The words this soldier says brought tears to my eyes. Those in power right now are chipping away at every freedom we hold dear. They are killing our Constitution and changing our country one act at a time and most of America is SLEEPING.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Shortcomings in Oversight of Stimulus Spending?
Ya think it might be difficult, no impossible, for the government to figure out who's doing what with the stimulus (porkulus) package dollars? How 'bout controlling the money once it leaves the government printing press and lands in the coffers of various agencies and local governments? Hmmm... Is there any sane, straight-thinking person in the world who actually thinks that the government is capable of good oversight when it comes to spending our tax dollars?
Social Security. Welfare. The IRS. TARP. Anyone want to raise your hand and say the government is doing a good job in any of those areas?
Huge bureaucracy begets lack of communication, fraud, nepotism, favoritism, sloppiness, waste and the list goes on.
Now the prez wants to add more layers of bureaucracy and wants to increase government. He's also printing money like it came on rolls of toilet tissue. And, he's consolidating power in Washington DC so fast it should scare the pants off every American citizen who cares about our country.
Putting Joe-what number is the website for oversight please-Biden in charge would be considered comedy if this weren't such a serious matter.
Mr. Obama is playing games with our heads. He is saying one thing and then doing another. He's telling his media minions what they want to hear and keeping the general masses appeased with rhetoric.
Do you really think he's serious about oversight? Do you really think the government is capable of oversight? Do you really think he intended there to be good oversight?
Max Stier does a great job of pointing out many of the shortcomings in the purported oversight of porkulus in the following article in the Washington Post:
Serious Shortcomings in Obama's Oversight of Stimulus Spending
The $787 billion economic stimulus package has raised serious questions about the ability of our federal government to fulfill its basic duties, and will require more than just the close scrutiny promised by the Obama administration.
Hardly a day goes by without a headline disclosing the failure of a federal agency to carry out its mission because it is short-staffed, under-resourced and ill-equipped, or poorly managed. These are conditions that will inevitably worsen as the government is asked to dispense billions of dollars in stimulus money as quickly as possible.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022503083.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
Social Security. Welfare. The IRS. TARP. Anyone want to raise your hand and say the government is doing a good job in any of those areas?
Huge bureaucracy begets lack of communication, fraud, nepotism, favoritism, sloppiness, waste and the list goes on.
Now the prez wants to add more layers of bureaucracy and wants to increase government. He's also printing money like it came on rolls of toilet tissue. And, he's consolidating power in Washington DC so fast it should scare the pants off every American citizen who cares about our country.
Putting Joe-what number is the website for oversight please-Biden in charge would be considered comedy if this weren't such a serious matter.
Mr. Obama is playing games with our heads. He is saying one thing and then doing another. He's telling his media minions what they want to hear and keeping the general masses appeased with rhetoric.
Do you really think he's serious about oversight? Do you really think the government is capable of oversight? Do you really think he intended there to be good oversight?
Max Stier does a great job of pointing out many of the shortcomings in the purported oversight of porkulus in the following article in the Washington Post:
Serious Shortcomings in Obama's Oversight of Stimulus Spending
The $787 billion economic stimulus package has raised serious questions about the ability of our federal government to fulfill its basic duties, and will require more than just the close scrutiny promised by the Obama administration.
Hardly a day goes by without a headline disclosing the failure of a federal agency to carry out its mission because it is short-staffed, under-resourced and ill-equipped, or poorly managed. These are conditions that will inevitably worsen as the government is asked to dispense billions of dollars in stimulus money as quickly as possible.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/25/AR2009022503083.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Obama's Proposed Budget Would Create $634B Health Care Fund
Obama's Proposed Budget Would Create $634B Health Care Fund
President intends to release a budget tomorrow that would create a 10-year, $634 billion “reserve fund” to partially pay for a vast expansion of the U.S. health system, an overhaul that many experts project will cost as much as $1 trillion over the next decade.
President intends to release a budget tomorrow that would create a 10-year, $634 billion “reserve fund” to partially pay for a vast expansion of the U.S. health system, an overhaul that many experts project will cost as much as $1 trillion over the next decade.
Democracy vs Republic form of government
I saw this on our newest member's blog, http://feedyouradhd.blogspot.com. I need to put a warning on visiting the blog though, there's a photo that hits you right between the eyes when you first go that almost had me closing the browser window, thought I'd gone to the wrong place. It fits with the blog he wrote, but still, this is not a photo I'd want my children to see. It's not a bad blog or anything but that one photo is rather risque to put it delicately.
OK, now tell the truth, how many of you just had to click the link to the blog to see what I was talking about? We just can't help ourselves, can we?
OK, now tell the truth, how many of you just had to click the link to the blog to see what I was talking about? We just can't help ourselves, can we?
Must reads on card-check, Obama agenda and more
Obama Unbridled
The President has only begun to expand the government.
Holman W. Jenkins Jr.: Obama Needs a 'Not To Do' List
The global economic crisis is exposing the president's preoccupations as the soppy indulgences they always were.
Blue Dogs seek Senate cover on card-check By Kevin Bogardus
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate may have the upper chamber strike first on a controversial labor bill, which would protect conservative Blue Dog Democrats from a tough vote. READ MORE
Michelle Malkin: Those Foreclosure "Victims" Deserve No Sympathy It shouldn't be long before ACORN recruits "Octomom" Nadya Suleman to serve as the radical left-wing group's foreclosure poster child.
Thomas Sowell: "Not One of Us" If Barack Obama has been the most remarkable phenomenon of the recent political scene, Sarah Palin must be second.
And, from Real Clear Politics (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/02/msnbc_oh_god.html):
(If the video doesn't work, go here: http://en.sevenload.com/videos/FwkTc86-MSNBCer-Says-Oh-God-Before-Jindal-Reponse)
The President has only begun to expand the government.
Holman W. Jenkins Jr.: Obama Needs a 'Not To Do' List
The global economic crisis is exposing the president's preoccupations as the soppy indulgences they always were.
Blue Dogs seek Senate cover on card-check By Kevin Bogardus
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate may have the upper chamber strike first on a controversial labor bill, which would protect conservative Blue Dog Democrats from a tough vote. READ MORE
Michelle Malkin: Those Foreclosure "Victims" Deserve No Sympathy It shouldn't be long before ACORN recruits "Octomom" Nadya Suleman to serve as the radical left-wing group's foreclosure poster child.
Thomas Sowell: "Not One of Us" If Barack Obama has been the most remarkable phenomenon of the recent political scene, Sarah Palin must be second.
