Latest Cuts To The Stim Package: Head Start, Child Nutrition, Food Stamps Public Transit
I’ve just obtained an internal Senate committee memo detailing the latest cuts being eyed by the gang of Senators being led by Dem Ben Nelson and GOPer Susan Collins. Here is what’s being eyed in the bill right now:
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Total Reductions: $80 billion
Eliminations:
Head Start, Education for the Disadvantaged, School improvement, Child Nutrition, Firefighters, Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, Prisons, COPS Hiring, Violence Against Women, NASA, NSF, Western Area Power Administration, CDC, Food Stamps
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Reductions:
Public Transit $3.4 billion, School Construction $60 billion
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Increases:
Defense operations and procurement, STAG Grants, Brownfields, Additional transportation funding
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Nelson spokesperson Clay Westrope confirms the authenticity of the memo, adding that the figures obviously could change. But this is currently the general direction.
As you can see the amount being cut appears to have fallen, to a total of $80 billion, though Westrope says the actual number is closer to $100 billion. Also, it appears some of those cuts are being maintained even as defense funds appear to be getting added.
To reach the homepage of this blog, click here.
Defense operations and STAG Grants? Were the Duke Cunningham and Jack Abramoff contingency there in person?
Why h-e-double hockey sticks would you cut food stamps- they’re some of THE most effective stimulus there is. I hate the Senate.
This is soooooo wrong.
Seems to me that there has been some lobbying going on. Why take away from school construction and public transportation, wow, but then again it does not really matter. They fiddle around and take care of their special interest, continuing to print money as they go, soon my bread will cost me a million….
This is ridiculous!! Stop cutting things we need..I am sick of this…stop it!!! What will be left ….get some darn back bone Dems!!
Cut foodstamps and education funds for the unemployed and disadvantaged as being “wasteful” but don’t do anything about the $78 billion that Bush overpaid the bankers? Is this Ben Nelson’s idea of being a Democrat? Run that Nelson joker right out of the party and send him back to Nazi Germany.
This is an outrage. I agree with the previous poster. To cut food stamps which are spent immediately, education, and other areas that are meant to “stimulate” and help ordinary americans while giving more money to the overbloated and unregulated defense budget is immoral. The house must reinstate these needed areas and cut defense additions when this comes to conference. These political hacks need to be voted out of office.
This is ridiculous. Republicans should be castrated. How the hell on earth would defence spending help the economy?Why do not they want to help the poor people who actually spend the money.
Screw the republicans. And they should really really lose the next senate and house elections in 2010. They are ruining peoples lives.
It is okay to spend a trillion dollars in IRAQ but NOT OKAY to spend it on the citizens of this country. stupid people..i hope they lose BIG!!!!
This is really wrong.
Republicans stand for the following:
1. make the rich richer.
2. Take the church and jesus to be their only god but indulge in prostitution and gay *** which they oppose.
3. sleep with the defence industry. (Y should they be left out in this huge package)
4. love capitalism with no regulation so that they can run over poor people and middle class while the rich screw the economy and they can again loot the middle class people by taking a TON of money from the stimulus package.
Sorry idiots!!!!
-You should have watched last nights daily show to realize the hypocrisy of the republicans.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/56359/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-thu-feb-5-2009#in-playlist
Peace..
This is so wrong. I hope they don’t pass stimulus.
When are the middle people of this country going to hit the streets in indignation over what is going on in congress and the senate and start fighting for what is in OUR best interest? We can start by removing the dead wood in the senate, such as the give away team of Ried and Pelosi.
This doesn’t exactly resonate as change we can believe in.
Any word on state aid for education?
Wow, it’s easy to see now why some countries riot in the streets.
I think this is the point where Liberal Senators should play the same game those centrists play and just threaten to walk away.
Cutting food stamps aka one of the most stimulating measures of the stimulus is so stupid and wrong it is not even funny.
Eliminating food stamps but increasing military procurements.
This is not smart. It’s like they don’t know about the economics of it…
They’re cutting science! Science and technology have provided over 50% of US economic growth since WWII. Cuts are:
NASA $750,000,000 = 50%
NSF $1,402,000,000 = 100%
NOAA $427,000,000 = 34.94%
NIST $218,000,000 = 37.91%
DOE energy efficiency & renewable energy $1,000,000,000 = 38%
DOE office of science $100,000,000 = 100%
PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR SENATORS AND TELL THEM THAT CUTTING SCIENCE, EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND TECHNOLOGY IS UNACCEPTABLE AND NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF REAL STIMULUS OR GROWTH!!!
To find your Senators’ webpage, please see: http://www.senate.gov
Tell them we want REAL stimulus for a brighter future, not a bunch of vote-getting, wasteful ****.
Comments here are all right on. Deflating. Depressing. Demoralizing. Come on Dems – apparently the Republicans decided not to come to the post-partisan party. This is war. Put on your gear and FIGHT!
And I guess we now know in whose image the “let-them-eat-cake” Republicans plan to re-invent themselves. Look out.
WTF???!!!
These changes are AWFUL!!!!
INCREASING military spending??? While decreasing school construction? Are you kidding me?
This all has a familiar ring to it. It all sounds like Bush-Chenney. Dems don’t believe thet compromise mean capitulation. We want to know how many repub votes we get for each change we make.
Nelson makes me ashamed to be from Nebraska!
We need another civil war but call it a class war this time. The Repugs are only interested in themselves and not the people they so call represent. But we are the idiots in this country that put them in office. My only hope is that they make themselves out to be so above all of the rest of us that in 2010, we tell them to get now jobs. I am an independent who has in the past voted Repug because i vote for who stands for what i want. However, it sickens me to see that these men(crooks) can stand in the senat and stop something that will at least stop the bleeding of our ecomemy. I know this will not fix it and it will take time but come on for them to not even want to help is childish. That is what they are being CHILISH since tey lost all they want to do not is whine……. Get with reality, we need something to help us. Vote for the package with Food Stamps and other human services in it. I know you repugs do not even understand what it is like to be poor but so many AMERICIANS do even with a full time job. HELP THE COUNTRY NOT YOURSELVES
It’s time for citizen action! Call your Senators and demand that funding for school improvement, food stamps, FIREFIGHTERS, etc. be left in the stim bill. Tell them it’s time for them to show to backbone and stand up for the American people. Call Pelosi; leave a message for Reid. How dare this ‘group of senators’ do this to the American people. Call Sen. Nelson, call Sen. Collins, email them; voice OUR opposition to their proposed cuts. How DARE they want to cut what’s vital to the American people and yet advocate MORE defense spending! How will that generate jobs?? It is time for us to stand UNITED in our demands.
These people can not be this clueless. Are they seriously going to cut the things that people need the most. I work a telecommunications company and 4 people got laid off this morning. I am sure they are not going to need STAG grants.
OK, everyone. You’re outraged over this? Well, do something about it. Here’s the number for the Capitol operator: 202-224-3121
Get off your outrage and call and ask to be connected to your Senator’s offices. Don’t just fume on a blog: CALL.
Let’s put the blame where it belong: Obama. He let this spin out of control and now the worst elements of both parties are in the driver’s seat.
What was the last election about? Where is the agent of change Obama claimed to be?
I’m crushed.
If it doesn’t create a lot of jobs…cut it. Food stamps and Head Start don’t stimulate the economy or create jobs. New Harley motorcycles for a police department, new cars for the government, water parks…ridiculous wasteful spending. The Demorats are using this bill to pay off every special interest group that gets them elected. To beat it all, they take off to a spa vacation to discuss the stupid bill, and all they did while they were there was gripe and complain about the ones who will not vote for this mess. They could have done that in Washington. Imbecilic tripe. They need to spend it on what it was meant for – to create jobs and shore up the housing market – and I would add more private sector jobs than government jobs. Is there anything in there for the housing market? How many jobs will it create? As for the illustrious President, where has he been? He certainly hasn’t been leading. No, he’s been making the media circuit telling everyone how the unreasonable Republicans should vote for this stinking pile of doo doo. He couldn’t lead his way out of a paper bag. He’s never crossed the aisle or brought anyone together, ceptin’ maybe ACORN and all of his tax-evading friends he’s trying to put in office. Let’s see how fast the Pelosi lefties can bring down the greatest country on earth. It won’t take long, I assure you.
I can see where this could be a good thing in 2010. Ads saying that repulbicans made us cut firefighters, cops and eduction because they want us unsafe and stupid.
I dont know how these people sleep at night. They want to keep us poor, under educated so they can ram any ole bull down our throats.
How uncaring can a country become?
WHAT! I agree with KSH — we need to let the Senate know what WE THE PEOPLE — you know, the one’s who are paying their salaries — want in OUR economic recovery bill. Cutting food stamps when unemployment is now at 7+ percent? (Thanks to the GOP) Cutting firefighters? Cutting school improvement? What is wrong with these people. The only thing to stop this is such a loud, grassroots, public outcry and condemnation that they cannot ignore us. Gotta go…time to make some phone calls.
Mia: 8 years and 8 trillion added to the national debt.
Millions of jobs lost.
A flat line economy.
A trillion pissed into the sands of Iraq.
Thank you, Bush Re-puke-u-lons.
I think you and your friends have lost all authority to comment….
You know what’s worse? My “governor”, Mark Sanford, says he doesn’t want any stimulus money for our state.
I wouldn’t be upset if someone rounded these people up and did an Argentine Stadium type of deal to them. These people are totally disgusting.
Food stamps will be spent right away. A dishonest defense department is getting the $$ and the people are not..Education programs gone..
Headstart..what is wrong with them..All the believable economists say it is not big enough, not the other way around. FDR faltered because he pulled back. He did not have to deal with 24 hour need to make something up for the TV…Please democrates, strengthen your spine. Don’t yell…Just act without equivocation to support your president.
For anyone who thought the Senate races didn’t matter, this should be a wakeup call. I hope Ted Kennedy can make it to the final vote. We need him more than ever. of course, the Republican plan to deprive Minnesota of its rightful Senator – Al Franken – is just another way they can keep their plan to impose minority rule. Someone should really write an expose’ on the Senate’s 60 vote rule. Without that, we would have had a good bill by now; one that represented the true wishes of America, not this petty lobby-supporting mess. Until Woodrow Wilson, you need 2/3 of the Senate to pass anything. He got it down to 60 votes, but we need to bring it down to 51 so a couple of Republicans can’t control the whole process.
whats going on ???? I voted for change but am not seeing it. President Obama please take charge…….. How can u increase military spending over school construction and science/technology. The foolish republicans are now complaining about the salary cap for wasteful bailout CEO’s. Democrats are the poor and middle class while repugs are for the rich…………..
“Food stamps…don’t stimulate the economy of create jobs.”
Mia – speak not of what you know nothing. According to most economists, increased food stamp spending is the single best stimlus measure around. Link below is a a paper from Mark Zandi, conservative economist and McCain campaign advisor. He says, among other things, “extending food stamps is the most effective way to prime the economy’s pump.”
http://www.economy.com/mark-zandi/documents/Small%20Business_7_24_08.pdf
Sounds to me like Rush Limbaugh drew these up, yea those kids don’t need and education or food, the poor can simply go on a diet, we need more money for weapons and the defense department, not American kids. School construction and hiring cops what a waste that is! Boy these people truly are from the 1800’s or worse Natzi Germany. Didn’t hear narry a word when they gave the Banks 700 billion with no paperwork or strings attached so they could all get million dollar bonusus. Talk about having your priorities wrong. I say Fire every GOP member of the House and Senate they are a waste of DNA.
Please Please stop cutting and pass this stimulus. Get some backbone, Dems, and I hope this causes the demise of the Repubs. We need a second Party, but this one has already brought us to our knees and now is trying to put the final nail in the coffin.
Who is going to buy a house these days? Get a brain, Mia.
Note to Mia,
Food stamps aren’t stimulus? Food stamps buy food, and making food makes jobs. And food stamps get spent not saved, because, duh, hunger is a scourge on those who have it. Food stamps couldn’t be a better stimulus. Ever hear a baby cry from hunger, when the cabinet is empty? Its pretty darn stimulating.
gop’s and stupid dem’s that are dissecting important ares such as EDUCATION are barbaric and should be kicked out of the senate.
This is just the same old stuff. We need to get rid of everyone in office and start over with people who are there to do the people’s business. This is just business as usual. When will the republicans start caring about the middle class and the poor people? This is just a disgrace. We have fools running our country who don’t care about us.
@Mia – http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/96xx/doc9619/Gregg.pdf has a table on p. 9 that shows that the single most effective way to stimulate GDP is for government to buy goods and services directly. So Harleys for cops actually IS highly stimulative. You place an order within the manufacturing sector, pay ‘em, deliver to the cops, then contract to maintain the vehicles through private contractors. New work, new manufacturing = new jobs.
