Stimulus Bill moves to Senate
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/22/art.capitol.dome.cnn.jpg]
President Obama's economic stimulus plan cleared its first hurdle, but it was hardly the bipartisan victory he hoped for — not a single House Republican broke ranks to support it.
In fact, 11 Democrats also voted against the $819 billion package.
But a win is a win, and so the White House strategy is to take the long view: Maybe the Senate will take out more of the controversial pork projects and tweak the tax cuts to win over more Republicans.
The full Senate will vote on its version next week. Should the Senate and House pass different versions, the two bills would have to be conferenced together. Then both chambers would have to vote on the new conference version in the coming weeks.
"I do think it is so important that we slow this bill down in order to do it right," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.
Senate GOP sources report that there is a "real split" in the GOP caucus about the best way to proceed in the wake of Wednesday's vote in the House.
In case you're dying to read through the 647-page text of the Stimulus Bill that passed in the House yesterday, we thought we'd give you easy access. Click here to wade through the details.
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Raw Politics |
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I would like to see a break down of all those recieving money from this "stimulus" package. And then I would like an explaination of how each one of those listed to recieve money will create American jobs and stimulate our economy. It is so typical of government to use the"hurry,hurry,hurry" and the "we don't have time to sit down and think" scare tacticts to win the short term support of the American people and get their politically selfish agendas passed and shoved down our throats. People need to sit down, quit watching main stream TV and study the issues on their own and make informed decisions. It blows me away to talk to people who have a staunch oppinion of an issue but have no idea what the issue is all about. COME ON AMERICA, quit being lazy and quit forming your oppion base on the evening news. Take time to research the FACTS and study them out in your mind using your best moral compass as a guide and you will find out quickly that we are heading down a very dangerous road. This country OWES you nothing. This country was built on BLOOD,SWEAT AND TEARS. FREE-BE'S ARE FOR SOCIALISTIC COUNTRIES THAT FAIL.....NOT SUCCEED. HAPPINESS comes from working hard and being self reliant. IDLENESS creates misery, fear and hopelessness. We don't need our government (who can't run any program without bankrupting it or ruining it) controling everything we try to do.
If Obama truly wants bipartisan support for this stimulous package then why not remove ALL of the funding for non-stimulating programs which should be included in the annual bugget. He says they are inexpensive and we should overlook them because the core is good. So why not submit the core and not the pork. He would get a lot more bi-partisan support.
I am very proud of our 11 democrats that voted against this insane stimulus bill because they at least vote the way most of the people in there district wanted them to.
I believe that the package will be undermined by the level of the Us dollar.
If you want to start the economy let the dollar fall by about 30%.
Do it by design...make it public...dont let it happen and be attributed to external forces...
The sad thing about this congress is your vote doesnot count anymore. This congress just seems to vote the way Nancy Pelosi and gang wants them to vote rather than what the majority of the real people in the real world want.
I want to be certain the money moves the enonomy, but I wonder why there's so much objection to what people are calling pork. Whether it's remodeling Capitol buildings or supporting the arts (or Heritage in Canada) don't these projects involve workers earning money? I'd like less derision and more light on what the money was intended to fund. Foreman's piece last night implied – rather pointedly – that the projects cut were all baloney. Sorry, but were any of them really fluff? Planting a new lawn is grunt work that pays wages. Developing and delivering training on STDs is done by real people with families to feed.
Is the objection to anything that doesn't pay factory workers? Will an administrative assistant in a museum keep her job because of an NEA stimulus? I spent my life in peripheral jobs that apparently wouldn't be considered "real work."
I wonder what our economy outlook would be if the "bail out" money went to financial institutions who have managed their money well over the past few years. Maybe we wouldn't need to "save" Citibank, Bank of America, etc...
I keep seeing cnn reporting on the 2-3 % of the stimulus bill that appears to be fluff. Why don't you tell us about the hopeful other 98%. We voted for Obama because we want to start seeing the glass half full.
I say take all that money, almost 2 trillion dollars and give the most to families that have paid the most income tax, and give the least to the families that have paid the least income tax. Boy oh boy would that stimulate the economy in an instant. Come on liberals, lets hear it, I know you would want to reverse that formula.
Vernon
Lancaster,Ca.
there is 4 to5 millon tax payers give them each 1 million dollars that
will stiulate just that fast stop giving the money to the bill colectors
lets pay them
I think republicans made mistake by voting against the stimulus package. Now I think it is time for the democrats to add more infrastructure to the plan and pass it. I think infrastructure is a good way to stimulate the economy....and a good way for all of American to benefit in the process. Good for our economic system and good for the future of our country to have some much needed "repair work" done. Go for it democrats. The door has been held open for you by the republicans.
In listening to all the possible plans for the stimulus package and how it will create new jobs my questions are: Who are these jobs being created for? Will these new jobs be for the middle class that lost their jobs and may not have the education requirements that will be required? With unemployment for some running out again will there be another extention? How will this plan actual work for those in the bottom 40% with no experieince in these newly developed jobs? Yes We Can but How Will It?