And, from Real Clear Politics (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/02/msnbc_oh_god.html):
(If the video doesn't work, go here: http://en.sevenload.com/videos/FwkTc86-MSNBCer-Says-Oh-God-Before-Jindal-Reponse)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Another Lobbyist Set to Join Administration
Obama's nominee for U.S. Trade Representative squeezes through lobbying loophole.
From ABC News' Jake Tapper
On first blush, Ron Kirk, the former mayor of Dallas and President Obama's nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, could seem as though he has an enormous impediment standing in his way to the Cabinet: President Obama's high standards against lobbyists in his Cabinet.
As recently as last year, Kirk was a lobbyist for investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., and President Obama has said no one can work in his administration on issues they lobbied on in the previous two years.
http://www.aim.org/don-irvine-blog/another-lobbyist-set-to-join-administration/
From ABC News' Jake Tapper
On first blush, Ron Kirk, the former mayor of Dallas and President Obama's nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, could seem as though he has an enormous impediment standing in his way to the Cabinet: President Obama's high standards against lobbyists in his Cabinet.
As recently as last year, Kirk was a lobbyist for investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., and President Obama has said no one can work in his administration on issues they lobbied on in the previous two years.
http://www.aim.org/don-irvine-blog/another-lobbyist-set-to-join-administration/
Friday, February 20, 2009
Banking Bailout vs Homeowner Bailout
I ranted last night about the newest bailout Mr. Obama is shoving down our throats (can you tell it wasn't a positive rant?). Rick Santelli's comments has started a taxpayer rally that is spreading like wildfire and I am on the bandwagon!
Someone left a comment on my post asking where I was when the government wanted to bailout the banks.
I was right here, same place. I was calling my elected officials telling the NO, NO, NO.
I have no idea where Rick Santelli was or what he thought about it.
I know that when all of this first started most of us were stunned. I don't know about you guys, but I didn't see the magnitude. My way of handling it would never have been to throw money at the problem.
Our government knew the problem started with housing, yet they chose to throw money at banks first? TARP is and was a fiasco. I will say however, that I do not agree with putting caps on salaries. I think it's fine to give the money and say that it can ONLY be used to give out loans to businesses and individuals, but I am NOT for nationalizing our banks.
Many point fingers at President Bush. Yep, he was right in there with Congress saying we have to do something. But you know what? They split the money and left it up to the Obama administration to decide whether to hand out the rest.
They did, and they mortgaged our kids future to add even more money that doesn't exist to the pile.
Then they heaped even more on with this irresponsible reward program for people who shouldn't be in the houses they're losing in the first place.
They are busily growing government at a clip that should scare the average person.
Rick Santelli's unscripted, from-the-heart rant has given ALL of us a voice. We've been out here yelling and screaming, writing and complaining. We've been calling our elected officials. We've been trying but no one has been listening. They're ignoring us.
The housing bailout for deadbeats (and yes, some who lost jobs and tried honestly and valiantly) may just be the straw that broke the camels back. The last crack in the dam.
I hope that video is on every blog in America by the end of the day. I hope everyone who's been frustrated with what's been going on stands up and yells loud and clear.
There is no difference between this bailout, the trillion dollar spending bill or TARP. They are ALL wrong.
Someone left a comment on my post asking where I was when the government wanted to bailout the banks.
I was right here, same place. I was calling my elected officials telling the NO, NO, NO.
I have no idea where Rick Santelli was or what he thought about it.
I know that when all of this first started most of us were stunned. I don't know about you guys, but I didn't see the magnitude. My way of handling it would never have been to throw money at the problem.
Our government knew the problem started with housing, yet they chose to throw money at banks first? TARP is and was a fiasco. I will say however, that I do not agree with putting caps on salaries. I think it's fine to give the money and say that it can ONLY be used to give out loans to businesses and individuals, but I am NOT for nationalizing our banks.
Many point fingers at President Bush. Yep, he was right in there with Congress saying we have to do something. But you know what? They split the money and left it up to the Obama administration to decide whether to hand out the rest.
They did, and they mortgaged our kids future to add even more money that doesn't exist to the pile.
Then they heaped even more on with this irresponsible reward program for people who shouldn't be in the houses they're losing in the first place.
They are busily growing government at a clip that should scare the average person.
Rick Santelli's unscripted, from-the-heart rant has given ALL of us a voice. We've been out here yelling and screaming, writing and complaining. We've been calling our elected officials. We've been trying but no one has been listening. They're ignoring us.
The housing bailout for deadbeats (and yes, some who lost jobs and tried honestly and valiantly) may just be the straw that broke the camels back. The last crack in the dam.
I hope that video is on every blog in America by the end of the day. I hope everyone who's been frustrated with what's been going on stands up and yells loud and clear.
There is no difference between this bailout, the trillion dollar spending bill or TARP. They are ALL wrong.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Go Rick, Go! Kudos to Rick Santelli
Rick Santelli said what most of us have been thinking on CNBC - namely that this bailout of irresponsible people who bought more house than they can afford stinks to high heaven.
Sure, there are some that lost their jobs and they're struggling. But many of us who are managing to pay our house payments are struggling, too. The government pushed people who couldn't afford a house into mortgages they were never going to be able to handle. All because they wanted to make sure everyone, whether they were responsible or capable, could own a house.
Well, I have news for the President. Not everyone can handle a house payment. Not everyone "deserves" a house. It's a responsibility.
I rented for years while I scraped together the money to buy a house. A catastrophe happened and I had to use that money for an emergency regarding my son. I had a nice rental house, was happy as I could be in it. Sure, I wanted to own, but it didn't happen for many, many years.
When I bought, I figured out what I could afford. I factored in house maintenance, emergencies, and other things. When I went to buy my house as a single mom, I was told I could buy much more house than I had decided I could handle.
I said thanks, but no thanks.
Many people didn't.
Now, because they got in over their heads I am supposed to bail them out?
It's bad enough that we're going to be stuck with the future-killing stimulus bill.
Rick Santelli is my hero. He said what I'd be saying if I had a platform to say it that would reach millions. We need more Santelli's. We need a nation-wide tea party.
Take the poll: Would You Join Santelli's "Chicago Tea Party?"
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29283701
- ab
Sure, there are some that lost their jobs and they're struggling. But many of us who are managing to pay our house payments are struggling, too. The government pushed people who couldn't afford a house into mortgages they were never going to be able to handle. All because they wanted to make sure everyone, whether they were responsible or capable, could own a house.
Well, I have news for the President. Not everyone can handle a house payment. Not everyone "deserves" a house. It's a responsibility.