Least effective multiplier? Cutting taxes for the rich directly, or through loss-carryback methods. Repub strategy? Cutting taxes for the rich. If you want to disagree, let ‘em know at the CBO.
If these cuts from the stimulus bill are made, my heart bleeds for the people. Of what good is it for the the U.S. to be considered as the most powerful nation on the face of the earth if there are millions of its citizens who are hungry, under insured, under employed and under educated. I am ashamed of the Republicans. They are sore losers.
Is anyone available for a Million Unemployed Man March?
This is ridiculous. This is all spending that should be done. Leave them in, put it to the vote and if it fails, publish the idiots that voted against and let’s harangue them.
@Mia
People who are on food stamps don’t put it in their mattresses. It goes right back into the economy because people buy … wait for it … FOOD at the supermarkets. The supermarkets make money and they’re able to pay their employees. These employees have a bit of extra money to purchase the goods in some other store that then will make money and be able to pay THEIR employees who in turn will … oh, gee I think you get the point.
And as for Head Start. What will happen if Head Start can’t take any more kids into their programs. What would these low-income (mostly single parent) families do? Well, if they can’t find an affordable day-care they’ll have to cut back on their hours at work or quit altogether.
Get a clue!
I’m up for the Unemployed March. Set a date and I’m there. Should I bring a pitchfork?
Mia are you some kind of idiot??? Many of your neighbors and maybe even you are in desperate need of food stamps and you know what , they stimulate the economy because people use them right away. They don’t get put in a bank or invested. That stimulates the economy. Head Start requires teachers, schools and a myriad of other workers. Paychecks to poor people will get spent and again…the economy is stimulated.
If your precious Republicans know so much about what the country needs then why did they lead us into this mess. They inherited a surplus and pissed it away on the rich. Their greed led to the mess we are in today. So when you start to poo poo the new president and the stimulus package try remembering that the Repug-licans have no credibility. They should do what they do best, complain, and then let the real intelligence run the country.
Folks- Basic economics. Any expediture for good and services increases employment. It is only a matter of where you want the additional employment to be. The other consideration is the multiplying effect of any expenditure. In fact, for example, $1000 spent in some arena does not just increase pay by a proportion of that, but can have the effect of as much as $2500 in spending when it is multiplied. So, food, education, contruction of almost anything, and many other things many of you criticized above is effective.
What has been pretty well proven is that tax cuts for the rich do not stimulate the economy. What it does is enrich CEOs and the elite who then go out and speculate because of greed, running up the price of everything, and investing in everything under the sun, including overseas vacation and retirement estates, that do not help the American economy and middle class.
republicans are the most imoral people I have ever had the displeasure to meet…mcain 7 or 8 homes and can vote no for all american children to have health insurance much less be of any help at all to veterans..eprublicans need to be put away…starting with collins and snow 2 women who you think would have some empathy towards their fellowman..horrid horrid people
Right on with the proposed cuts – and let’s keep going. This package will only make middle class Americans more dependent on government and will separate even more so, the rich and the poor. If any stimulus package gets approval, cut, cut, cut. Today’s young, and all future generations have to pay this money back. It’s time to quit depending on government for your survival!
I thought they were cutting PORK!! But NO . . . they are cutting everything that makes sense.
WHY IS ANYBODY LISTENING TO THE VERY PEOPLE THAT CAUSED THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS IN THE FIRST PLACE????
Cut head start? Cut transportation? Increase military spending? We voted the Republicans out of office!!! These cuts are the old Republican agenda. They are no longer in power! Obama needs to stop this BIPARTIZAN tomfoolery and get things working the right way.
This is crazy. The very areas that have been cut and affected the most by this crisis is again on the cutting block again. The Dems are selling the people out to pacify repubs. How are our (soon to be) uneducated children, the future, supposed to pay off this debt. Perhaps China will call in their loan and we will all be communist and not worry about it. This is not change, this is politics as usual.This is not change, this is politics as usual.
Theresa Moore….
Actually putting some funding towards our roads and bridges is depending on our govt for our survival and I’m ok with that.
Do you want a bridge to fall on your head because you got a tax cut?
Faithtoo…Criticize the Republicans, but what about the Democrats that are voting against this stimulus package? Mia isn’t an idiot just because she disagrees with you. Government dependence is not the answer. Free enterprise is.
Simple solution – whatever portion of the stimulus that goes to the states should only be awarded to those states who vote in favor of the stimulus. You sure would see the votes change then !
There won’t be a future generation of Americans, at least in an America we recognize, if this bill fails, Theresa Moore. Chew on that for a second. Of course, maybe that’s your point- Republicans want our government to crash and burn. If that’s the case I hope you don’t live in a mansion- because that’s were my low income azz is coming first, pitchfork in hand.
Dan..I’m not against everything in the stimulus package. I’m against the wasteful spending and against the items that can wait for another vote. Many of the things getting cut are important to our Country, but this package should contain only those things that are critical today. I’m all for safe bridges and those items in the package that clearly will provide jobs immediately. But, I also believe the middle class deserves the opportunity to remain middle class. Free enterprise is still the answer.
Free enterprise is dead, haven’t you noticed?
Food stamps are critical- how many unemployed can afford food after2 months of benefits? Not many, unless they had a really good job. In case you haven’t notice good jobs have been scarce for at least 5 years plus (I know I graduated from college five years ago). It’s clear you’ve never been low income or had to worry about a paycheck. Get a clue, Theresa.
Economic Recovery Advisory Board to the Rescue or to more Corruption?
In listening to President Barack Obama’s announcement introducing the Economic Recovery Advisory Board and in light of another 600K Americans loosing jobs last month, I’m urging the Economic Recovery Advisory Board to please not make hasty decisions regarding overspending of the Stimulus Bill, which I feel is currently investing in too much PORK and will only lead to more government waste and corruption. There are too many random and arbitrary dollar amounts going to too many subjective pet programs that do not guarantee stimulating America’s economy. I remind everyone, America is still the number one world economy and the government has an obligation to keep it that way. Haste does make waste! The government must stop looking the other way!
I totally disagree with President Barack Obama’s statement that “delays are inexcusable.” It is very important to examine the stimulus plan and to be very prudent especially when the majority of taxpayers do not agree with the stimulus bill’s excessive spending on PORK and PET PROJECTS. How can spending $600M on government vehicles stimulate the Economy? To me this only stimulates more corruption and more dysfunction in the government and if you’re an advocate of global warming, more danger to our world.
IN REGARDS TO GLOBAL WARMING, THE FACT IS, JUST AS ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD CANNOT BUY LOVE, ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD CANNOT CHANGE THE WEATHER OR PLANETARY TRENDS. Why plug tons of monies in global warming programs when there are no guarantees this will change planetary trends or the weather? The stimulus bill’s move towards energy independence is irrational especially when a majority of scientists say climate change and global warming are largely due to planetary trends and very little effect from human activity. Also the majority of scientists believe that global warming is a natural cyclical change that will reverse itself over time. Take Greenland and “The Little Ice Age” which began in 1250 and obviously had nothing to do with fossil fuels and aerosols, as Al Gore states. I’m all for improving energy efficiency but at what expense to the taxpayers when there is no guarantee that the climate is going to improve as a result from these uncertain initiatives. And, especially since money can’t buy nice weather or planetary trends.
It appears that the stimulus plan energy portion is biased and heavily geared towards having a lot of politicians, e.g., like Al Gore, etc., becoming a lot richer when instead the bill should be focusing on more guarantee relief to the taxpayers. I also have great concern and issue with Al Gore’s Carbon Credit business. Is the government going to allow the Al Gores of the world to continue to make zillions while flying on private jets at the taxpayer’s expense?
I’m all for improving schools, education, and modernizing health care. But education and healthcare is a riddled with corruption. Why is the government not reforming and evaluating the policies and expenditures already in health care and education and creating programs that are affordable and realistic.
And what about the housing issues. Thanks to ACORN, FANNIE MAE and FREDDIE MAC. Barney Frank and others should be in Jail. We don’t need more government, we need less corrupt government! Approving mortgages and loans knowing that people could not afford them. Barney Frank’s lover getting a job at Freddie Mac? The government gives too many favors, looks the other way, instead of correcting and resolving problems with diligent solutions. All signs of major corruption in the housing market thanks to our government!
President Barack Obama specifies that the situation is “serious and inexcusable for anyone to get distracted” yet President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi continue to make hasty decisions regarding large sums of taxpayer’s monies. It is obvious that this money is going to go to more corruption and dysfunction instead of to the health and well being of the taxpayers and economy. The government should profess due diligence and stop looking the other way!
Josephcast…I don’t want our president to fail, I don’t support all Republicans, I don’t support all Democrats, I’m suspicious of all politicians, and I think this stimulus package has alot of wasteful spending from both sides. I think they shouldn’t rush this package to do the wrong things, but take their time to create a stimulus package that does the right things. I don’t think that a couple days of debate and compromise is as critical as Washington is trying to get us to believe. Let’s do it right.
Boy, if you thought the first bill was bad, this one is horrendous! The elimnations are ridiculous. Food stamps is one of the best stimulus items. I have to wonder if Nelson and Collins have any clue of what they’re doing.
Josephcast…I’ve never been anything BUT low income, but have always held a job. We’re a family of 5, two working parents, making around $50K. I don’t think that qualifies us for high income, but we get by.
For crying out loud! When will y’all quit blaming the Republicans? These cuts are being made to get DEMOCRATIC votes – NOT Repubs. “The GOP leader in the Senate says he has no intention of filibustering the bill.” (http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/TWSFPView.asp) Put the blame where it belongs people – Reid and Obama, simple.
all, thanks for this great thread. I wanted to remind you that the homepage of this blog is here:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com
hope you’ll all stick around and comment up a storm…
I love transparency. It really lets you know what in the hearts and minds of our public servants.
This is a joke, Ben Nelson should not be voted into office again. Any self respecting Dem should not cast a ballot for anyone who is taking away spending in vital social areas. School construction down 60 billion; our children will be unprepared to meet the challanges of a global marketplace.
This is why I question the sanity of Democrats. Food stamps is one of the best stimulus items, are you kidding me? This is exactly why the leaders of the Democratic Party are out of touch with reality. Social programs create jobs, a small amount of jobs, in the public sector. A stimulus bill should focus on private sector growth. Even the Congressional Budget Office states that in the long run this package will have absolutely no impact on the economy. Basically, we are just as well without it as we are with it. Tax cuts, coupled with construction is the only way to stimulate the economy. Those of you who want expanded social programs should send extra money to charity or maybe even pay extra taxes. Those of us in the real world should be exempted from such stupidity.
The news has just reported that Sen. Diane Feinstein (D, CA) will vote against the stimulus. Seems they seem to be losing more Democrats. Is this the Republicans fault?
Eliminations:
*Head Start, *Education for the Disadvantaged, School improvement, *Child Nutrition, *Firefighters, Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, Prisons, *COPS Hiring, *Violence Against Women, NASA, NSF, Western Area Power Administration, CDC, *Food Stamps
Senators Nelson and Collins’ response to these tough times is to cut *programs that help the most disadvantaged among us, people (including their children) who will suffer the most during a deep recession? We all know which direction bad times run (downhill)! I’m wondering if these two are even at all aware of the suffering in this country; maybe Maine and Nebraska have solver poverty. I * cops and firefighters because of the risk involved in their jobs, and how having decently supported cops and firefighters in our communities contributes to the general welfare, a phrase I seem to have heard somewhere…
Wow, why would you cut money for law enforcement….do the senators not read the paper? Look at all the inmate to staff assaults in prisons also. These should be the first 2 things that need money and hiring.
Michael Moore – well said!
We can’t send money to charity because we don’t have jobs. You Moore’s are complete MORONS!
I’m liking Theresa Moore’s 219 post: “… and things that can wait for another vote.” One criticism of Obama is that he left the bill drafting to the “Pelosi people,” and got pork-laden, unfocused, gimme-gimme spending on top of targeted stim spending. Maybe with his new Council on Recovery Economics (name’s wrong but it’s close), chaired by Volcker, the right package will have a chance to emerge.
50k is not low income, try living on a dollar a day, Theresa.
Josephcast…that’s the point. This stimulus will not creat long term jobs. Let’s get a package that will create permanent jobs and reduce government dependence. Our Country has to get rid of the “entitlement” attitude.
Whatever you do, Greg, DON’T report this as a bipartisan bill once it passes with three Republican votes. Republicans will be perfectly happy to NOT take credit for this one . . .
Mia, if only all the righteous indignation had any truth behind it. Obama has met with both Rep and Dem Congressmen over and over. The posturing of Boehner, Pence, and McConnell is sickening. And why don’t we get McConnell’s wife up there and ask her if American workers are better off after her tenure at the Dept of Labor?
People need to let their representatives know, let major media outlets know, let the White House know, let pollsters know they are tired of these shenanigans.