Unemployed in NY
Too easy to say that any spending creates jobs. Obama promised thoughtful debated effort before taking action. Where's the smart thinking behind how this bill will truly create jobs in areas that are truly hurting now? What relevance does "reaching out" have if it lacks negotiation and compromise?
This bill doesn't make any sense. There is nothing in it to make people who have money to want to spend it or invest it in the economy. They should of had something where the government would give a 5,000 dollar voucher to buy a new car, so more people would buy new cars. A new car cost around 25,000 dollars so someone would have to invest there own 20,000 dollars into the economy which would net a total of 25,000 dollars into the economy then just putting 5,000 dollars in food stamps into the economy. I understand that we should help people in need but they should of had a different bill for that. This was suppose to be a stimulus bill for the economy so shouldn't we try to maximize the money in the bill to try and generate as much money as we can into the economy?
I was disappointed and saddened to see that $50 million dollars to the National Endowment to the Arts was considered a waste of money in the stimulus plan. Yes, it has no immediate impact to the economy, but the success of the programs that receive money from the NEA is invaluable. The Arts are an indispensable component to having a successful culture and it seems to me that the Arts need to be taken more seriously in this country. Perhaps President Obama should have an advocate of the Arts in his cabinet. Secretary of Arts!
Left, center, & right leaning television shows agree on one thing… both parties in Congress blew it. Earmarks are a waste and Americans don't want or like them. If an idea should be funded, then Senators and Congressmen need to let it stand on its own merit, or fall from its own weight. Rest assured, many would not be funded.
Were all Congressional Bills required to immediately go on the Internet for public disclosure, with the original and all changes dated, it is likely that many would never make it out of either House. Accountability should be a must… look at Wall Street. After all, nothing is, or should be, free.
Deep tax cuts will provide immediate stimulus.
Low interest, possibly even government backed, LOANS, (yes, loans!) to AMERICAN citizens to purchase American manufactured items that lower energy consumption such as heating and air conditioning units, and high dollar appliance will provide increased manufacturing, wholesale, transportation, and retail employment.
With less household money spent on utilities more will be available.
My comment is simple we need a great deal more in the package about "Making Energy for America". It's a must. Remember we send 700 b dollars out of this country every year. Keep it in the USA. Remember $4.00/gal gas.
Wall Street bonus recipients ought to qualify for the imposition of an "excessive bonus tax". Similar to a gas guzzler tax to purchase, say, a V12 mercedes, why not impose a 96% retroactive tax rate on any bonus in excess of say $250,000. The tax code should be designed in such a way as to enable those funds to be tagged and rediverted toward more legitimate economic stimulation.
There is too much waist in this bailout package. There is not enough accountability. I hope more democrats join in the vote NO. I will not vote for any lawmaker who votes yes to this "stimulus" package. Our economy is going to be hurt for many years to come with such a huge deficit.
We need more tax cuts. This does NOT include giving money to people who don't pay taxes! And should not include rewarding illegal aliens with financial benefits.
Here's a stimulus package for you: Pay each taxpayer $2,000,000. First thing, the govt gets half back in taxes (so much for bad debt). Each taxpayer can pay off their mortgage, buy a new car from the Big Three, bolster their retirement and mutual funds and start all over again, debt free. That is helping Main Street, not giving the Fat Cats more money to squander. After seeing the Bills in the stimulus pkg., I hardly see where I'll be helped.
Why don't you tell us about the Obama adivsor who studied the Democratic Stimulus Plan and also studied the House Republican's plan and determined that the Republican plan will create twice as many jobs for a lot less money? Also, I find it disingenuous for the President to "demonstrate" that he is reaching out to Republicans for their support when the Democratic Stimulus Plan is more like a Democrat's Christmas list than a true bipartisan reflection of the values of both Democrats and Republicans. My husband and I fear the loss of his job and our ability to fulfill our financial obligations. I am really not interested in providing STD education, funding the arts, or most of the spending in the plan. We just want a plan that actually stimulates the economy, creates jobs, and secures the jobs that we have.
Stimulus bill needs alot of work.
1. Earmarks or stimulus package.
2. $7.7 billion of upgrading federal buildings. How will that stimulate economy ?
3. $600 million on climate monitors. Not sure where you shop, but you can a thermometer cheaper than that.
4. $200 million on volcano monitoring. We aren't spending money because we fear an eruption ???
5. STD education $200 millon. People aren't working because they have syphyllis ? Are you serious ?
Great change. It may have been better when the government wasn't transparent when this plan is called a stimulus package.
This is like trying to fight a fire with gasoline! In the end the extream left have found themselves in the catbird seat. For the average person our current economic condition is a mystery...perfect time for the extream left to attack and use our fears to pass all kinds of legislation that moves us further from capitolism and much closer to socialism. It sure is easy to push socialism when you've already got millions in the bank.And why wouldn't you? Keep the citizens financially equal and you will forever live in the upper class. You've basically eliminated your competition!
What people don't understand is that you have to let these big corps fail and learn their lessons so they can come back sronger...the left doesn't want them coming back stronger because in the end those stronger business folk will pass the left financially.