I rented for years while I scraped together the money to buy a house. A catastrophe happened and I had to use that money for an emergency regarding my son. I had a nice rental house, was happy as I could be in it. Sure, I wanted to own, but it didn't happen for many, many years.
When I bought, I figured out what I could afford. I factored in house maintenance, emergencies, and other things. When I went to buy my house as a single mom, I was told I could buy much more house than I had decided I could handle.
I said thanks, but no thanks.
Many people didn't.
Now, because they got in over their heads I am supposed to bail them out?
It's bad enough that we're going to be stuck with the future-killing stimulus bill.
Rick Santelli is my hero. He said what I'd be saying if I had a platform to say it that would reach millions. We need more Santelli's. We need a nation-wide tea party.
Take the poll: Would You Join Santelli's "Chicago Tea Party?"
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29283701
- ab
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Obama signs the stimulus...
Great animation on Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/telnaes/telnaes_main.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
If they attempt card check and the fairness doctrine there may be an uprising before 2010.
If they attempt card check and the fairness doctrine there may be an uprising before 2010.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
NFRW Letter to Editor Campaign re: Stimulus
National Federation of Republican Women Announces a Letter-To-The-Editor Campaign
Questionable Or Non-Stimulative Spending in the American Recovery and Reinvenstment Act
NFRW is hosting a letter-to-the-editor campaign concerning the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). Use the facts below to help you get started.
Although the bill has passed, many Americans do not know nor understand that this bill passed having questionable or non-stimulative spending. Let Americans know that the Democrats passed a bill that is clearly questionable and that they should take responsibility for a mistake that will cost Americans billions of dollars.
Questionable or Non-Stimulative Spending in the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1)
-$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
-$2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, providing funds to organizations such as ACORN, which has been accused of practicing unlawful voter registration in recent elections
-$10 million for the inspection of canals in urban areas
-$100 million for grants to small shipyards
-$198 million to authorize payments to certain Filipino veterans from WWII
-$300 million for the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program
-$2 billion to support the manufacturing of advanced vehicle batteries
-$1 billion for Community Development Block Grants
-$1.3 billion for Amtrak, including $450 million for a new rail security grant program not included in either the House-passed or the Senate-passed bills
-$300 million for federal procurement of plug-in and fuel efficient vehicles
-$8 billion for a High Speed Passenger Rail Program, after the House did not include any funding for the program and the Senate included $2 billion, which will fund at least one project from Las Vegas to Los Angeles
-$15 million for historic preservation at historically black colleges and universities
-$170 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to research the cause, effects and ways to mitigate climate change
- $200 million for Americorps and other paid "volunteerism" programs
-$400 million for NASA to accelerate climate research missions
-$5.5 billion for federal buildings (GSA), including $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings into "high-performance green buildings" and $450 million for a new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security
-$210 million for a new grant program to modify and upgrade local fire stations
-$142 million for the Coast Guard to alter or remove 4 obstructive bridges
-$25 million for the Smithsonian Institution for maintenance backlogs
-$1 billion for expenses in conjunction with the 2010 decennial census
-$650 million for Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupons
-$1 billion for a Prevention and Wellness Fund, which can be used for sexually transmitted disease (STD) education and prevention programs at the CDC
-$500 million to replace a 30-year old computer system at the Social Security Administration
-$500 million for a health professions training program-funding which an earlier committee report said were allocated because, "a key component of attaining universal health care reform will be ensuring the supply of primary care providers."
Need More Facts?
Download complete summary.
Need Help Writing a Letter-To-The Editor?
Download summary.
Questionable Or Non-Stimulative Spending in the American Recovery and Reinvenstment Act
NFRW is hosting a letter-to-the-editor campaign concerning the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). Use the facts below to help you get started.
Although the bill has passed, many Americans do not know nor understand that this bill passed having questionable or non-stimulative spending. Let Americans know that the Democrats passed a bill that is clearly questionable and that they should take responsibility for a mistake that will cost Americans billions of dollars.
Questionable or Non-Stimulative Spending in the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1)
-$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
-$2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, providing funds to organizations such as ACORN, which has been accused of practicing unlawful voter registration in recent elections
-$10 million for the inspection of canals in urban areas
-$100 million for grants to small shipyards
-$198 million to authorize payments to certain Filipino veterans from WWII
-$300 million for the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program
-$2 billion to support the manufacturing of advanced vehicle batteries
-$1 billion for Community Development Block Grants
-$1.3 billion for Amtrak, including $450 million for a new rail security grant program not included in either the House-passed or the Senate-passed bills
-$300 million for federal procurement of plug-in and fuel efficient vehicles
-$8 billion for a High Speed Passenger Rail Program, after the House did not include any funding for the program and the Senate included $2 billion, which will fund at least one project from Las Vegas to Los Angeles
-$15 million for historic preservation at historically black colleges and universities
-$170 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to research the cause, effects and ways to mitigate climate change
- $200 million for Americorps and other paid "volunteerism" programs
-$400 million for NASA to accelerate climate research missions
-$5.5 billion for federal buildings (GSA), including $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings into "high-performance green buildings" and $450 million for a new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security
-$210 million for a new grant program to modify and upgrade local fire stations
-$142 million for the Coast Guard to alter or remove 4 obstructive bridges
-$25 million for the Smithsonian Institution for maintenance backlogs
-$1 billion for expenses in conjunction with the 2010 decennial census
-$650 million for Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupons
-$1 billion for a Prevention and Wellness Fund, which can be used for sexually transmitted disease (STD) education and prevention programs at the CDC
-$500 million to replace a 30-year old computer system at the Social Security Administration
-$500 million for a health professions training program-funding which an earlier committee report said were allocated because, "a key component of attaining universal health care reform will be ensuring the supply of primary care providers."
Need More Facts?
Download complete summary.
Need Help Writing a Letter-To-The Editor?
Download summary.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Government Contractors
Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at The White House in D.C. One from New Jersey, another from Tennessee and the third, from Florida. They go with a White House Official to examine the fence.
The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. 'Well,' he says, 'I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'
The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, 'I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'
The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, '$2,700'
The official, incredulous, says, 'You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?'
The New Jersey contractor whispers back, '$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence.'
'Done!', replies the government official.
And that, my friends, is how it all works !!!
The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. 'Well,' he says, 'I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'
The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, 'I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me.'
The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, '$2,700'
The official, incredulous, says, 'You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?'
The New Jersey contractor whispers back, '$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence.'
'Done!', replies the government official.
And that, my friends, is how it all works !!!