The GOP loves to whine about the Hollywood elite. I think it’s time the constant drumbeat be about the Wall Street predatory elite – incompetent robber baron wannabes and their Republican lackeys who love being trickled down on. Neither group knows how to actually DO anything, MAKE anything, ACCOMPLISH anything. Yes we’re supposed to subsidize it.
Not everything that needs funding needs to be in the stimulus bill, but things that are clear stimulators should be. And everything a Republican House member wanted thrown in? Take it out.
IS NEVILLE CHAMBERLIN IN CHARGE OF LEADING THE CHARGE TO FALL ALL OVER KISSING THE REPUBLICAN BACKSIDES? WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE INFORM THE DEMOCRATS THAT THEY WON THE ELECTION AND ONLY NEED TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS WITH BRAINS ENOUGH TO PUT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FIRST.IF THEY DON’T THEY SURELY WILL BE AS BAD AS THE TRICKLE DOWN MORONS THAT GOT US HERE!!!!!!!!
… not liking Michael Moore’s distortion. Its depiction of the CBO findings is as simple-minded as it is disingenuous. Hey Mike, Food Stamps are stim you nitwit. THey don’t have to hire more public sector people to double food stamp outlays. THose people are ALREADY on the public payroll! All it does is put money into cash drawers of stores (who can pay workers), buys products (like diapers and food and other wholesome things) that can get manufactured and delivered to stores by workers, and supports families of unemployed workers. And soon! Your “CBO says it’s not a net gain in the long run” analysis totally missed the point.
Calogero – don’t shout.
To be fair, the eliminations, with the possible exception of food stamps, are more properly budget items and not stimulus. The reductions and increases are hard to rationalize however. Though, like it or not, the defense industry is one of the few remaining manufacturing sectors in the US economy.
I do laugh when I hear “Conservatives” ridicule the purchase of new, mostly, hybrid vehicles for government use. What better way to support the US auto industry and promote fuel conservation than that?
Respectfully,
-onepissedoffcracker
Washington 2, Obama 0
1 from the house and 1 from the senate.
I hope he learns never to trust legislators regardless D or R. he should have written down his vision in ink and let them fill-in the blanks then again proof read it before announcing it.
He was elected because he, we thought, is the smartest. I did not expect him to function in this wasy, intrusting Washington to write is strategic plan. I am very disappointed.
Once again, the poor and disadvataged are are being cast aside and being treated like garbage or some other disposal item. The senators and congressmans all need to resign. It is aparent that they will only look out for the wealthiest indiviuals and companies. The records of each must be examine carefully and if they are not making decisions for the greater good for the greater number. Send the rascals home for good!
Good grief. What a bunch of buffoons. Cutting food stamps? Nice. Really nice.
Josephcast…you indicated you are a college graduate. Well, trying to put three kids through college, with a $50K annual income – sure feels like low income.
Everyone please read the Bob Cesca Article on Huff Post
The Republicans have zero credibility on the economy!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/operation-zero-cred_b_164377.html
This is disgusting. Take away the things most needed by the poor and underprivileged and add to defense!!! I thought Cheney/Haliburton were no longfer influencing decisions.
OMFG! What in the mothertrucking world is happening here? I’m so infuriated by the lack of consideration to the needy and less fortunate in this country that is being displayed here. On the one hand I would like this nightmare to end, but on the other hand if it gets worst it’ll only serve to awaken the droves of AMERICAN IDIOTS who continue to slumber and watch American Idol as our country crumbles under their manicured toes! We are obviously NOT being heard anymore. (if in fact we ever were) The elitie don’t care and continue to reach around and jerk us as they hoard up our money and condemn our children to hunger, poverty and ultimately death.
We could continue to debate this and opine till our ribs protrude our epidermis, but unless WE THE PEOPLE! start to take ACTION and not just take notice it will only worsen.
As spoiled Americans who ***** and whine from shiny laptops and hand held devices. It’s hard to grasp or imagine the true gravity of things to come, most of us never really experiencing the blinding desperation of that comes with hunger. Or the crippling helplessness you feel when in the grips of poverty. But, if we fail to act now, while we still can. While we still have a voice and the strength to speak. Then unfortunately these hardships I’ve illustrated will become common place, and all too familiar to us. To you. To me. To your son. To your daughter.
Lets not wait till we’re rocking our children in our arms, as they cry out for something to eat. Lets do something. And I don’t know what it is, but this system is no longer working for us. The machine is grinding to a hault. The gears are worn and it’s components are broken. It’s time to replace it!
Be the change you want to see. Make your neighbor aware of the seriousness of these hard times and the worst of it, as it turns the corner. We out number them, and if they’re not doing what is best for us. THEY NEED TO GO!
Time to saddle up “Nighthorse” and let him out of the corral. Maybe he can become an “independent Democrat”, too. Give us the bill the House passed and MAKE THESE PEOPLE filibuster it. If it goes down, the Dow goes down 1000 points the same day, and lower in the following weeks. Unemployment jumps. The President gets down with the fireside chats and calls the Repugnants what they are: obstructionist, narcissistic ideologues.
In three or four months with torchlight parades and hangings-in-effigy in front of the RNC offices, they’ll be back VERY anxious to “move the country forward on the President’s very necessary stimulus proposal.”
Theresa Moore commented:
Right on with the proposed cuts – and let’s keep going. This package will only make middle class Americans more dependent on government and will separate even more so, the rich and the poor. If any stimulus package gets approval, cut, cut, cut. Today’s young, and all future generations have to pay this money back. It’s time to quit depending on government for your survival!
Funny how she puts “your” survival, she must be one of them. (Sarcasm) I thought we were all in this together but I guess according to Theresa it’s everyone for themselves.
Well see here is the problem I have. Fat Willy, or whatever his name is, makes it seem like I haven’t read the CBO report and I am just making things up. By 2019 the stimulus package would actually have a negative affect on GDP, thats Gross Domestic Product, in case Fat Willy doesn’t know. So long term the stimulus will actually have a negative affect on the economy.
The blindness that many of you portray is a perfect example of the dumbing down of America. Hey lets follow someone because he is considered cool by Matt Lauer.
Who is with me? Obama is off to the worst start of any President in history.
Kevin C, If by “one of them” you mean middle class, self supporting, desiring smaller government, and trying not to depend on the government for my survival, your right, I am.
All of Rush Limbaugh’s idiots are inundating the phone lines to their Senators yelling and screaming, while we liberals are expressing our outrage on blogs and websites such as this. Which ones do you think Senators pay attention to, phone calls to their offices or anonymous posters on websites? Is it any wonder that the Republicans are winning this war?
Stop complaining and write or call your senators…and the White House. This is disgusting what they are doing!!!!
The reason Republicans are winning is because we are right.
Cut, cut, cut, and leave nothing for the common man.
They gave Paulson and Bush all he wanted. It is different now because Obama is President. Wake up Democrats! Cram your agenda, because these Republicans are nothing but ********! Don’t expect them to play fair.
perhaps we should take all the poor and move them to utah and montana- oops- can’t do that- who would clean the toilets for the rich republicans or we can move all the republicans to Utah and montana
I meant, stop complaining here… write the white house.. and your senators…Take action! Our government is hurting us, badly!
Theresa Moore, I am middle class but this is a problem we all have to face and come to terms with. Hopefully you don’t go into the office Monday and find your job has been eliminated and need some type of assistance. I guess at that point you’d be depending on the govt to help you.
Who the hell am I to be saying anything now?
While some of you may or may not like the cuts to this package, please keep in mind that it isn’t the only time in the next 4 years they will spend money. This isn’t the budget, this is a stimulus package. $5 billion to food stamps for example, may be cut from the stimulus, but it may appear in the budget…or some other ear mark request.
We all need to settle down a bit….we can’t live 4 years in one day.
They’re gonna **** us on this by voting over the weekend, aren’t they?
Grow a backbone, Reid. For God’s sake.
How does getting deeper into debt with this stimulus package going to help anything? I think we’re all headed for a “Great Depression” if we don’t wise up to the overspending done by our government officials. Isn’t this what got us in this mess, living outside of our means?? There has got to be a better way!
What I find so funny with the Repub is how they trumpet the greatness of this country in comparison to the world but yet when it comes to helping the people of this country they rather think of the money that is being spend and not the necessity.
The irony of it all is, they spent eight years convincing us that billions had to be spent in Iraq to help spread Democracy and is now wrestling to keep everyone of those democratic dollars from aiding and assisting the American economy and it’s people. I guess they must have forgotten that old say: “Charity Begins At Home.”
Kevin C. – My family to is suffering from this economy. My husband has taken a 20% paycut from his job, along with his comrades, to keep the doors to the small business he works for open. I’m not against depending on the government as a last resort. I would just prefer to pay less taxes, which would enable me to contribute MORE to our local food bank and/or church, who helps those who are less fortunate than I am. There is a real possibility that if the economy doesn’t improve my husband will not have a job. If and when that happens, we will leave our home and depend on our friends, family and church until the storm passes.
And for Robert, it was apparently a mistake that Bush’s stimulus package last fall was full of mistakes. Why not take the necessary time to review and negotiate this stimulus package to avoid past mistakes?
Eliminating Head Start, the Coast Guard, Prisons, the CDC!!! Asinine. It takes Republican to eliminat programs the public actually needs. Did they not see the Coast Guard saving people during Katrina? Send the prisoners home with whoever wants to eliminate them.
I think MJM makes a good point. Just because food stamps are being cut out of this bill doesnt mean that this is the end of food stamps. Most people on here don’t understand the legislative process.
Somewhere I heard that the measure of a society can be seen by the way it treats its weakest members: the children, the old folks, the sick, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.
By these measures it is easy to identify our imbedded barbarians, the ones all suited-up, with law degrees, and the power to make our laws while they advocate “family values”–even while they also seek to cut spending on food stamps for destitute families, early childhood development (Head Start), child nutrition, school renovation, and education for the disadvantaged.
It seems that they have never read or understood the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, especially the invocation to “…promote the general welfare…”
It is said that “You may know them by their works” and what they advocate. And by these measures, they self-declare themselves to be profoundely anti-social, misguided, or even barbaric.
Name-calling, though generally not polite or useful, it has its merits, as in: “The beginning of wisdom is to call a thing by its proper name.” I might add that name-calling helps to clarify what one is dealing with.
*****************
Who knew the change we voted for in November would be executed by a bunch of nitwit Senators who’d cut money for schools and add money for the Pentagon.
Sheesh, 3 weeks into his administration and Obama looks like he’s blowing it…Unless he changes his ways, he might as well pack his bags now.
Susan, No one has indicated they want to eliminate Head Start, the Coast Guard, Prisons and the CDC. You’re right, eliminating them woud be Asinine. What they are trying to eliminate is ADDITIONAL funding in the stimulus package. This will not eliminate these organizations and additional funding can be obtained in future legislation. This is a critical stimulus package and should contain critical job creating provisions.
Theresa Moore: I agree, I never said I was for this package. I just think we should be helping those that have had the unfortunate experience of being impacted by this economy. After I re-read your original post several times I may have interpreted it wrong. I guess I have too good of a heart. I believe that most of the people counting on government assistance are not there by choice. Yes, you have the ones that will milk it for all it’s worth. So, I didn’t mean to come across as attacking you but just wanted to say we’re all in this together. Also, we had darned well come up with the right decision. 800 billion dollars isn’t chump change. I’m not sure I have confidence in either party to put special interests, ego’s and politics aside and do what’s really right for the country. Once the check is written there’s no turning back. That’s what really scares me.
Anyone who has never lived on food stamps should try it sometime before they start mouthing off about what a great idea it is to cut them. Do you realize you are talking about taking food out of babies mouths here? Or maybe you feel we should “just let them eat cake”?
This can’t be true. If so why did we elect Obama? If that was the change we wanted we would have elected McCain. I hope this is not true.
To the greedy senators, danger danger toxic greed never ever trust a gop.
The country is sinking and these politicians are playing games. The people that are losing, their jobs, houses,cars and killing themselves aren’t playing games. This is real life and as soon as these idiots on capital hill can wake up and see the real world the better Republicans talk a good game about being bi-partisan but they are acting as if Bush is still in the whitehouse. He’s gone get over it and stop making demands. It’s a new administration so just get used to it. For the folks that blame Obama for not leading…it was Bush who lead us into 2 wars and the mess we are in right now so I would hope that you would give this man more than 19 or 20 days to lead us out of it!
I have just called the White House and relayed my outrage at what the Senate is doing to the stimulus bill to an operator. I appreciated talking to a real person who assured me that my words would be relayed to the President. I urged him to go directly to the well of the Senate and drive this to approval today, without any cuts. By all standards, this bill is not large enough to deal with the gravity of the situation we are faced with, thanks to the policies of the last several years. To think that Harry Reid has allowed these cuts is outrageous -
Corporate tax cuts in. Basic spending needs of poor people. Out. Look, if we’re such a burden, we’ll just eat our kids and then **** off and die. You rich folk breed enough kids to get the basic work done, right? So you don’t actually need us.
