(?), or at least taking credit for it. Everyone knows that internet is "Green" by comparison, with other mail delivery systems: Where there are any!

In America, nearly 700,000 pig-mobiles were traded in for 38% plus, U.S. manufacturer-made, new cars. Everything else was global, international, and relatively "Green." Mostly, shipping costs had been reduced since the new vehicles were made mostly in North America. Mostly, nuclear ships are "Green" at any rate.

So comparing and contrasting, as always(?): Whereas the "Big Obama Stimulus(?)" machine is largely preservative of private and government sector institutions, the "Little CARS Stimulus" actually created new jobs, sales volume, new orders, and overall economic activity.

State and Local governments, like in California, can't do their jobs, or keep the schools running as usual, and so the "Big Obama Stimulus(?)" machine was largely parochial, in the sense of pro-USA mostly. State and local governments, like the failed corporations--still got the money, apparently to help keep them running(?)!

The Pig-mobiles, in contrast, are off the road. These others are still on them.

The "Little CARS Stimulus" actually did something beyond the concept of, "Preservative As Usual," and went ahead with actually: Something economic, of value, after all! That is in comparison with the "Preservative" way.

"Crow, James Crow: Shaken, Not Stirred!"
(In discussions of comparative stimulations(?) (or however they are called), liberals are often heard to express the opinion that, "size doesn't matter all that much, after all! Apparently schools need to hear more of these matters, especially in America!)

 

[Maple]

the unemployment rate INCREASED by 10,000 to 570,000 this week from 560,000 last week, hmmmmmmmm.

HOW'S THAT HOPE AND CHANGE WORKIN OUT FOR YA?