To Stimulate Economy, Obama Should Revive Reagan-Era Initiative, Law Professor Says
To Stimulate Economy, Obama Should Revive Reagan-Era Initiative, Law Professor Says
The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA) offers a blueprint for fiscal stimulus that would be far more effective than the stimulus package currently before Congress, says Bill Brown, a visiting professor of the practice of law at Duke University.
The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA) offers a blueprint for fiscal stimulus that would be far more effective than the stimulus package currently before Congress, says Bill Brown, a visiting professor of the practice of law at Duke University.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
This is the voice of our future? our present? Another Obama voter speaks...
The "logic" behind the pundit piece from The Hill (below) is... not just scary, it's non-existent. He certainly doesn't understand what's in the so-called "stimulus" package, so I'm guessing he gets his news in soundbites from the mainstream media at best.
I'm not much older that this writer and in my opinion, this is the voice of someone who 1) thinks the world owes them something 2) thinks the world owes them something and 3) thinks the world revolves around them. Oh, and they also don't understand economics, what's going to happen when the bill comes due, that the money has to come from somewhere, that there are consequences for actions now, that debt compounds, that inflation happens, and, and, and, sputter, sputter.
I can't believe The Hill featured this one!
When Matt Hardigree grows up, if he ever does, he's going to look back on this pundit post and be embarrassed. That is if he doesn't turn into one of those blustering blow-hards who never admits they're wrong. Or if he doesn't get so wrapped up in a liberal cocoon that he never touches reality again.
He'll argue with me now, but believe me, there will be a point in the future when he is living with the consequences of the stimulus vote, and others coming on its heels, and he will wish he had been on the other side - even if he never admits it publicly.
Debt I'm OK With — It's the Bridge Collapse Death Scenario that Makes Me a Bit Uncomfortable
by Matt Hardigree
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called the stimulus package before Congress generational theft. Which is true. But I'm the generation you're stealing from and I'm giving you a pass on this one, OK? It's nice of you, being not of my generation by what we'll charitably call a small margin, to think about me, but we're all totally cool with this. You can have Cindy Google it. This is why I voted for the other guy. Is it really theft if you ask someone to take it from you?
I'm really pleased you considered me, especially since you were so happy to send my friends and family to die in a war you can't explain; you totally de-funded education so I had to work four jobs to get through college without mountains of debt; and you prioritized defense spending over transit so I've got to drive everywhere.
Being merely a quarter-centry old, and given what the actuarial tables say about my chances, I'm just the person in the crosshairs of this debt. I'll likely be paying taxes for the next five decades, which is something you can't say about a lot of the Republican decisionmakers. And with Democratic decisionmakers, you can't be sure they've ever paid taxes at all.
Even more so, the infrastructure built will be the infrastructure I use my entire life. The power grid built will provide the power I use to heat my house and recharge my iPhone. Those jobs will create my wealth and help start the companies I invest my retirement in. And because of that I can say this: I'm OK with the debt. Put it out of your mind. I'd rather inherit the debt than die in a fiery crash because you thought I was too cheap to invest in a few roads. I want bridges that don't fall apart.
More importantly, I want schools for my kids so they aren't cramped in a tiny classroom with 400 other kids. But hey, some moderate Dems and Reps came in and saved us from $16 billion for school construction, $1 billion for Head Start and an additional $40 billion to help states pay for education costs. Apparently, being a "moderate" means not giving a crap about kids.
But hey, I'll still get the middle-class tax cut. I can take my $500 share and get together with a few thousand other people and we'll build a school. Right? That's how it works? Oh, it doesn't? Bummer.
You know what's generational theft? NOT taking some money from us to invest in schools, roads and infrastructure so we'll have the same opportunities and facilities you had as adults. We, the future generation between the ages of 18 and 39, voted for the other guy by a margin of more than 2-to-1. We voted in such high margins we got a black guy from Chicago with a Hebrew first name, Muslim middle name and an inability to bowl elected president. For this.
By depriving us of what we need, and what we clearly asked for, you're stealing from my generation. Stop being a generational thief, John McCain.
Your generation got the space program funded by government investment, countless Pulitzer Prize-winning plays funded by government investment and some pretty sweet interstates funded by government investment. We've got Twilight, buckling highways and Pluto isn't even a planet anymore. You owe us one.
COMMENT ON THIS POST
-ab
I'm not much older that this writer and in my opinion, this is the voice of someone who 1) thinks the world owes them something 2) thinks the world owes them something and 3) thinks the world revolves around them. Oh, and they also don't understand economics, what's going to happen when the bill comes due, that the money has to come from somewhere, that there are consequences for actions now, that debt compounds, that inflation happens, and, and, and, sputter, sputter.
I can't believe The Hill featured this one!
When Matt Hardigree grows up, if he ever does, he's going to look back on this pundit post and be embarrassed. That is if he doesn't turn into one of those blustering blow-hards who never admits they're wrong. Or if he doesn't get so wrapped up in a liberal cocoon that he never touches reality again.
He'll argue with me now, but believe me, there will be a point in the future when he is living with the consequences of the stimulus vote, and others coming on its heels, and he will wish he had been on the other side - even if he never admits it publicly.
Debt I'm OK With — It's the Bridge Collapse Death Scenario that Makes Me a Bit Uncomfortable
by Matt Hardigree
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called the stimulus package before Congress generational theft. Which is true. But I'm the generation you're stealing from and I'm giving you a pass on this one, OK? It's nice of you, being not of my generation by what we'll charitably call a small margin, to think about me, but we're all totally cool with this. You can have Cindy Google it. This is why I voted for the other guy. Is it really theft if you ask someone to take it from you?
I'm really pleased you considered me, especially since you were so happy to send my friends and family to die in a war you can't explain; you totally de-funded education so I had to work four jobs to get through college without mountains of debt; and you prioritized defense spending over transit so I've got to drive everywhere.
Being merely a quarter-centry old, and given what the actuarial tables say about my chances, I'm just the person in the crosshairs of this debt. I'll likely be paying taxes for the next five decades, which is something you can't say about a lot of the Republican decisionmakers. And with Democratic decisionmakers, you can't be sure they've ever paid taxes at all.
Even more so, the infrastructure built will be the infrastructure I use my entire life. The power grid built will provide the power I use to heat my house and recharge my iPhone. Those jobs will create my wealth and help start the companies I invest my retirement in. And because of that I can say this: I'm OK with the debt. Put it out of your mind. I'd rather inherit the debt than die in a fiery crash because you thought I was too cheap to invest in a few roads. I want bridges that don't fall apart.
More importantly, I want schools for my kids so they aren't cramped in a tiny classroom with 400 other kids. But hey, some moderate Dems and Reps came in and saved us from $16 billion for school construction, $1 billion for Head Start and an additional $40 billion to help states pay for education costs. Apparently, being a "moderate" means not giving a crap about kids.