Also — this isn’t the only bill President Obama will be putting up. I don’t much object to things being left out — I’m pretty sure he’ll get back to us on healthcare and all. But I want ALL tax cuts for corporations out, and anyone with a salary that could support an african nation to be hand-delivered a PROPORTIONATE tax burden… proportionate to present needs.
John, can you explain to me how spending money that we don’t have, and that will have to be paid back with taxpayer dollars is going to save our economy? I agree that a stimulus package is necessary, but it seems we need to be certain that the package includes the right spending to create jobs and move our economy in the right direction, and it needs to eradicate frivilous and politically driven overspending.
Ugh…I’m so sick of the Republican party. Vote all their useless selfish asses out!
Just my two cents…
Let’s think about how much it costs to send your child to day care these days….When I first had a child in 2000 I spent about $181 every two weeks for my infant son. That’s $4,706 a year. Later, we sent him to a preschool and were paying about $6,000 a year and this was after a price reduction my husband got as a benefit from his employer. I’m sure these same places are much more now, 5-8 years later.
Both of these were a bargain comparatively speaking. Some people pay a lot more. And lucky for me, both my husband and I are college educated and able to access jobs (and salaries) that allow us to pay this expense and buy food and clothes, etc for our son too. We could pay for schools that were safe, used developmentally appropriate curricula and were licensed and accredited.
Head Start gives low income families some of the same advantages for their children.
Some studies have shown that child care is second only to rent or mortgage payments in monthly household expenditures. So to be able to reduce this expense has the potential for a major impact on a family’s finances.
If one is making little enough money to qualify for Head Start– which says one has to be within the federal poverty guidelines; which for example means a family of 3 cannot make more than $18,310 — then that may mean having a child attending Head Start gives a family upwards of 10-25% of its income back in its pocket to spend on other things.
Many Head Start programs are only serving a small portion of the actual population of eligible Head Start children in their service areas. Thus, giving them more money to expand means more low income families can benefit from less child care costs and more disposable income.
After years of flat funding and budget cuts, Head Start is ripe for an investment to stimulate growth. More funds mean increasing the number of slots for children, which requires the hiring of more staff to serve them. Not to mention the ability give a Cost of Living increase that might actually increase the standard of living for current staff.
Investing in Head Start with this stimulus bill not only would create jobs, it would help with job training and skills development for the Head Start parents, thus increasing their competitiveness in the job market and help them be ready to work.
It is so sad that when the “haves” start talking about ways to cut costs, they always seem to come after the “have-not” folks first.
Go to senate.gov, get phone numbers and start making phone calls NOW.
We hit nearly 8% unemployment today and these people are wanting to cut food stamps and public transportation and give it instead to the Pentagon! I’m on hold with Harry Reid’s office as I’m typing this. Don’t just fume; get on the phone with these fools!
Cut food stamps? How many people are out of work?? That’s not wasteful. UGH!
I have skimmed the original stimulus package, the Senate revised and am now watching the debate that is going on in the halls of Congress.
Reading this blog, I felt my stomach drop to my feet. Reading the comments, I wonder exactly how many people have REALLY taken the time to fully understand what is going on.
It’s like this…I live in Michigan – one of the hardest hit states. Our state is running out of money for Food Stamp program (and other assistance programs) and yet we now have more people laid off work who cannot feed their families, pay their utility bills, and/or get healthcare for their children.
Cutting the extra funding for these programs is GOING to hurt many people…the need for extra funding is there – and it would stimulate the economy. I am a lucky one – I have a job, but we still struggle. When grocery prices went up, we stopped eating healthy – when we lost our insurance a few months ago, we stopped going to the doctor’s office, when our friends got laid off from their jobs (of 15 years or more), we came together to help one another by buying in bulk and sharing.
BUT…it’s getting harder everyday and if this package is not passed through soon, the majority of us are going to know what it was like for our Grandparents and Great-Grandparents during the depression.
President Obama is doing what he can – but unfortunately he is limited by the people WE put in office…and for that reason it is UP TO US to stop this bullsh*t bickering and make our voices heard. Obama did not pull this package out of his rear end – he had some of the countries best economist working on this package. And Business 101 tells you – to make money, you have to spend money…stimulate the economy, give things to the areas where it is needed…AND YES – a waterpark in Florida could do that, creat jobs, give people a reason to leave their homes…just one example. NOW…these cuts AND additions that both sides are after ARE RIDICULOUS…and petty, and pure out and out lunacy.
I have heard and read so many people complaining and I always ask “What have you done about it”? “Ummmm”:…that is their answer. If each one of us who are opposed to these atrocities picked up our phones RIGHT now and started calling our representatives – they would have to listen.
And for those who say Free Enterprise is the way to go? Been there, done that…and look where it got us. And for those who say we are headed into a Socialist government? Maybe it’s time we looked to our friends in other countries who learned long ago that other “ways” can work…if they are carried out correctly. I’m at the point where I can truthfully say – I’m willing to try anything that is not the same old, same old. Which is why I voted for President Obama, which is why I keep working toward trying to do what I can to help those around me, which is why I encourage everyone that reads this to call Washington RIGHT NOW and tell them to move forward…something is better than the NOTHING we are headed for right now. Take 15 minutes to find your Congress person here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm and then CALL THEM!!!!! Then contact President Obama and Vice-President Biden: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and tell them how you REALLY feel. WE ARE THE PEOPLE and it is our right to have our opinions heard…Let’s use those rights and tell the people on the Hill that we are THROUGH WITH THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS!!!
Cutting food stamps and mass transit but preserving corporate tax cuts? This demonstrates that you cannot count on Democrats to stand up for the middle class.
I’ve been calling and emailing alllllll day. The boyfriend thinks I should have better things to do… I think it’s well worth my time. Keep calling people!!
This is discouraging! Do they not see how it looks to cut out parts of the bill that assist children and the hungry? Hunger for our children increased 50% over the last 2 years. Nearly every economist I have read or listened to have said that the poor are the most likely to spend, thus stimulate the economy. Who can argue that people won’t spend food stamps? Added spending on defense? After doubling the national debt with the war in Iraq and with all of the reports of fraud and waste in defense, this is outrageous!
Watching the ineffectiveness of the democratic party in
standing up for the people that elected them and put them
back in Power is sickening and watching the same old thugs
in the Republican party whine and waxing about “spending” would
almost be funny (I think they came into power with a surplus in the budge) if the situation they caused with their GREED and
spending weren’t so serious and if we were’nt
all going to suffer greatly for theri ineffectiveness in a crisis. Our founding fathers must
be turning over and over in their graves.
PS: WE should rename the republican party the RECORPRICANS
in that they definitely represent corporate interests over
the interests of the people and the Common Good….
Toni is a typical Democrat. Nothing intelligent to say except using simple minded profanities. I would say that TAX CUTS are for the common good. Corporate tax cuts infuse more money into the economy in the form of jobs and investments. Instead of spending billions of dollars on welfare programs, why not give every American worker immediate relief vie payroll deductions? Give people another two to three hundred a month, thats stimulus. The back to my earlier point; we should allow the opportunity for Democrats and liberal minded people the ability to contribute additional money every paycheck that will go towards social programs. That way they can feel good about themselves. This would allow those of us who believe that most people have the ability to succeed to not contribute to the handout society that is the Democratic Party.
The cuts to food stamps are simply cutting a proposed INCREASE in benefits and a relaxation of the requirement to actually be working at least 20 hours a week to qualify. People will still be eligible for food stamps under the existing program.
Increasing food stamp benefits would actually be an anti-stimulus, because it’s a simple transfer of money which makes it easier for folks not to work or to work less. Getting people working and producing should be the goal of any economic program — not simply transferring money around so people can “buy stuff.”
While there are individual examples where food stamps are a necessity, in general enrollments and spending on food stamps have increased dramatically over the last 10 years including during times of economic boom. There’s something fundamentally wrong with a program that is supposed to be a “last resort for hard times” but is actually increasing enrollment in good times.
More here:
http://bitsandthesis.com/2009/01/22/the-anti-stimulus/
Everyone of you B ASTARD POLITICIANS should rot in HELL!!!This is the United States of America you son of a *******!!!Everyone of you should have to stand in **** up to your necks for eternity when you die[which couldn't come too soon!!]Hey democrats I can take a picture of my balls and send it to you,so you can see what a set looks like.Majority my ***!!
Ed we appreciate the emotion, but I have no idea what you are saying. LOL.
MichaelMoore said: “…why not give every American worker immediate relief vie payroll deductions? Give people another two to three hundred a month, thats stimulus.”
Before going on to comment on this, let me say, nice play on user name MM – if that is your name, how does it feel to be named after one of the great “revealers”?
With that said…the original stimulus package includes tax cuts for most Americans – up to $500 payroll credit (I think this was the number). So – when you read through it, there are a GREAT many of wonderful things in there…what is happening is not much of it will pad anyone’s pocket who all ready has an excess in their bank account…THAT is why there is a problem.
Much respect to EVERYONE…
LOL……That is my real name, and I consider myself the great “revealer”. I assure you I am smarter and better looking than the one you refer too.
just got off the phone with someone named Max in Sen Dodd’s Washington office and voiced my displeasure and asked Dodd to vote against the latest stimulus package. Sen Dodd’s Washington number is:
202.224.2823
To those of you who blame the Republicans for this economical mess…let’s not forget Barney Frank, a Democrat, with his conflict-of-interest boyfriend and Freddie Mac, who assured us just last summer that the housing market, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were in fine shape and we should continue to loan money to low income persons to buy homes that they cannot afford. And to ACORN, who pressured banks to make these bad loans, a liberal organization to say the least. I believe there is plenty of blame for the Democrats and Republicans to go around.
Please folks! This is NOT Obama’s cuts! These are the cuts being made by the Conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats in tandem with the Repugs. Obama has stated all along that the economic plan must have three “legs” to work: immediate jobs; long term changes in the economy to produce more than low-paying or temporary jobs; and a safety-net to protect those who are currently falling into unemployment, to protect retirees whose “private plans” bottomed out with the stock-market, and college aid to help those retraining.
You lose any ONE of these and the economy falls over. You’re back to the status quo.
The only way that a lot of these folks will begin listening to their constituents rather than the idealogues of talk-radio is if they actually have to get a real job when they leave Congress, rather than a perk for helping out lobbyists. I think Obama’s ban on people in his Administration re. lobbying should apply to Congress in general and their aides. If anyone works or votes on a bill that benefits a particular industry that they have been lobbied on…they can’t work there for 10 years. And NO GIFTS, at all. They are potential bribes. Any gifts should be thrown into a bin for the Salvation Army Store.
I vote for Ed Smith!
Let’s hope Theresa and her husband don’t lose their jobs — and need food stamps!
KMC~ Your claims that people on food stamps simply don’t want to work are absurd. Food stamps aren’t free…they are bought at a discount. The jobs are disappearing, especially jobs that people who would use food stamps are seeking. If you want these people to work then have jobs that they can do in the stimulus package…but those are consistently opposed by the Republicans and “Blue Dogs”.
Really the “food stamp” program needs to be expanded to retail items that are not currently covered…for American-made (or substantially US produced) products. Have the “retail stamps” have an expiration date of 3 Months. Only allow them to be redeemed to banks by retailers demonstrating authentic purchases.
new readers, thanks for stopping by. here’s this blog’s RSS feed:
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and here’s the homepage:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com
Michael Moore – you’re a complete nincompoop! Spending not tax cuts are the only answer. We’ve tried the Tax Cuts model… how did that work for us??? huh? If you don’t have income, tax cuts aren’t going to help – and not everyone can do construction – you complete marooon!!!!
I have seen hungry families. It’s not pleasant. If you lose your job, do you think it’ll be easy to get another one? Even a part-time job? Even a low-paying one that has no benefits? Not easy. You still have to feed your family. Yes, extend food stamp eligibility. Let’s not have hungry families in the richest country in the world. (We have them, you know.)
its is illegal to even speak about what needs to be done to bring about real change in this country.
and once that real change starts there will be many of us quite saddend by the excesses of those around us who are there for nothing more than the free TV or the killing of some sei rich fool who wasn’t quite famous or rich enough to ensure a safe spot in a secret undisclosed location.
the French did one thing very very very right once upon a time.
Ah Theresa Moore – no doubt related to the idiot, Michael. Barney Frank and Freddie Mac are but one facet to this problem. The rest of this “Gem” of a catastrophy can be squarely put on the shoulders of the repukes who have had the majority of the power for over 30 years….Get educated before you speak.. otherwise…well.. you’ve already proven to be completely clueless.. never mind..