Yeah sure the economic stimulus packaged passed, but not with out congress adding on a "buy american" clause which completely violates all trade laws and rules of NAFTA. I think that a trade war is the last thing that the global economy needs at this point, somthing that should have been learned from the last great depression. Banning steel imports alone will cost Canada about 7 Billion..... is this legal?
Anderson, we just saw for the first time on your show where this money is going. My wife and I voted for these guys & I can't believe how they are going to waste our money. Better luck next time.
Wrong...Wrong...Wrong. When are we the tax payors going to wake up. The US has long term problems being solved by short term people who after one term get full retirement and healthcare. We Amercia must wake up soon, or it is over.
As a young American who was able to vote in my first election, I am saddened and appalled by the blatant refusal of the Republicans to work with our President. They are acting like a bunch of sore losers not only because we have a Democratic President but also because they have lost control of everything. It is an outrage that President Obama is doing everything in his power to reach across party lines and form an all inclusive government. The Republicans are simply proving that they don't care about the American people. All they care about is doing politics as usual. I know one thing, this retreat that they are going on to try and stir up more trouble for our president better not be paid for with my taxpayer money!
I'd like to see the bill cut in two with the stimulus part in one bill and the infrastructure repair in another. I'm seriously concerned that in trying to push this bill through so fast it may be more pork than anything else and that there won't be a good plan to fix the infrastructure. Our infrastructure fixes are badly needed and far to important to be an afterthought and done poorly – where are the accountability measures for this and the targets the projects have to report on to show they are making good progress. Its good that Obama is trying to do something early to help the economy – wait too long and any efforts won't be as effective and will cost more – but we shouldn't cripple our infrastructure rebuild by making it a footnote in this bill.
How about a new “bottom-up” approach to a stimulus plan? Actually take the allocated money and pay off every mortgage in effect on January 20, 2009. Put a cap of $100,000 on each home. If less than that is owed on a mortgage, pay only the amount owed. This money would be paid directly to the mortgage companies, thereby putting needed money in banks and financial institutions across all of America, not just in the pockets of mega-investment firms. Responsible homeowners would be rewarded for their good financial habits and perhaps use their freed up money equally responsibly to help shore up the economy by purchasing needed items or creating new jobs. Homeowners on the verge of foreclosure would have additional months to find a job, refinance, or sell their homes.
I believe this plan would help all Americans across the entire country, not just those that happen to work in a few “chosen” stimulus areas. For once it would give aid to those who have made the most of their money in the past and are the most likely to make wise decisions on how to spend it to make the economy turn around. At the same time, it would help those who are in the worst circumstances.
Basically, this is a very simple plan. It may take a short time to total all the outstanding mortgages, but I believe in the end, it would not cost that much more than the amounts being poured into the current bailouts and planned controversial pork projects in select areas. It would be a win for financial institutions, homeowners, and in the long run, the economy.
My stimulus plan –
step 1. Big government crackdown on separating out welfare cheats from truly needy people
step 2. remove aforementioned welfare cheats from the payroll
step 3. ask all illegal aliens in America to leave the country
step 4. give jobs formerly held by illegal aliens to any American wanting a job and/or to above-mentioned former welfare recipients
We may need some stimulous but we definitly don't need all the pork barrel spending this bill has. I have always been an idependent but if this pork barrel bill goes through then I will never vote for a democrat again and I'm sure I'm not alone. Also school repairs are the responsibility of Stae and Local government not federal.
What I hope is that these Senators actually read this thing before voting blindly for a package that has so much extra that will do nothing to help the economy but sure will stuff the pork projects, keep the special interests happy, and stroke Obama's ego at our literal expense. I"m a Republican. I am all for helping us more forward. But we don't move forward by funding STD prevention and schools in an economic stimulus package. We don't move forward by planting grass at the National Mall or attempting to fix the US infrastructure in a haphazard manner. There's a time and place to address those issues. This isn't it. Now is the time to move jobs to the US, support business here at home, support citizens trying to make ends meet, and stop placating and pandering to big business milking us for every dollar they can use to live the high life while our citizens can't pay their bills. I do find it amusing that Dems are screaming the Republicans are to blame, but who has been in charge of Congress for the last couple of years and done nothing to help us get out of the spiral? When we point a finger, four more point back at us. I think the president should actually use the intelligence he supposedly has, rethink this bill, and create something acceptable to those who want real change and movement forward-not just lip service, feel good rhetoric, and same-old, same-old Democratic party games. Honestly, will a cocktail party at the White House really influence anybody?
I just hope the pork gets cuts from both Obama's Pkg and our Canadian Budget/Recovery/What Stimulus Plan? Ours gives 60 mil to Culture and Heritage! allowances for Home Reno Credits that are a huge figure but sliced into by 46 million Canadians won't repair one window per family!! Like what are they thinking? Don't answer that or we may all be in the same pot as Blago.
The vote yesterday just shows how insignificant the republicans are. Not one person in the GOP voted for Obama’s stimulus package and it still passed. President Obama should just ignore the GOP and let them fade away from existence.
House Republicans turn down stimulas? The message Republicans are sending to average Americans is that they don't want to help us. Old politics as usual. I hope none of them have family members who lost a job. I once heard a republican is always a republican until he loses his job and then he turns democrat.