But hey, I'll still get the middle-class tax cut. I can take my $500 share and get together with a few thousand other people and we'll build a school. Right? That's how it works? Oh, it doesn't? Bummer.
You know what's generational theft? NOT taking some money from us to invest in schools, roads and infrastructure so we'll have the same opportunities and facilities you had as adults. We, the future generation between the ages of 18 and 39, voted for the other guy by a margin of more than 2-to-1. We voted in such high margins we got a black guy from Chicago with a Hebrew first name, Muslim middle name and an inability to bowl elected president. For this.
By depriving us of what we need, and what we clearly asked for, you're stealing from my generation. Stop being a generational thief, John McCain.
Your generation got the space program funded by government investment, countless Pulitzer Prize-winning plays funded by government investment and some pretty sweet interstates funded by government investment. We've got Twilight, buckling highways and Pluto isn't even a planet anymore. You owe us one.
COMMENT ON THIS POST
-ab
New bailout, next $350B, usual suspects
President Obama's administration has a new plan for the $700 billion financial rescue package, but is relying on some of the same old people to implement it. READ MORE
Monday, February 09, 2009
Money Monitor
Each week, the RSC Money Monitor tracks how bills passed by the House affect authorizations, mandatory spending, and federal government revenue.
Authorizations
Five-year cost of authorizations passed by the house this week: $130.3 million
H.R. 748 (Campus Safety Act): $13.8 million
H.R. 549 (FAST Redress Act): $5.5 million
H.R. 559 (National Bombing Prevention Act) $111.0 million
Five-year cost of authorizations passed by the House this year: $150.3 million
Mandatory Spending
Five-year change in mandatory spending passed by the House this week: $0
Five-year change in mandatory spending passed by the House this year: $333.4 billion
Appropriations
One-year cost of appropriation passed by the House this week: $0
One-year cost of appropriations passed by the House this year:
Fiscal Year 2008: $0
Fiscal Year 2009: $276.9 billion
Fiscal Year 2010: $66.5 billion
Fiscal Year 2011: 4.1 billion
Revenue
Five-year change in revenue passed by the House this week: $0
Five-year change in revenue passed by the House this year: $177.7 billion
Authorizations
Five-year cost of authorizations passed by the house this week: $130.3 million
H.R. 748 (Campus Safety Act): $13.8 million
H.R. 549 (FAST Redress Act): $5.5 million
H.R. 559 (National Bombing Prevention Act) $111.0 million
Five-year cost of authorizations passed by the House this year: $150.3 million
Mandatory Spending
Five-year change in mandatory spending passed by the House this week: $0
Five-year change in mandatory spending passed by the House this year: $333.4 billion
Appropriations
One-year cost of appropriation passed by the House this week: $0
One-year cost of appropriations passed by the House this year:
Fiscal Year 2008: $0
Fiscal Year 2009: $276.9 billion
Fiscal Year 2010: $66.5 billion
Fiscal Year 2011: 4.1 billion
Revenue
Five-year change in revenue passed by the House this week: $0
Five-year change in revenue passed by the House this year: $177.7 billion
Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN-06) to Introduce Truth in Accounting Act
Rep. Bachmann’s Truth in Accounting Act will require the federal government to fully disclose its spending obligations—money Congress has already agreed to spend in future years—in the U.S. Treasury’s annual Financial Report to achieve government transparency and accountability that does not exist today. Traditional fiscal measures such as debt held by the public, deficit projections over short, 5 or 10 year periods, or 75-year estimates of Social Security and Medicare shortfalls do not fully account for all of the government’s spending commitments. The bill would provide a fuller and fairer picture of existing budget deficits and the growing fiscal burden facing every American. (Read more)
RedState: Hypocritical House Democrats’ Trillion Dollar Fiscal Obscenity
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11)
Unable to defend the trillion dollar fiscal obscenity they deceitfully christened the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, hypocritical House Democrats are attacking the bill’s opponents – well, just the Republican ones. Evidently, the hypocritical House Democrats are shocked Americans are disgusted by a trillion dollar fiscal obscenity that does much for hiking artists who are trying to stop smoking and avoid STDs, but does nothing – or worse than nothing – to create jobs for working families and respect taxpayers. (Read more)
Unable to defend the trillion dollar fiscal obscenity they deceitfully christened the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, hypocritical House Democrats are attacking the bill’s opponents – well, just the Republican ones. Evidently, the hypocritical House Democrats are shocked Americans are disgusted by a trillion dollar fiscal obscenity that does much for hiking artists who are trying to stop smoking and avoid STDs, but does nothing – or worse than nothing – to create jobs for working families and respect taxpayers. (Read more)
Washington Times: French Solutions Not the Right Solution for U.S.
So what are we getting for our $500 billion? Basically just a grab bag of non-stimulative liberal spending priorities, such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Americorps, climate research, and yes, it's hard to believe, even a $25 billion down-payment on government-run health care. What about all the wonderful tax cuts supposedly in the bill? This will surprise readers who are not familiar with Washington double-talk, but there is actually not a single income tax cut in the bill. (Read more)
by Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04)
by Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04)
Sunday, February 08, 2009
As if TARP and Stimulus didn't spend enough funny money
We're all so focused on the stimulus that we're overlooking other spending that is in the works or soon to be in the works. Democrats have another $410 billion already scheduled to be considered AFTER they stuff the stimulus down our throats. I think these people have lost touch with reality. It's funny money. Print it, spend it, play with it. Fun fun. Whoo hoo.
I want to know why in this time of open and transparent government that Obama's Democrats won't let the Republicans or the rest of us see what's coming next. Not funny.
GOP Challenges House Democrats to Release Omnibus Details
House Republican leaders on Tuesday called for public release of the proposed omnibus package that would include the nine remaining spending bills for fiscal 2009.
Less than an hour earlier, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters the House is unlikely to consider the omnibus until later in the month, after the Presidents Day recess... The remaining nine spending bills total about $410 billion.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090203/pl_cq_politics/politics3023225_5
- ab
I want to know why in this time of open and transparent government that Obama's Democrats won't let the Republicans or the rest of us see what's coming next. Not funny.
GOP Challenges House Democrats to Release Omnibus Details
House Republican leaders on Tuesday called for public release of the proposed omnibus package that would include the nine remaining spending bills for fiscal 2009.