Man oh man- the Kool-Aid drinkers of Limabaugh are truly out in force today…working hard to send us into a Depression. ACORN pressuring banks? That’s a laugh…it was the big five financial houses that lobbied Congress to deregulate the asset linmitations for mortgages. They did this in tandem with the bankruptcy bill and the financial instruments repackaging deregulation. Just like those folks that offer “Pay Day” Loans they thought that they’d more than recoup their investments if some poor sucker had to foreclose. After all, THEY got the property PLUS the amount already paid on the current mortgage. In the hot real estate market they could then re-sell the house for EVEN MORE than they originally financed it for. That’s why they were quite happy recruiting all these poor families into the real estate scam.
ACORN was out warning people about these deals two or three years ago. In fact, they discouraged most Credit Unions from making these loans. It was the same folks that pushed the S&L collapse that did this 20 years ago…LONG before ACORN existed.
This is deplorable. the DoD has NEVER balanced its budget. WHY would you give them more funding? Sure, cut the services that educate and keep Americans safe. What ultimate GOP jack-****! What business is going to hire American workers that have no education? Get real, boys.
Way to go Republicans. Be proud of yourselves. You beg and plead for money for bailouts for the highest incomes in the country and you take away education and food for the very poor.
Congratulate yourselves. You will soon be extinct.
apparently the Republicans hate children. They’re cutting education and food for little kids – disgraceful!!! There’s a reason they got voted out last fall and this is one of them.
There is no change is there? The same jerks who got us into this mess are still pulling the same strings. They did the same thing to President Carter. I don’t think anything will change, although I was hopeful. The ball is in President Obama’s court now. He, in my opinion needs to say,” Okay, enough is enough. I tried to include you, but obviously you are too rigid to help anyone but yourselves and your cronies. It’s over, now we help Americans. This is what we’re doing…” I hope I’m wrong and there will be change.. He could appoint Howard Dean for Secretary of Health and Human Services, I mean after all the guy is a Doctor..who better to appoint? I WANT CHANGE!!!WHERE IS MY BAILOUT?
The Disability Policy Collaboration (between United Cerebral Palsy and ARC) earlier today published details on the cuts that appeared to show that children and adults with disabilities are being targeted by some of the most severe cuts.
DPC specifically mentions cuts targeting federal matching funds for vocational rehab, IDEA and independent living. As a caregiver and advocate, I fear that the term “independent living” refers to denying the federal rights of an individual with disabilities to stay in their community. This would represent a return to the ugly days of warehousing and institutionalizing a significant segment of our population.
To me, these cuts could mean violations of numerous federal disability, education, and vocational rehabilitation acts.
Unfortunately, these egregious cuts are being ignored by both politicians and the media.
Nice scoop Greg.
The Republicans are like fleas clinging to a dead rat. They are irrelevant, hopelessly out of touch, and should follow their Pied Piper, Limbaugh, to the cliff’s edge. Cutting food stamps? Child nutrition? Firefighters? Et al. These guys are boogeymen and the rest of us need to say so, loud & clear before they drag all of us into the drink.
You’ve got to be kidding!!!! Why don’t the Republicans just get up in front of the Senate and burn some kittens?!?! ********. I suppose it’s easy to propose cutting food stamps when one dines all the time on steaks and seafood. I suppose it’s easy to propose cutting education funding when one has the money to send their own children and grandchildren to private and Ivy League schools. I suppose it’s easy to propose cutting science funding when one supports teaching creationism in the classroom. I suppose it’s easy to propose cutting funding for programs that fight violence against women when one would prefer that women stay pregnant, bare-foot and in the kitchen. These obstructionists are ready and willing to dole out the criticism, none of which, I might add, is constructive. I sincerely believe that some of these men and women lack human compassion. While the rest of us try to figure out how to keep our families fed and in our homes, these idiots go to work against progress. Maybe the Dems should introduce a bill proposing tax hikes on scotch, golf clubs, and Viagra–since the demise of the American Dream isn’t enough to provoke action on the Republican side of the aisle.
Theresa, I happen to work for a living as well. I still make a dollar a day (after rent and utilities) so you can suck it.
Check out Daily Kos: survey stats w/ Headline “Everybody loses” – All approvals Red, blue, Obama, Boehner, etc headed south. Krugman says we’re heading off a cliff if we dither. Obama saying we’re heading off a cliff if we dither. Why aren’t more people afraid of a 10-year Depression?? Jeez, it’s a MINORITY of repubs standing in the path of the MAJORITY. The system is so poisoned by the gotta-have-60 style of governing that everyone’s fighting to the last breath from entrenched positions. WAKE UP! You righties, the President has reached out more in his 18 days in office to the Repub side than GWB did in eight years. Stop with the ideology and start participating in the governing. You can run for Ayatollah later. Lefties – stop trying to push everything through in one stim package. You have a democratic majority for two years. Don’t try to get all the neglected institutions of government fixed overnight.
Criminey. Why do I have to do all the thinking around here?
If you senator is in the gang – they are opposing real property tax relief
Federal grants to education = reduced property taxes
Federal grants to local services (fire police etc) = reduced property taxes
CALL or EMAIL YOUR SENATOR TO OPPOSE THESE REDUCTIONS
These are real dollars that will support your community and reduce your property tax bill
I do not understand why Senator Collins and Ben Nelson are taking the lead on this issue. Neither one comes close to being a STAR in the Senate. Why cut $100B? For every dollar spent another one is earned. Every economist says that this stimulus should be as big as it can be. When dealing with so much money $100B cut is felt dramatically while keeping the $100B serves to stimulate more. Cutting food stamps is stupid. That is money that will be spent for sure and by the people in need….those out of a job.
Bombs and war over education–and Republicans call themselves the party of family values. Democrats need to band together and send a strong message from here on out. Forget bipartisanship.
Are the men and women of the senate kidding me. President Obama, it’s not bad to go ahead and be an ******* about this. This bill, with the suggested changes, aren’t changes. They are just cuts. Scrap the whole thing, and come up with a bill that actually will mean something to all the Americans.
If this bill is so great why does the Congressional Budget Office say that in ten years it will actually do more harm than good? Some of you are starting to truly sway me. You are so dumb that we may need to spend this whole stimulus on education. Tax cuts work, its so simple, you get more money you spend it. Oh and to the ACORN supporter. You and the Democrats have the sole blame for this whole mess. Your social engineering is a failure. You and ACORN seem to think everyone should be able to buy a house. Well here is a news flash Einstein, you have to be able to afford it. ACORN and Barney Frank pressured the banks to give loans to low income people who had no business owning a one hundred thousand dollar home. You should be ashamed.
The Stim Bill is just about the exact percentages of funding and tax cut that the election results were. Is this really the new bipartisianship or just coincidence?
Here’s a news flash for you Michael: tax cuts are ineffective if a person has no income. With a 7.6% unemployment rate (incidentally, an economic indicator that is chronically under-reported), it’s fair to say that lack of income is a condition that is becoming more and more familiar to more and more Americans.
Why in the heck are they cutting food stamps and Headstart? How in the heck are people suppose to make it when they have been laid off! I HATE THE SENATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here we are again with the Republicans running the show and cutting the programs so needed by everyday Americans who are in such misery in this mess. Headstart creates jobs for every dollar spent and allows people to feel their children are safe. Cut Child Nutrition? Violence Against Women? This doesn’t seem to be going the way it was fed to us.
Maybe if working Americans had more money they would spend it. The guess what? Companies start hiring, people get jobs. Your ignorance amazes me.
Michael, running around calling people ignorant does not help you make your case–it simply looks like you have nothing of substance to say.
What part of my previous post didn’t you understand. If you can’t understand the simple fact that if American workers have more money it is a good thing. If people dont understand thay, they are ignorant.
The house, the senate and the presidency are all Democrat majority yet all I read on these comments is how the Republicans are ruining everything….come on take responsibility for the thing.
I don’t think I ever implied that it was a negative thing. Where we seem to disagree is in the manner we believe that could be best accomplished. While you seem willing to trust that people will immediately inject added income back into the economy, the effect of the Bush stimulus checks belies that assumption. I’m referring, of course, to the fact that most people either saved their stimulus checks or used the money to pay off debt. This is proof positive of the fact that extra money in the pockets of taxpayers does not absolutely translate to new spending or economic growth (once again though, I’m not saying it is a negative thing for American workers to have more money). Secondly, you’re very trusting of companies to “do the right thing” and start hiring workers as soon as they start to see a healthier bottom line. The fact of the matter is, companies are out to turn a profit, and if they can do so by maintaining a smaller workforce, shipping jobs overseas, sacrificing product quality and offering fewer benefits to employees, they will. This is why government spending on projects that will create jobs is absolutely vital, and why tax cuts alone will simply not cut it.
Republican Ideologues- Almost all economists agree that what is needed is spending stimulus. So, you are on the wrong side of this whole issue. Tax cuts have been tried for 8 years under Bush. Get some other past Republican model to emulate. Try Eisenhower or Teddy Roosevelt who had a sense of balance about capitalism and government.
I am so mad, mad at the Dems for not having the balls to MAN UP, Mad at Obamas people for not unleasing his Chief of Staff and Biden on these REPUM’S,Mad that we get to pay for a 700b bailout for the banks with no benefit to us the taxpayers and no accounting for the funds, Mad that we have to go to Congress with our hat in hand to save OUR COUNTRY and then fight to get a dime! These are the exact programs we need!! I want to march on Washington “WE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO WASHINGTON” Senators tell us to our face why you are voting against America! We can not let this happen. If two million people can attend an inauguration at least 1 million should go to stand up for our country!!!! We have rights and it is time we stop the Repum’s dead in their tracts!!if we have Obama’s back then no excuses let’s GO! If you can go the jam up the phonelines and emails, there should be so many emails their system crashes! Enough is ENOUGH!!!!!!!
Where were thes REPUM’S for the last 8 years, NOT ONE WORD ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE DEBT!!!!
I am normally a quiet, hard working, mother of two, but I will not sit down for this, I have had enough!
I’m going to Washington DC Monday!! I am emailing my Senators and the Whitehouse this is not what we voted for!!!
Don’t just sit there, come to DC! The Banker CEOs who gave themselves bonuses with our bail out money will be here– come let them know what you think about them. There is only one way to change things and hopefully we won’t need pitchforks.
Tori, I agree with you. We need to do something as a whole. Our rights are being swiped away. LETS MAKE A MOVEMENT AS A WHOLE! I AM FOR IT!
I’m sorry I can’t agree with everyone I am an average working class male,I worry about how I’ll pay the bills every month but I’m am not asking for a handout or begging for anything from the gov. What they are doing by giving the money to the groups they have chosen is trying to create jobs for all of us not just put more foodstamps in our hands or dollars in our bank accounts. How many people have to get laid off for people to see that companies are hurting just like us. And when they are not making money niether are you (you get laid off and want the gov.to put checks in your pockets). That is not the job of gov. it is to stimulate the ECONOMY not give people who are laid off checks but to give them jobs…. Then you go out and work for the check to put in your bank account. What do you want them to do cut out the companies out of stimulus and just let the gov. direct deposite the money in your accounts. That is not how it works. The fact is we as americans have become a race of selfish for me attitudes that only see stimulus as free money. take time and look at it their cutting the largest social areas where there is whole lot of fat to be trimmed. Your using the fact that it is education and food stamps to prove your point but these may be two of the most exploited funds in america today. People should take it more on themselves to educate and rely less on the government. But thats not the american way, hire more teachers so you don’t have to spend time with your kid teaching him/her whats a few billion dollars in teachers funding so you can have your free time right/ WRONG. And don’t think of putting my child on a 10 year old bus no it want be safe so lets spend a few more billion on busses what does that hurt? I’m sick of hearing people talk about republicans and democrats, the truth is we’re all in this together and just giving handouts isn’t going to cure the problem only prolong our existance while those big companies you want to cut out of the stimulus get broker and brocker and lay of more and more of us and we can continue to blame the gov. for not giving us poor people a check. Ps look at the defence dept. budget and see how much of it is labor. See how much of that money is actualy coming back to the american public via a weekly paycheck. Someone has to build the things the gov uses in the defense of our nation mmmmmm who do lyou think that is? Americans? well I said my bit so hate me if you have to.
Wow, these cuts are Really Dumb! Food Stamps? Are you kidding me? One does not have to be an Economic Brainiac to figure out that food stamps not only helps the people eat, but puts money into the local Grocery Stores and the more money Grocery Stores makes,
the more hours Employees Get,
and the more Hours Employees Get ,
the Bigger their Paychecks are,
the Bigger the Employee Paycheck,
THE BIGGER AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY CAN SPEND!!!
You Get My Drift? And I have not taken economics 101!
COMMON SENSE EVIDENTLY IS NOT COMMON—I THINK I’LL RUN FOR THE SENATE IN 2010–BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE TO BE SMARTER THAN A CAN OF PAINT!!!
Reading both sides on the blogs I have found a bipartisan consensus.
