RWNJ Conservative Views from Cincinnati

The Democrats are forging ahead to have an immediate vote on the $780 Billion stimulus package.  This will mean they will back out of a promise they made to give the American people and members of Congress 48 hours to review the package.  According to Drudge Report, Rep. Culberson (D-TX) is claiming that the vote must be made today because Rep Pelosi has an 8 day trip to Europe planned.

The bill has swelled to 1071 pages.  Representatives do not have the appropriate time needed to review the bill, which was first made available at 10:45PM Thursday.  As seems to be the pattern in the new administration, urgent action is more important than thorough review.  Personally, I’ve never liked any legislation to be rammed through quickly, regardless of who is pushing it.  Though the economic situation is unpleasant, it can wait some time for a real review of this bill.  This isn’t a situation, such as an attack on our country, that demands a purely reactionary response.

If you want to see the bill, it is available here.  I have had no success downloading it due to the heavy traffic the site is experiencing.  It seems that the “chattering class” is interested in this bill after all!

One comment, what do you think?

Posted under Economy

It appears that there has been an agreement reached between the House and Senate on the stimulus bill.  Yahoo has a summary article.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Cost: $780 Billion – That’s an increase of about 7.3% to the National Debt.
• Breakdown: 1/3 Tax Cuts and 2/3 Spending
• Medicaid: $90 Billion to help states with funding – something that should have been in a separate bill.
• Education: $10 Billion on program to assist low-income students – another for a separate appropriations bill.
• Infrastructure: $150 Billion – $50 Billion of that is transportation infrastructure.
• Tax Cuts: $400/year credit that applies to 95% of workers – Yes, that’s our direct share out of the $780 Billion bill.
• Timeline: Some construction projects could begin in 90 days – unfortunately, no details on how soon the jobs will end.

It is disappointing to still see a lot of items that should have been in separate appropriations bills.  Many such items could stand on their own merit instead of being tagged onto an ‘emergency stimulus bill’.  I guess it goes to show that there isn’t a bill that a politician can’t find a way to stick a rider to.

One comment, what do you think?

Posted under Economy