Less than an hour earlier, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters the House is unlikely to consider the omnibus until later in the month, after the Presidents Day recess... The remaining nine spending bills total about $410 billion.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090203/pl_cq_politics/politics3023225_5
- ab
Why I oppose the "stimulus"
I had a comment on an earlier blog which chided me for not realizing the strong need for a stimulus package. A quick stimulus package. They noted the unemployment figures and other data which could be fixed or helped with a stimulus package.
For me, the operative word is 'could'. Who knows if it will help.
We rushed through TARP 1 and it did nothing. It was a waste of billions of dollars. In fact, they can't even figure out where $78 billion ended up. Tomorrow, Monday, they'll be asking for TARP, part 2. I understand there's a TARP three in the works, too. Not to mention the huge omnibus package of even MORE spending totaling in the neighborhood of $410 billion. That's $410 BILLION above and beyond TARP and the trillion dollar stimulus package.
I saw a bit today where one of the Senators showed a graphic of a trillion dollars stacked, not end to end flat. It would wrap around the globe, the world, thirty-nine, 39, times. You've probably heard that if you spent a million dollars a day from the day Jesus was born until now that you STILL wouldn't hit a trillion dollars.
We're talking real money here. It's hard to grasp. It's even harder to imagine what printing up that much money with nothing to back it up will do to our economy a few years down the road.
Economists are split over whether this stimulus package will help, hinder or be neutral when it comes to alleviating the current problems we face as a nation. Those who think it might help are split over whether it will help enough, is overkill or timely.
It stands to reason that if the best minds of our day don't know the impact, Congress sure doesn't. If they don't know, rational thought would beg that they go slow. Another few days isn't going to put the economy over a cliff.
The stimulus package is full of programs that have nothing, nada, zip, to do with stimulating the economy.
Why not split out all the controversial stuff? Vote on those programs separately. Why not implement the things that 75% or more of the Senate can agree upon? Why not stick to Mr. Obama's own requirements of targeted and fast working (my paraphrase)?
The stimulus bill is full of NEW government programs that will have even more of the country on some form of "welfare". I don't think more government intrusion into our lives is the answer, I think it will create problems.
So much of what is being funded in this bill will require long-term maintenance. Most of it is not self-supporting projects, they do not create revenue, they need to be on continual life-support.
Almost everyone agrees this is going to create run-away inflation and when the bill comes due for the stimulus, we'll be in an even bigger hole.
I think we need some help. I just disagree with the help that's being offered. We do NOT need MORE government. The jobs being created should be private sector jobs, not government jobs. We don't need to fix up lawns, fund research, or do a large, large percentage of the things that have been stuffed into this gargantuan Christmas package.
I also think that what is REALLY going on here is that we're in the "honeymoon" period and the Democrats know this is the time to ram everything through they want. They have the perfect cover given the urgency of our economic problems. A month, two months, six months down the road the public will be watching and it will be hard to slide some of the things in this "stimulus" package past us.
If you'd like to find out more about what's in the stimulus package to here:
www.readthestimulus.org
Go here to take action against the stimulus package:
www.nostimulus.com
http://www.tcunation.com/ - links to the three Republicans who are voting FOR the bill
http://moveovermoveon.posterous.com - info on all Senators, info on the bill and ways to get involved in stopping
For me, the operative word is 'could'. Who knows if it will help.
We rushed through TARP 1 and it did nothing. It was a waste of billions of dollars. In fact, they can't even figure out where $78 billion ended up. Tomorrow, Monday, they'll be asking for TARP, part 2. I understand there's a TARP three in the works, too. Not to mention the huge omnibus package of even MORE spending totaling in the neighborhood of $410 billion. That's $410 BILLION above and beyond TARP and the trillion dollar stimulus package.
I saw a bit today where one of the Senators showed a graphic of a trillion dollars stacked, not end to end flat. It would wrap around the globe, the world, thirty-nine, 39, times. You've probably heard that if you spent a million dollars a day from the day Jesus was born until now that you STILL wouldn't hit a trillion dollars.
We're talking real money here. It's hard to grasp. It's even harder to imagine what printing up that much money with nothing to back it up will do to our economy a few years down the road.
Economists are split over whether this stimulus package will help, hinder or be neutral when it comes to alleviating the current problems we face as a nation. Those who think it might help are split over whether it will help enough, is overkill or timely.
It stands to reason that if the best minds of our day don't know the impact, Congress sure doesn't. If they don't know, rational thought would beg that they go slow. Another few days isn't going to put the economy over a cliff.
The stimulus package is full of programs that have nothing, nada, zip, to do with stimulating the economy.
Why not split out all the controversial stuff? Vote on those programs separately. Why not implement the things that 75% or more of the Senate can agree upon? Why not stick to Mr. Obama's own requirements of targeted and fast working (my paraphrase)?
The stimulus bill is full of NEW government programs that will have even more of the country on some form of "welfare". I don't think more government intrusion into our lives is the answer, I think it will create problems.
So much of what is being funded in this bill will require long-term maintenance. Most of it is not self-supporting projects, they do not create revenue, they need to be on continual life-support.
Almost everyone agrees this is going to create run-away inflation and when the bill comes due for the stimulus, we'll be in an even bigger hole.
I think we need some help. I just disagree with the help that's being offered. We do NOT need MORE government. The jobs being created should be private sector jobs, not government jobs. We don't need to fix up lawns, fund research, or do a large, large percentage of the things that have been stuffed into this gargantuan Christmas package.
I also think that what is REALLY going on here is that we're in the "honeymoon" period and the Democrats know this is the time to ram everything through they want. They have the perfect cover given the urgency of our economic problems. A month, two months, six months down the road the public will be watching and it will be hard to slide some of the things in this "stimulus" package past us.
If you'd like to find out more about what's in the stimulus package to here:
www.readthestimulus.org
Go here to take action against the stimulus package:
www.nostimulus.com
http://www.tcunation.com/ - links to the three Republicans who are voting FOR the bill
http://moveovermoveon.posterous.com - info on all Senators, info on the bill and ways to get involved in stopping
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Good info re: what's in the stimulus package
While things have changed some since this article was written on Thursday, there's still a lot of good info on the ridiculous items included in the stimulus bill. If they wanted to stimulate the economy, they could just do a jobs package. Some tax relief and some help for the housing industry. Period. All this other stuff has nothing to do with stimulating the economy. It's simply a mechanism to consolidate power under the Democrats. We will regret this bill.
50 De-Stimulating Facts
Chapter and verse on a bad bill.