Both sides hate this bill.
I don’t think people understand what needs stimulating( the job market) not your pocket books. stimulating your pocket doesn’t stimulate economic growth. Keeping your employer (yea the rich people the ones with more money than us that we work for) in business that is stimulating economic growth.
if you think all these cuts are unfair my best advice and what I will do its to call your state senator to stop this bill remember we have the right to voice our opinion in the U.S>
let’s see steal from the poor to give to the rich ……… that can only happen in america
WTF!!!!!!!.Why would they eliminate food stamps,when people NEED those.Some of the eliminations and add-ons in the stimulus package doesn’t make not one bit of sense whatsover.This thing has “REPUBLICANS” written all over it!..ARRRRRGH!!!!!!!!!!!
MIA, you are dead on! They are not eliminating the food stamp program, it just won’t receive add’l $$ from the porkulus package! It will continue to chug along, just as it always has…on the increasingly thin dime of people who pay taxes. Anything that doesn’t directly create new jobs and/or shore up the flailing housing market, does not belong in this package. It was supposed to be an immediate TEMPORARY boost to our economy, not a yoke of ongoing spending programs to be born by generations to come!
that is exactly right (imediate and temporary boost to the economy not a fix all handout to citizens)Everyone is #$%^^&&^ because they cut school funding from the package (because it takes a long time to see schoolings effects on the economy), by the way their not closing them just not giving them more money right now. the fact is since the republicans don’t put money in your pocket(short term fix, the repubs do(even as you democrates give it away as fast as posible) keep this country running(buy getting industry and jobs for all those poor unemployed lazy people we call american citizens). GET OFF YOUR COUCH AND OFF WELLFARE THAT IS THE ANSWER, STOP BEGGING, NOTHING IS FREE, GO TO WORK NOT TO WASHINGTON IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
Food stamps are the stupidest cut of all. All food stamp money goes back into our retail economy and not one cent is wasted anywhere. Unlike tax cuts for wealthy people and handouts to CEO’s. But Republicans seem to think we should invest in $50 million dollar corporate jets (built in FRANCE) and $1000 waste paper baskets. The GOP hates America and like their Oxycontin-addicted leader Rush Limbaugh, they would love to see us fail.
I have read most of your comments and agree WTF? All of the things that would help in ANY way are cut and more for the rich!!! When are people going to wake up and get rid of these double standard back door deallin sons of you know what????? And lets be honest exactly WTF are we to do to stop it? Bend over my friend and get used to it!!!!!!!!!
The congress of the United States is starting the next revolution in this country and they are such a bunch of rich dumbasses they don’t even see it coming – more DOD spending – but no food stamps or headstart – you congressmen and senators have got your collective heads where the sun doesn’t shine.
Of the 99 percent of people who posted a reply on here (Liberals). You all who blame the last presidency for everything but why the stars aren’t always out, need to learn something. The Flipping Congress runs the GD Country! They were lead by Liberals then and it’s only getting worse now! Grow up and stop acting like children with your hands out…..we need more welfare, foodstamps, unemployment,etc……get a ******* Job!
BTW drop our defense and kiss our country goodbye anyway.
I don’t usually post comments, but I have noticed that no one has really pointed out all the coporate welfare in this country and the fact that not a lot of middle class paying jobs have been created during the economic “good times” a few folks mentioned. If there is a lot of waste in programs designed to help the poor, there are just as many for corporations – many that don’t need it. Everyone (business & individuals) should give up what they don’t really need. One ex. is sports teams – the Yankees have been given huge tax credits & subsidies to build their stadium, yet have enough money to pay new players millions of dollars. There are examples like that all over the country & in every industry. Now that times are tough for NYC, perhaps the Yankees should voluntarily give back some of those credits (not all, just some.) Then it would be more fair to ask all those poor & lower income folks to make sacrifices, too. A good source of info for further examples of corporate welfare (which, by the way is very unfair for those businesses that don’t partake) are David Cay Johnston’s books. I think all businesses should compete on a level playing field & I want my government to ensure that. My last observation is if its’ wrong for government to set salaries for CEO’s who take bailout money (per some notable Republican congressmen), why is it appropriate to request that midwest auto workers accept reduction in pay up to 50% in order for auto companies to get bailout money? Note, I am not referring to auto co. CEOs, just the workers. Is it appropriate to ask financial company workers to accept cuts in pay as well then?
Food stamps not increased? A just God would gift Nighthorse with a nice case of stomach cancer.
Do any of you know what a stimulus is? Do you know where they are getting the money to pay for this junk? It is OUR money. MY money. If I am allowed to keep it, I can spend it and stimulate the economy. How can a bunch of overpriced pork stimulate anything? They will have to print more money which will cause double digit inflation. You can’t just make more money to pay for stuff.
Do nothing, that is the best stimulus there is. This downturn will correct itself if left alone.
Why is there an entitlement mentality for the food stamp? Who says I should pay for my food and yours too? Pretty soon there is nobody left to pay. I help my neighbor w/ food because I want to and it is done locally and not by a big overblown government.
All of you people with your hands held out as if the government is your nanny and you just want to suck at the giant milk vat.
Wake up. There is no free lunch, there is no nanny. The government has NO MONEY. It is OUR money. They take it from us, by force and then spread it around to their friends.
Wake up country before its too late.
WOW! By reading the liberal rants in this blog I think half our country is too lazy, ignorant, selfish and full of kool aid to be allowed to breed. To paraphrase a line from one of you genius’: LIBERALS should be castrated. They are the greatest threat to our way of life and should be allowed to expire BEFORE the Bush tax cuts!
By the time you rocket scientists figure out there ain’t no free lunch you will have sucked this country dry and then you WILL have something to whine about.
Put your big girl panties on stop charging your food stamps to your grandchildren !!
I’m upset that food stamps was eliminated. Feeding the population should be a priority. We overlook the economic impact of food but helping people buy local food pull us out of the recession right away.
I cant believe you would cut food stamps. Maybe the people that are agreeing to cut them should get the income we do with no food stamps. You would find that maybe you are wrong for cutting them. When I have paid my bills (and I do that faithfully) I have no money to take care of my other needs. So I rely on food stamps. And I only get 43 dollars a month. If you cut them I could end up starving. And that is no exaggaration. Come down to our level and you will see what I am talking about.,
Well, this is why I joined the Green Party this past election after trying to work within the Democratic Party for decades. The Green Party does not run any candidates that take corporate donations.
Anyway, sucks about the possible cuts on a personal and collective levels. My husband and I have been unemployed off and on for the last 3 years. We are trying to go back to college and are finding some financial aid out there. Did I mention that we are both over 38 years old?
Oh and apparently you can get good help these days, just not from your tax accountant.
Stop whining! Do you all think the liberal democrats would actually cut food stamps? They’re just not going to increase it as much. There is only one way to boost the economy, keep taxes low and reduce government spending. Do that and watch the economy come roaring back… And don’t believe St. Obama–the sky is not falling. Recessions generally only last about a year. Suck it up for a bit, and we’ll all survive just fine. This “stimulus” is a farce.
We should march on Washington and embarrass the Republicans who would take away food stamps and headstart programs, but increase military funding. There’s obviously only a “free lunch” for the wealthy who we continually subsidize with our tax dollars.
You people are idiots, the Dems drafted the original bill you Idiots, you go and look at them both. All the republicans did was fight to get rid of the trash like helping Acorn, maybe if Acorn gave people jobs we should help them out, they are so corrupt. As far as military spending, HHMMMM, people making weopons and planes in our factories, that has been one of the hardest hit areas in the economy. People wake up, call your senator and do not pass this thing unless we all get a cut. Think of it this way. 10K for each of us, enough to pay off your debt if you did not over indulge as most Americans did. Then a nice little chunk to save and go shopping to store that promote American made products. That way we buy American and the other countries that F–K us over get nothing. A little economics 101. Tell me what you think oh and by the way I did vote for Obama, but not next time.
Matt, I agree with you. A stimulus bill is meant to stimulate. There is no reason we should saddle our children and grandchildren into economic bondage over things that will not directly impact the economy. This is the democrat’s 40 year wish list. They have been waiting for a moment in time like this one to pull us into socialism. There is no way to decrease the middle class like making them rely on the government. To strip them of their responsibilities. That is what this bill is. It is not a stimulus package. It is spendulus package that increases the size and scope of government and as a result crushes individual liberty and freedom.
that is absolutely the truth….they are using scare tacticts to get everyone to want this spend (what we don’t have) package. Pure socialism, and they DID NOT CUT food stamps. They just didn’t add anymore….it will go on for those who need it and those who are f****** lazy and get them. I did not Vote for Obama because I knew his agenda. Wake the He11 up you freeloading Liberals!
We are witnessing the slow murder of the middle class by the Republican Party. Remember this come election time.
DailyShow-Rocks do you even know what the hell your saying. Half of the things cut were REPUBLICAN APPROVED AGENDAS, not denied. cutting prison sections of this “Stimulus Package” right AFTER he signed the bill closing Guantanimo Bay is just irresponsible, seeing as the percent of the prisoners NOT returned to their home countries will be put into american prison population, and them being some of the most dangerous terrorists in the world. If We caught osama bin laden (IF he is still alive, thanks to those soldiers in the Middle-East) within the next year and his country didn’t take him back, we would get him into one of the most underfunded and overcrowded correctional systems in the world, not including the portion that was suppose to go to prisons’ being cut out in this “Stimulus Package”. FireFighters are also taking hits here, and that is the most irresponsible of all. They are some of the bravest men and save peoples lives thanks to their bravery and the equipment that costs thousands PER PERSON that they need to do it.
The Schooling improvement was the biggest joke i’ve seen so far though, since they very clearly say they will be increasing School Construction in it’s place. The Coast Guard cut isn’t as bad as the firefighter and prison cuts, but it’s right up there with the other points i’ve talked about, since they guard our borders, and the waters surrounding it. Now on to the Violence against Women cut, which has probably gotten Feminists up in arms since it’s less funding towards their movement. Also, since Democrats are the leading party in the senate, in the House of Representitives, and a democrat is in the White house it doesn’t seem to me that the Republicans aren’t in too much of a position to change much on this since the Democratic party has Majority vote in each part of congress so they don’t really need the support anyways. Also may i remind you that its also 11 Democrats that are Siding with republicans on this? so really, it’s not just republicans opposing this Package. What got me with you is also that you say The Daily Show is a good Information source on all this, even though anything he talks about is for ratings, something he can mock, and also has information that is a day or even a week behind Fox news or CNN.
The Food Stamp cut is also up there in Irresponsible, since thousands upon thousands rely on it to feed their families, especially during this time of crisis where Joblessness is not from lazyness, but from cuts companies like StarBucks and Microsoft have to make to keep the remaining employee’s jobs safe. In my opinion this Stimulus Package needs to be cut down to actual workable figures, not bloated with things like “6 Billion for Internet connections for Rural Areas” and the 500 million here, and 300 million there that make up about a Quarter of this package. Did you also know that only about 26 Billion of this will be actually used this year? in fact, only about 1/3rd of the total Package will be used by the end of Obama’s first 4 years (It’s up to him and his choices’ that’ll show if he’s going to be picked for a second term) and all of it will finally be used by 2016, which for those 12 years we will be strapped with a Tax that will go well in to our children’s years as Taxpayers to pay for a bill that will be 56% spending 37% tax cuts and about 7% to actual Business and Jobs.
(i messed up on the years, since obviously 2008+12 does not = 2016. it will actually be at around 2020, sorry for that little fudge up)
(Also i would like to remind everyone that although he has slated Guantanimo Bay for Closure, it has not stopped him from renewing the Rendition Treaty, which is basically Black-Ops since suspects are taken from their house, or where ever they are from and given to countries that CAN do Torture tactics such as water treatment and beatings, which basically makes OUR hands clean but dirties up the countries we ally ourselves with that can torture prisoners.)
(ALL without telling anyone, getting trials, and given no reasons as to why they are being taken.) (man i keep forgetting little tidbits)
( It’s me again, HI) also to add something against the defence spending bit you like to attack, It is what got us out of the great depression of 1929-1940 AND what gives many people jobs in our current situation, since millions of soldiers were Paid for their service and many died to protect the right you seem to underestimate. Also it Galvanized the Auto industry during that time period as they were paid to build Tanks, Planes, and military vehicles for said soldiers. You can badmouth this government, Republicans, Democrats, And those people who speak their minds, but when you badmouth the Soldiers who fight to protect your right to do it, protect women from having to hide their face and have no voice, protect the children who will be our future, and the veterans who have already protected the current soldiers when they were kids, you fail to grasp the central point of our country. Freedom Isn’t Free, its been paid for by your and my Great Great grandfathers and all of the soldiers that came after them.
What i wrote was my opinions on this, so if you want to attack it or support it ATLEAST do it in a civilized manner and absolutely NO ONE should feel at all obligated to oppose or follow what i just said, since your free to have your own thoughts and opinions on this subject. Like i said, if you want to oppose it, oppose it in a civilized manner, since Civilization is what makes people overcome differences and work together. If you want to support it, Please do not call people who oppose it anything rude and respect their opinions on this, since this is also something that keeps us from becoming as bad as many politians on both sides.
The dems just need to say to hell with the Republicans!! This is crazy! I don’t even know what the increases are, however, I know all those things being cut are very important. The dems need to stand up, the republicans are trying to sabotage the stimulus so it will fail.
You people are all idiots. This bill is a huge waste of time. The economy will recover on its own. These ignorant democrats and our liberal socialist president are going to ruin our country. We are not the ones who will pay for this, our grandchildren will! Quit whining and crying for your food stamps and welfare checks. Get off your fat asses and go get a job. Nobody in this country is entitled to anything but the rights put forth by the constitution. Nobody is entitled to health care, nobody is entitled to home ownership, nobody is entitled to wealth! Quit robbing hard working people in this country to hand it over to lazy illegals, welfare rats, and bums who could work but choose not to. You are all pathetic!
Another thing… for all you morons quoting percentages and figures, and talking about who is taking hits and cuts… get a freakin grip! Nobody is taking a cut, nobody is taking a hit! Just because a radical president puts forth a ridiculous “spendulous” package with insane spending increases, and some moderates in the senate decide to trim it down, does not mean anyone has taken a cut! That money was never theirs in the first place! The nerve of the liberals in this country is just sick. To think that you are entitled to anything that you haven’t rightfully worked for is just typical for these unamerican, sociocuminst, tree hugging, homoloving, anti-freedom freak liberals!
btw…. “Why don’t you drive your electric car into the ocean…. I hope you hit a whale on your way to france!!!”
Some of the cuts to school building is right. Milwaukee has several empty schools already and declining enrollment. Why build more there? Education begins at home, kids can’t count to 10 or don’t even know the alphabet when they get to kindergarten Parents nee to take some responsibility. Put down cigs, beer and drugs. Teach your children, read to them. Maybe to church and learn right from wrong. Teach them to shoot and respect guns, not to fear them or play with them as toys. Teach them our US Constitution, that they are in control of the country if they vote. Teach them not to spend money they do not have, to volunteer and help others. Grow a garden, the debt needs to get paid, spending needs to stop. Don’t litter, don’t waste our resources. Teach kids they don’t need to keep up with Jones. WE are all in this together. It’s going to get worse as us Baby Boomers age and try to take out their retirements and they are not there. Get used to it. We’ve didn’t respect and appreciate our growth, we all got greedy needing two cars, three cars, boats, ATV’s snowmobiles, motorcycles, a cabin, expensive vacations, all on credit and now the bill is due on the country. Spending more? Not going to help. Give a tax cut and check back to those who paid taxes. Not those who have not contributed. Not illegal aliens. If your CEO got a big pay check too bad, what did you do to become CEO? Have you worked as hard? Maybe you didn’t get the big break, Maybe your dad didn’t build the company. No one said life was fair. OK enough o my rant. PEACE.
unfortunately Jason you can’t just leave something to it’s own devices, thats the whole freaking reason we are in this mess. During Bushes last 3 years in office there was no checks and balances between the 2 branches of office, bush could not get anything passed because either it was locked in the congress for wasted hours just to keep it from going anywhere or it was denied outright, now we have an even worse problem with all 3 pieces of government being in the same boat, and in a government designed to be a 2-party system, all the eggs in one basket is never a good thing. You can say it’ll get better but thats all talk. If you don’t put your foot down who will? you can say I HATE HOMOS but that doesn’t stop gay rights, it only inflames it. you can say TREEHUGGERS but that only inflames environmentalists. Im also trying to figure out how i am a FREEDOM-HATING LIBERAL when i was talking about the freedoms we got from our ancestors blood and sweat to keep it free.
And Token, again thats all good but we have gone away from those sense of morals everyone had in the 50s and 60s, we expect too much for nothing. And Spending will help, if it stays in our pockets we will spend more cause unfortunately as i said we have left those morals and we are in a completely capitalistic society, and if we go any further with this stimulus package as it is and it will quickly go into a socialistic society.
The thing is, i fear time has crept up on us and we are repeating the roman mistakes made before us. We didnt Learn from history and we are repeating it.
Well the 54 percent of the voters are going to get their way. The liberal, welfare-job killing union socialists will get 3 repub sell-outs to get this communist bill passed and we”ll be on our way to the United Socialist Republic of America. Food Stamps will be the LEAST of your problems you morons!!
Make no mistake – You B******s OWN this bill and we will not forget who ruined our beautiful country and there WILL be consequences.
God helps those who help themselves.
You libs better hope He does not punish those who expect Big Brother to do it all for them at the expense of hard working, God fearing people.
It is a shame that our are playing the same game. How dare the republicans question Obama’s spending plan when it was the republicans who were in power for 8 years that spent so much money that we had this huge debt including spending money on an unnecessary war. Wall street was deceptive.Corporations, banks ran amok with greed, deregulations and sent jobs overseas. We saw corporate bonuses, luxury airplanes and thousands of tax-breaks for the wealthy. I am tired of hearing the whining of the republicans who tend to use the word tax-cuts in hopes to connect with average Americans when in reality the tax breaks are for the rich. They do not want middle income Americans to better themselves. They don’t want us to have well-made schools, quality education, decent jobs with a minium wage that we can live on, quality health care, and long term employment. It is time for us to give Obama more people in government who know how to work across the aisle either as democrats or republicans. I am tired of the same old junk. Republicans through a tantrum -basically saying if we are not going to get our way then we don’t plan to talk or work with you. My life should not depend on people like this who cannot work with the opposite party and perhaps try something different but continue to wait for someone to foul -up so they can say I told you so.
I had to say no I don’t like the new stimulus package because once again the senate is doing their best to make it hard on middle, low and poverty stricken Americans. Obama is trying to help us with our basic needs: jobs( decent roads, bridges and public transportation will help us get there) affordable and safe food ( those in middle low, in poverty or unemployed may need food stamps), affordable and quality education from early childhood through to college ( otherwise we will never compete with other countries who already help their citizens with this) affordable and quality health care and social services ( one of the biggest expenditures for working people and needed by those who are unemployed or under insured adults and what about our veterans?), quality environment with clean air, free of pollutants , and feel safe
( need firepeople and police) and we need affordable housing. It is so clear that the Republicans want us to believe that their mantra on tax cuts is for us. It is not. It is to make them rich.Remember these are the same people who outsourced jobs and gave huge bonuses to CEO’s,ran up a deficit with overspending on a war we didn’t need etc. These are the same people who wanted us to trust them and put our social security money in private stocks/bonds investments. Can you imagine how worse off people would be today if we did that? The stimulus package is to create new jobs that will help build America now and in the future. It is to help middle and low income American have a better life. Since all but three republicans decided to cross the aisle to work with Obama, it is clear that the rest of them do not really care about our well-being. They just care about corporate welfare! Don’t let the republicans or the media distract us from our original goal which was to change they way government is currently run. Obama is being pressured to do things the way they always have been done. I think we need to help him know that we still believe and that if necessary, we will use our voice and vote to get some people out of government so we can move forward for all of the people not just the rich and powerful. We cannot afford to lose funding on education, transportation or social services. Any help we give Americans will only help them feel more positive about the future and begin to take risk again to spend money on hiring, buying homes, cars, etc. We can do this without the nay-sayers. Let’s remember why we voted for Obama! He cannot be the only voice for change. We need to speak up now! He needs our support! He was left with a mess and it will take time to clean it up but we need to start now. Bush took our hopes and dreams with him to Iraq in a war we did not need. Now the republicans are trying to start another war here at home by refusing to work with Obama. We cannot go back to the same old stuff. To the senate, you need to put funding for education, food stamps and transportation back in the bill or we will ask that no more money go to any large corporation that comes begging for money or begged for money. These greedy corporation got money but we haven’t seen it trickled down to any Americans yet. Why don’t we investigate their business practices and ask for their bonuses back to help stimulate the economy?
If you want it passed, then come up with a compromise THAT MAKES SENSE since the nimrods (both repubs and dems alike) in Washington can’t seem to get it together. I for one, wrote every senator and representative in my state the following. Feel free to copy or use as you see fit.
Dear Senators and Representatives,
I’ve written Senator Coburn earlier regarding the gage of the stimulus plan. I appreciate the work he has put into the list of problems and pork found with the stimulus plan. I refer to his press release: http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=LatestNews.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=3d97fd6d-802a-23ad-4656-8435b17a3a0d
It was mostly in line with what I found as well in what was remotely possible for me to read. The shear size of this bill makes reading it in it’s entirety an impossibility. However, from reading Senator Coburn’s comments, which I will trust, a few questions and comments for the future negotiations that the Oklahoma senators and representatives should consider. Many of these things were discussed amongst neighbors.
Regarding the list of Pork Projects: I agree with everything Senator Coburn listed there as ridiculous EXCEPT FOR:
1. Issues with Hybrid card and leasing military alternative energy cars. I think that anything we can do to cut costs to the government, and encourage energy efficiency and new technology in ANY way, should be encouraged. However, something very important to consider, is that Hybrid cars in their current state of battery technology are really kind of pointless, inefficient for fuel use compared with other more promising and environmentally responsible technologies, and irresponsible for the government to endorse. The batteries are actually an environmental hazard for one. The area in Canada where the material to build them is mined, is declared a dead zone. And don’t even get me started on the cost of replacing them when they are worn out, and the recycling issues that go with it. You could actually get environmentalist to go with you on this one. Instead, either Hydro or natural gas should be the option to go with. This is especially important because whatever option the government goes with, is the option that the rest of the world (yes world) will go with. If it is in line with the Pickens Plan (which I and several others fully endorse), then this would also be a boon for the US as well as be environmentally responsible, cost efficient, immediately do-able, and would create jobs immediately. Including in the hurting car industry. That is if the American car makers are finally willing to start building something that is worth my money to buy. Honda already has a natural gas vehicle out. We just need to convert the current gas stations to natural gas stations. Which is much easier since the lines (as I was told by a friend that works in the industry) run almost exactly with the oil lines? Whether this is true or not, I have not personally looked into it. So do with that consideration what you will.
2. Fed buildings getting greened up. Again, anything the fed government does, people will follow the leadership. This saves the government money in the long run and puts some people to work immediately until things turn around. I agree with your party chairmen’s point that we should focus on long term job goals. But at the same time, we can not ignore the immediate needs now that will eventually lead to other more long term and sustainable jobs, as the “green jobs” market eventually will. This can not be ignored.
3. State and local fire stations: I don’t know about this point. I can see the side of making the states get their budgets in line. And I agree with Senator Coburn’s proposal on giving the states loans instead of bailout. But given the hits that fires have been plaguing us with the last several years, I know that many stations are hard pressed for funds. Including Oklahoma’s. This is a necessary need as well. So I think you might want to reconsider that objection.
4. Wild land fire management: Again, pretty hard hit. And since this is due to climate change that the US is doing virtually nothing about right now, then we should at least do what we can to support this before all of the trees are burnt to the ground. At least until we get a real environmental policy implemented.
5. Amtrak: Anything to support public transportation to scale back on individual car use should be done. I personally truly miss taking the train everyday (I used to live in Chicago right after college). Look at European countries how efficient and great their train systems are and how many people use them. And then look at ours. It’s pitiful. And it could be so amazing and support our country so much more. For one, it costs a lot less to transport goods on trains than by truck. That alone could save on fossil fuel, bringing down its cost due to less demand. So while that industry in itself may not be Amtrak alone, we should support the train system. Maybe change this to not only support Amtrak, but the mass transit system in general to modernize and make it safer. Again, this would provide immediate jobs and would be a fair compromise. Not just supporting one business. But the entire goal of promoting more efficient and cheaper costs of transportation thereby gets us off of foreign oil. That is, IF the system is brought up to proper technology and efficiency.
Regarding your list of questionable items: I agreed with all of them EXCEPT:
1. Question: why would providing no interest loans to small businesses be a bad thing?
2. Regarding point #6. Wouldn’t taking those actions make fossil fuel more affordable by driving down demand?
3. SNAP issues. It’s taking people a lot longer than 3 months to find a job. Most stories I am hearing are up to 1 year. That’s finding a decent paying job where you actually can afford the house payment and food on the table. So I don’t think that now is the time to cut any assistance to unemployed people. While there are the “lazy ones” out there that do take advantage. Now is not the time to punish the hard working ones that work 2 & 3 jobs and still can’t afford to pay the bills because of what is going on. They take the job at McDonalds and several others. But they need all the help we can give them until this turns around.