By Stephen Spruiell & Kevin Williamson
Senate Democrats acknowledged Wednesday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill in its current form. This is unexpected good news. The House passed the stimulus package with zero Republican votes (and even a few Democratic defections), but few expected Senate Republicans (of whom there are only 41) to present a unified front. A few moderate Democrats have reportedly joined them.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YjcyODIyZGM2MGU1ZDdkNDgxZDc3OTNjYjM4ZDY1ODI=
50 De-Stimulating Facts
Chapter and verse on a bad bill.
By Stephen Spruiell & Kevin Williamson
Senate Democrats acknowledged Wednesday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill in its current form. This is unexpected good news. The House passed the stimulus package with zero Republican votes (and even a few Democratic defections), but few expected Senate Republicans (of whom there are only 41) to present a unified front. A few moderate Democrats have reportedly joined them.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YjcyODIyZGM2MGU1ZDdkNDgxZDc3OTNjYjM4ZDY1ODI=
Obama: Pork Happens
FRC: Last year, Sen. Barack Obama proposed more than $331 million worth of earmarks to the Appropriations Committee on Illinois's behalf. As CNN says, that was last year. On January 6, 2009, the President-elect pledged to change his ways. He vowed to the American people that the stimulus plan would be pork-free. "We are going to ban all earmarks," he insisted.
What a difference a month--and some public resistance--make. Realizing that his recovery package wasn't headed toward a fairy-tale ending, Obama did what mortal politicians do. He broke his promise. During his speech to the House Democrats' retreat yesterday, Obama returned to politics as usual. "[T]here's the argument, well, this is full of pet projects. When was the last time that we saw a bill of this magnitude move out with no earmarks in it? Not one," he said to applause. "So then you get the argument, well, this is not a stimulus bill--this is a spending bill. What do you think stimulus is?"
In his must-read column today, "The Fierce Urgency of Pork," Charles Krauthammer highlights the President's warning that if Congress doesn't act on the stimulus, the crisis would become "a catastrophe." "So much for the president who in his inaugural address two weeks earlier declared 'we have chosen hope over fear.' Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill."
Although Republicans have tried to strip some excess from the stimulus, Democrats had a small victory of their own yesterday, defeating Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) amendment to ban religious discrimination from the bill by a 43-54 vote. Only Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) deserted the GOP to side with her liberal pals in opposing the provision.
To hear more about the stimulus--straight from the elephant's mouth--please tune in to Washington Watch Weekly for my one-on-one conversation with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). He'll help us break down the bill. Later, our own Dr. Pat Fagan will discuss Obama's socialized health care plan. For a station listing, show schedule, or to subscribe by podcast, visit www.frcradio.com.
Additional Resources
The Washington Post: The Fierce Urgency of Pork
From Family Research Council, www.frc.org
What a difference a month--and some public resistance--make. Realizing that his recovery package wasn't headed toward a fairy-tale ending, Obama did what mortal politicians do. He broke his promise. During his speech to the House Democrats' retreat yesterday, Obama returned to politics as usual. "[T]here's the argument, well, this is full of pet projects. When was the last time that we saw a bill of this magnitude move out with no earmarks in it? Not one," he said to applause. "So then you get the argument, well, this is not a stimulus bill--this is a spending bill. What do you think stimulus is?"
In his must-read column today, "The Fierce Urgency of Pork," Charles Krauthammer highlights the President's warning that if Congress doesn't act on the stimulus, the crisis would become "a catastrophe." "So much for the president who in his inaugural address two weeks earlier declared 'we have chosen hope over fear.' Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill."
Although Republicans have tried to strip some excess from the stimulus, Democrats had a small victory of their own yesterday, defeating Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) amendment to ban religious discrimination from the bill by a 43-54 vote. Only Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) deserted the GOP to side with her liberal pals in opposing the provision.
To hear more about the stimulus--straight from the elephant's mouth--please tune in to Washington Watch Weekly for my one-on-one conversation with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). He'll help us break down the bill. Later, our own Dr. Pat Fagan will discuss Obama's socialized health care plan. For a station listing, show schedule, or to subscribe by podcast, visit www.frcradio.com.
Additional Resources
The Washington Post: The Fierce Urgency of Pork
From Family Research Council, www.frc.org
Friday, February 06, 2009
Romney: Stimulate the economy, not government
These are extraordinary times, and like a lot of Republicans I believe that a well-crafted stimulus plan is needed to put people back to work. But the Obama spending bill would stimulate the government, not the economy.
We're on an economic tightrope. The package that passed the House is a huge increase in the amount of government borrowing. And we've borrowed so much already that if we add too much more debt, or spend foolishly, we could invite an even bigger crisis.
We could precipitate a worldwide crisis of confidence in America, leading to a run on the dollar or hyperinflation that wipes out family savings and devastates the middle class.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/06/romney.stimulus/index.html
We're on an economic tightrope. The package that passed the House is a huge increase in the amount of government borrowing. And we've borrowed so much already that if we add too much more debt, or spend foolishly, we could invite an even bigger crisis.
We could precipitate a worldwide crisis of confidence in America, leading to a run on the dollar or hyperinflation that wipes out family savings and devastates the middle class.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/06/romney.stimulus/index.html
Thursday, February 05, 2009
ALG President Urges Senate to Reject “Stimulus” as Public Turns against Trillion Dollar Spending Bill
Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today urged members of the Senate to vote against the trillion dollar spending bill currently being considered amidst public opinion polls showing increased opposition to the legislation's measures.
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is going to ram the bill through before support drops to the single digits. It's a race,” Wilson said.
Rasmussen Reports released a poll yesterday showing only 37 percent of the American people supporting the legislation, with 43 percent now opposed. This follows an increasing wave of opposition to the bill, which passed the House last week with a price tag of $819 billion, or $1.2 trillion over a decade with interest.
“This trillion dollar spending spree by Congress to claim they 'did something' for the economy is a rotting carcass,” said Wilson.
“The public is growing wise to what their Congress is up to, and they know it stinks,” Wilson added.
Wilson noted that even if the legislation does pass the Senate today, it will not reach the President's desk until next week the earliest.
“The House and Senate still would need to reconcile their two bills in a conference committee,” Wilson said. “And if past experience is any indication, the bill, which already contains plenty of wasteful provisions that will not stimulate sustainable economic growth, will only get worse.”
The bill contains provisions to balance state government budgets, expand Medicaid, boost education spending, food stamps and unemployment benefits, build federal buildings, provide more for public housing, construct climate change supercomputers, erect trade barriers overseas, create refundable tax credits, and other provisions that Wilson believes are “nothing more than special interest handouts.”
Yesterday, 18 free market and limited government leaders released a joint letter critical of provisions in the legislation already passed by the House of Representatives.
“They need to know that there is still time to tell their Senators to vote 'no', and that even if the bill passes today, there will still be yet more time to tell both the House and the Senate to vote 'no' on the conference report,” Wilson added.
Wilson believes that by that time, public opposition and protest against the legislation will reach a fever pitch.
“Time is not on Congress' side right now. And there will undoubtedly be political consequences for anyone that votes for this trillion dollar turkey,” Wilson concluded.
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is going to ram the bill through before support drops to the single digits. It's a race,” Wilson said.
Rasmussen Reports released a poll yesterday showing only 37 percent of the American people supporting the legislation, with 43 percent now opposed. This follows an increasing wave of opposition to the bill, which passed the House last week with a price tag of $819 billion, or $1.2 trillion over a decade with interest.
“This trillion dollar spending spree by Congress to claim they 'did something' for the economy is a rotting carcass,” said Wilson.
“The public is growing wise to what their Congress is up to, and they know it stinks,” Wilson added.
Wilson noted that even if the legislation does pass the Senate today, it will not reach the President's desk until next week the earliest.
“The House and Senate still would need to reconcile their two bills in a conference committee,” Wilson said. “And if past experience is any indication, the bill, which already contains plenty of wasteful provisions that will not stimulate sustainable economic growth, will only get worse.”
The bill contains provisions to balance state government budgets, expand Medicaid, boost education spending, food stamps and unemployment benefits, build federal buildings, provide more for public housing, construct climate change supercomputers, erect trade barriers overseas, create refundable tax credits, and other provisions that Wilson believes are “nothing more than special interest handouts.”
Yesterday, 18 free market and limited government leaders released a joint letter critical of provisions in the legislation already passed by the House of Representatives.
“They need to know that there is still time to tell their Senators to vote 'no', and that even if the bill passes today, there will still be yet more time to tell both the House and the Senate to vote 'no' on the conference report,” Wilson added.
Wilson believes that by that time, public opposition and protest against the legislation will reach a fever pitch.
“Time is not on Congress' side right now. And there will undoubtedly be political consequences for anyone that votes for this trillion dollar turkey,” Wilson concluded.
Monday, February 02, 2009
StimulusWatch.org
Want to see where the money's going? The site doesn't appear to track it all, but it's very interesting. You can vote on the projects and leave comments. I just took a quick look so will need to look a bit closer to see later in the day when I have more time, but wanted to share. Thanks to Moms for Sarah Palin (http://moms4sarahpalin.blogspot.com) for sharing this link in her blog. Here's some info from the site:
Congress and the President are getting ready to spend billions of dollars to try to stimulate the economy. As a result, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has responded by releasing a list of "shovel-ready" projects in cities around the country that the mayors would like to see funded.
President Obama, however, has promised to spend stimulus dollars only on critical projects.
"What we need to do is examine what are the projects where we're going to get the most bang for the buck [and] how are we going to make sure taxpayers are protected," he has said. "You know, the days of just pork coming out of Congress as a strategy, those days are over."
StimulusWatch.org was built to to help the new administration keep its pledge and to hold public officials to account. We do this by allowing you, citizens around the country with local knowledge about the proposed projects in your city, to find, discuss and rate those projects.
The project was started by Jerry Brito after Eileen Norcross pointed out to him the opportunity the mayor's report presented. Jerry herded cats on the project and contributed the graphic design. The development of the site was lead by Peter Snyder, who coded the site in PHP and MySQL and implemented the MediaWiki integration. Peter was assisted by Kevin Dwyer, who helped scrape and format the report data.
Its creators are:
Jerry Brito, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. His research has focused on government transparency and accountability, specifically how the internet can be harnessed to crowdsource the task of keeping officials accountable. You can read his paper on the subject, "Hack, Mash, and Peer: Crowdsourcing Government Transparency," (PDF) pubilshed by the Columbia Science & Technology Law Review. His personal site is jerrybrito.org.
Kevin Dwyer, Senior Computer Scientist at White Oak Technologies, Free Software contributor, and GNU/Linux zealot. Also a Pythonista, Kevin writes about the science of computers and beer at http://squareone.pheared.net.
Eileen Norcross, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her research has focused on state and local budgets, economic development, and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. For more information, you can read her paper, "The Community Development Block Grant: Does it Work?"
Peter Snyder, contract programming. He specializes in Web 2.0 projects and Cocoa programming in Chicago, IL. He can be contacted about projects or comments at snyderp@gmail.com, or at his website www.peteresnyder.com. You can read is daily thoughts at snyderp.tumblr.com.
Again, this is an independent website that is not affiliated or connected to any organization including the developers' employers.
Congress and the President are getting ready to spend billions of dollars to try to stimulate the economy. As a result, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has responded by releasing a list of "shovel-ready" projects in cities around the country that the mayors would like to see funded.
President Obama, however, has promised to spend stimulus dollars only on critical projects.
"What we need to do is examine what are the projects where we're going to get the most bang for the buck [and] how are we going to make sure taxpayers are protected," he has said. "You know, the days of just pork coming out of Congress as a strategy, those days are over."
StimulusWatch.org was built to to help the new administration keep its pledge and to hold public officials to account. We do this by allowing you, citizens around the country with local knowledge about the proposed projects in your city, to find, discuss and rate those projects.
The project was started by Jerry Brito after Eileen Norcross pointed out to him the opportunity the mayor's report presented. Jerry herded cats on the project and contributed the graphic design. The development of the site was lead by Peter Snyder, who coded the site in PHP and MySQL and implemented the MediaWiki integration. Peter was assisted by Kevin Dwyer, who helped scrape and format the report data.
Its creators are:
Jerry Brito, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. His research has focused on government transparency and accountability, specifically how the internet can be harnessed to crowdsource the task of keeping officials accountable. You can read his paper on the subject, "Hack, Mash, and Peer: Crowdsourcing Government Transparency," (PDF) pubilshed by the Columbia Science & Technology Law Review. His personal site is jerrybrito.org.
Kevin Dwyer, Senior Computer Scientist at White Oak Technologies, Free Software contributor, and GNU/Linux zealot. Also a Pythonista, Kevin writes about the science of computers and beer at http://squareone.pheared.net.
Eileen Norcross, senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her research has focused on state and local budgets, economic development, and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. For more information, you can read her paper, "The Community Development Block Grant: Does it Work?"
Peter Snyder, contract programming. He specializes in Web 2.0 projects and Cocoa programming in Chicago, IL. He can be contacted about projects or comments at snyderp@gmail.com, or at his website www.peteresnyder.com. You can read is daily thoughts at snyderp.tumblr.com.
Again, this is an independent website that is not affiliated or connected to any organization including the developers' employers.
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