In general for all of my fellow representatives: Thank you for fighting the pork. However, you are still missing the point on a lot of issues. For one, tax breaks do not stimulate the economy. That theory has already been disproven time and again. Including recently. And by the way, no is going to spend their money once they get it from the government. Everyone I talk to is saying that. It is all going in to savings. While we all wait to be the possible next victims of Wall Streets crimes. Which by the way, you should all be pursuing criminal charges against them for how they spent federal funds, and at the VERY LEAST, DEMANDING THE MONEY BACK from the people that actually had the audacity to accept bonuses for the sickening job they did. I never got a bonus unless I did my job efficiently and met specific and time oriented goals that were set high. And I certainly never got a raise based on poor performance. Bad performance warranted firing. But that’s a different issue that I completely disagree with every approach given so far on, except the cap on their salaries. Which should have no loop holes. You want to make more than that? Then prove that you deserve a big bonus by turning the company around in so many months and paying the governement back every penny borrowed with interests! Maybe then you deserve a big fat bonus that YOU can pay for out of corporate funds, not government funds! And not ONE person I talked to, democrat or republican voter, disagreed with that.
I am not saying the Democrats aren’t being nimrods on many issues, like agreeing with you to cut back on education issues to give tax breaks that don’t work elsewhere (I can say that, I am a registered Democrat and voted for Obama). But you all need to take a different approach on how to get this bill in line with the common mans interest, which you say you represent. Start with and focus on fiscal responsibility and getting rid of the pork that Senator Coburn has lined out. But be mindful of what you call pork, and try to foresee the future for where new technology and “greening” up our country will take us on a more permanent road to prosperity. That means, QUIT INSISTING ON CUTS TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND EDUCATION!!!!!!!!!!!! The only areas that will truly advance us as a nation, and you guys always have them first on the chopping block. That makes no sense whatsoever! If you don’t believe me on how outraged everyone is about the new cuts that are and have been proposed, then take a look: http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/stimulus-package/latest-cuts-to-the-stim-package-head-start-child-nutrition-food-stamps-public-transit/
Something that you guys had a golden opportunity to really push that could have been your shining hour of how sensible and fiscally responsible you claim to be and you lost it. The push for the 4% home loan: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100259536
While you pushed it a little, you blew it by giving into your “tax cut” ideology that is now RAISING the price of the package! $15,000 in tax credits for home buyers?! What true good does that do? If you can’t afford the house payment, no tax cut is going to help! And this doesn’t pump money into the economy! Certainly not on the immediate basis that a 4% home loan would do! What were you people thinking? Come on, get it together! Are you guys even meeting on this stuff?!
You want a real compromise? How about that you ALL (democrats and republicans) acknowledge that tax cuts don’t work, and propose fiscal responsibility as your motto (which it used to be), and propose that NO tax cuts are put in there, so that we can pay for this monstrosity. No parent wants to shove this debt off onto our grandchildren. If people and businesses want a tax break, then prove that you deserve one to the IRS. Create a high paying job, hire American workers, create jobs here in the US for a tax break if you are a business. If you personally want a tax break as a family/individual? Give to charity, volunteer your time to needy. You get the picture. Quit giving out the tax breaks will nilly. Because as evidence has long and widely shown, we all pay for it in the end anyway both financially and emotionally. And as Senator Coburn has so rightly pointed out, now our grandchildren will be too.
Good Luck in the next round of negotiations. Let go of the special interests, redo home loans, and give up the tax breaks, and quit cutting in areas that spur long term growth (technology, education). That’s just my advice. You’ll get a lot more support that way from the public.
Sincerely,
I read a reply that stated God helps those who help themselves. Well in the Bible , it also talks about helping the least of these – meaning helping those who may need help. Why in American do we struggle with this concept? Why do we take on a survival of the fittest attitude and cannot see that by helping others we also help ourselves. We know that the CEO’s who received billions of dollars “helped themselves” to a fancy and rich life and didn’t care if the people who helped to keep them in their jobs by doing the work asked of them, were able to have a roof over their head or food on the table, a job or health benefits. They took jobs overseas where they could page just a little more than slave wages in order to keep their profit high and their pockets filled with money. This is why so many of them were worried about the word “socialism”. They were afraid that they would have to give up some of their money and make some sacrifices so that others could be helped. Ironic isn’t it? All the time it was their employees and the rest of middle -America making huge sacrifices so that the rich could keep their lifestyle. It is a joke. The propaganda used to makes people believe that the only way to be successful in this world is to do everything alone and collect as much money as you can is false. Ironically, the real legacy we will leave our children is how selfish Americans have become – a nation that takes and never thinks of giving to others without placing a $ sign on it or calling each other names. We need to give our children the legacy of decency, honor, sacrifice and a willingness to share resources with each other, along with a clean environment, quality education, affordbable housing and jobs. Let’s stop bickering about it and do it.
Hey bpe! I read the bible too and it doesn’t say to let the government rob from those IT deems to have too much and give to those who IT deems to be worthy and then help the “least ” who are in a continual pity party. I’ll put my charitable giving up against any of you hypocrites.
At least up until now I have had the freedom to choose the recipient and not have some loon like princess pelosi or harry reid tell my how I must give
Oh ya – We know you will blame Bush for every “screw up” Obama makes but we know who has been at the top of this food chain. Talk to YOUR people like Barney (pretty boy) Frank and Chris Dodd . Of course I do not really expect any of you libs to take responsibility for ANYTHING for the next two years because as Pelosi said WE WON !!!
Here’s another cliche for you : WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!
The more of this bpe **** I read, the more i believe that bpe is a card carrying, kool aid drinking, welfare sucking, democrat who as a typical leftist completely ignores facts like GWB kept your liberal a** safe and free so you could spit in his face to show your gratitude. In 8 years he did not get as rattled, sarcastic and partisan as Obama did last Thursday nite after being in office a mere couple weeks. Wait until he has an international crisis on his hands. His cute little barbs will be very ineffective against the likes of Iran, N Korea, and Russia. Your St. Obama can’t carry GWB,s umbrella when it comes to character and you will all soon find out what you elected. God bless GWB and the USA !!
there is so much outrage here, it is evident…I’m not sure if someone already said this but…can anyone else see the INCREDIBLE targetted population here of WOMEN and CHILDREN! HOW F****** SAD. PLEASE STOP HURTING THE FAMILIES and giving to WAR…I’m calling our reps on this for sure! And please…lets stop talking about the ‘bible’ people…it’s infantile. This is America, and although half of us act like we have a bible shoved up our arse so far that we cannot walk, there are another half of us that respect the fact that Americans come from all backgrounds and beliefs…lets respect them.
How are we to get people back to work if their children have no child care. How can we cut jobs and wages and not help our children with school lunch programs. This is an outrage that we can help the wealthy bankers but we can’t help the people that need it the most. My children are not paying for the rich to get richer if our country can not help those most in need.
There is a lot of complaining about the Reps, isnt this a Dem house and Senate, isn’t the Pres Dem, are they not the majority, who do we think are making the policies??? Are the Reps going to work with WMD forcing Dems to vote their way??? Promises Promises!?!?!?!?
What’s the fuss about Food Stamps!? The people receiving them don’t generate jobs!
Economic Stimulus… get it? Not Welfare!
Obama is not to blame. The bipartisanship that he wants to use to include everyone who will benefit from the package is now a “ball” game to the Republicans who would like to see everything fail even for the American people. Please remember that McCain said the economy is strong just two weeks before the economy meltdown.
they need to give everyone who makes under 100K a check for 500,000 to 1 million dollars! obama,obama,obama,obama,obama,obama,obama oh he stimulates me!
School Construction Cut/ Well we all can’t afford one of the numerous private schools in Georgetown that Washington elite send their darling to/meantime Detroit can’t afford toilet paper! Food Stamps – Hey $6.38 per day is plenty to eat on! Meantime visit (you can’t eat there) one of the ‘private’ dining rms. White House staff, Senate, State Dept where they EAT $150.00 Kobe beef (Japan) and only organic fruit etc/ No Chinese slop for them. Wake up/ once you’re unemployed you’re considered a ner’ do well / and drug addict if you DARE to show up at an ER room. Oh, as for 6 bill in health cuts/ so what – we pay 72% of their wondrous health plans which includes prescriptions – dental – eyeglasses. AMEN
I think Obama and the republicans can agree on tax cuts. Americans need to be able to plan for the future. So it is nice that we get $500 in payroll tax cuts but since republican want more tax cuts, let’s challenge them to cut more taxes for the middle and low income Americans in addition to the spending measures outlined in the stimulus package. Republicans don’t realize that they are suppose to listen and represent Americans.With this said, Americans need help now and we cannot wait for the old Reagan trickle down theory which by the way only trickled down to CEO’s of large corporations,wall street tycoons and bankers.Let’s challenge the republicans to cut more taxes for individuals making under $250,000 which is what Obama wanted to do.Let’s challenge republicans to help put people back to work by adding money in the package to hire teachers in head start, in elementary schools, high schools and colleges. People need food on the table and need food stamps to help out. This is not about people spending money anymore, it is about people surviving. Some people need to go back at look at the movie or book “Grapes of Wrath” about the depression and perhaps they will truly understand where we are heading if we don’t learn to help one another. People need money for food, shelter,education and health insurance ( taking most of our money these days along with prescription costs). We need people to provide food, build homes and educate Americans. Isn’t that helping to put people back to work.When republicans say they don’t like big government spending then basically what they are saying is ” we don’t care if some people suffer’ as long as we maintain this way of life that people need to help themselves and not rely on government. If that is what Republicans truly want, then I suggest some senators stop getting government paychecks and resign from offices.Clearly, these senators do not understand the average Americans but don’t mind collecting a government check themselves at the same time they tell everyone us that we are on our own! I will remember who these republicans are in 2010 believe me! It is clear that the republicans are thinking only of leveraging themselves for the 2010 election. They do not care about average Americans. There is a growing gap between the rich and the rest of the Americans who wonder each day how they will make their budget work.
It is great to see that for most of us, we can have a debate in a civil manner.
To Heather Streeter:
Thank you for sharing your letter with us. You gave me a lot to think about. I may take you up on the idea and share your letter with representatives from my state.
I don’t think Obama will be a good president. Look what he has done so far.
I love the fact that so many are worried about USA becoming socialist. It already is, folks! We have capitalism for the poor & lower middle class – all the risks & socialism for the wealthy – all the reward. I almost died laughing when I heard about how hard all those financial (& to be fair other industry) CEOs work to deserve all their millions of dollars whether their company is “successful” or not!
i think food stamps should be increased lots of people need them there kids to have food to eat is that better than let them go hungray or what
Okay, I work for Head Start. It is a great, great program that is designed to help break the cycle of poverty. We sure could use the extra money right about now to keep doing our jobs. BUT, it should not be a part of stimulus. Come on, 13 odd dollars per week? That is nothing, the 119 Billion could be used someone else as a whole and do more. Food Stamps, education… are all important and need to be addressed and better funded. BUT, it should not be a part of stimulus. What needs to be done is cut all of that and only focus on what will immediately stimulate the economy, then after that crisis, work on all of those other very important things. That’s what I had already thought, before hearing some Republicans voice the exact same thing. The problem is simple, the Dems and Obama are adding everything but the kitchen sink to a bill and calling it Stimulus in order to get what ever they want. What happened to cutting the pork as promised.
Sorry, wanted to add one more thing. Instead of giving us all $400 (hence the $13 per week) over the next year, if they cut all the other stuff they could give everyone thousands, yes thousands. That would stimulate the economy because people would start spending again. One Trillion dollars goes a long way if you aren’t using it for a bunch of other pet projects.
You still have not removed opinions by Matt to me. Please remove immediately. I have called you previously! I will never again express an opinion again. Maxine DeSeta
Again, when you put in my web address the opinion next to my name is not mine.
why should we through away perfectly good food? why can’t we give it to pour people that don’t have the money to buy food.? its stupid that we don’t do that at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why are schools throwing away food? Why not give the leftovers to the homeless. It is stupid to waste food.It is just like thowing money away.We are just wasting money . The more food we waste the more money our state of california loses.
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I stumbled on your blog by accident and now I’m glad I did. As a roofer, I have to say I really enjoy the articles and posts you have here.
Thanks !
Harry
Hey – how can they (congress) afford to pay for the jet and other perks if they don’t make these cuts?
And you guys really believe the Democrats are any different? Open your eyes, please, for everyones sake. We have been sold out, period.
The Elite in control of our country (and the world for that matter) regardless of being Democrat, Republication, or Independent/other party serve one master. The greed of the rich. This accounts for just about all. There is a few that do not agree with this agenda of serving the rich, but they either get booted out of office or not elected at all. Oh and in the worse case killed, Such as JFK. There is not one government on earth in mans history that has not fallen to this plite and this will not change till the return of the Lord.
I know this is really boring and you are skipping to the next comment, but I just wanted to throw you a big thanks – you cleared up some things for me!
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