Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 2/25/09
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Promising to spend the money wisely…. Obama has four years to spend the money he hopes to raise over the next ten years….
Why do they always say "individuals" making $170K or $250K? The truth is – it is for couples – and in a state like New Jersey with the highest taxes in the Nation – $170K as a couple with a family does not go far!
I can't wait to David G's comment talking about Pres. Obama's plan!
Obama was a Senator few a few years himself and a big pork guy at that. How's is anyone to take him serious now when he says "no earmarks"? Time to find you gut ya'll. Every time this President speaks the markets drop. Where will we be when the market hits 5000? 3000?
I think all of the members in congress should be ashamed. I realize that we have to do something. But we keep coming up with these plans then giving them to corrupt big buisness. The wealthy keep getting more and the poor keep getting less. They Keep putting in earmarks upon earmarks and disregard the people of this country that put them in office. I think we need to install a handle on each side of the potomac one to flush washington representitives the other to flush out the lobbyists.
@Sharon: It actually hurts the "wealthy" too for the underclass to get too big. Not every person earning under $50,000 per years is a Food Stamp receipent or bum. And, those who may be askinhg for benefits in this ecomony – no longer earning anything – used to be earning $50K or more. My brother found that his old boss had applied for food stamps and, since the company tanked, he's entitled.
Sharon we are putting an end to the upward funneling of all weath, get your facts straight as to whats going on. As a self employed making under 100K my marginal rate is 50% with the self employment tax, here let me cry a tear for the person making over 250K that is going to pay an extra 3.9% on the money OVER 250k at a 39.5% rate.
I and all democrats will gladly split income tax into two parts the pay as you go part and the debt service on the president of your party, so anty up the republicans spend over 90% of the debt, for NOTHING except to keep taxes artificially low, and that day is over, if your rising star jindal the condescender becomes president and keeps his word he'll have to raise taxes or means test your social security to ballance the budget, after all republicans are fiscially conservative now, riiiiight
@Mike in Syracuse...The Bush administration added more to the deficit than all of the previous administrations combined, in JUST EIGHT YEARS.
Promising to spend the wisely.... Obama has four years to spend the money he hopes to raise over the next ten years....
Republicans earmarks are 40% of those attached to the bill while they are insisting that they have the same size staff as they had before they lost so many of their seats. Why aren't the Republicans calling out their own members? Why isn't Senator McCain calling out his sidekick, Lindsay Graham??
Wealthy seniors? Does that mean the men and women who actually worked and saved all their lives? What does that mean?
That is completely unfair!
I'm excited about healthcare reform! I can't wait!
@Mike: The big difference is that Obama's spending is going to help fix problems we can no longer ignore. I don't mind money going to reform healthcare–it's necessary. Billions for Iraq? Not so much.
Hey everybody and hey Anderson and Erica. I am so happy that Obama is finally taking care of healthcare something that many of us Americans need for our health.
Lindsay, Mobile, Al, The government is too big and under Obama it is getting bigger every day.
I think you should focus on the partisanship that happened at his speech where democrats stood up ad republicans sat down.
The sooner we face the reality that we are a bankrupt country, and act accordingly the better off we will be. Both parties are equally guilty for the mess we are in.
Hello bloggers! I never did care for the "Spreading the wealth" concept even if it is for those who make over $250K, but the wealthy should have a say on who gets their money! Do they have a voice?
Mike, if we get universal health care out of it, then it's worth it.
Sharon, since when are people making $250, 000+ considered "working class"? They can afford to help people who never had a shot at that.
The senate and gop's are going to fight Obama tooth and nail on this plan it's almost too good to be tru i hope he can reform things and bring change back
Anderson can you find from Ali how everyone will suffer from his neighbors failing morgage or healthcare plan? I'm confused as to how the middle class will benefit from this; those richer than the least but not quite rich enought to live for waste
Mike, the deficit under Bush wasn't an honest accounting. He hid the money being paid for the Iraq war, for starters.
I think Obama should just tell Congress he won't sign any budget if there is an earmark in it. I'm tired of them. If a Congress person wants money for something then introduce it as a bill in the proper way.
What the heck is up with our government and all of this spending. I suppose if you slap the label of "create jobs" and/or "alternative energy" on anything you get carte blanche to do whatever you want and spend as much as you want . . . I for one am disgusted with this whole thing and only hope that Obama will put his foot down on this wreckless spending by Congress !!!
The Democratic philosophy seems to be that it's the government job to protect everyone form everything, including the consequences of their own stupidity.
So let me get this right it is okay for Republicans to spend money on pet projects but not Democrats...whew glad I got that covered.
Mr. Velshi who do we owe all of this accrued and borrowed money to?
Anderson of Social Security when your guest is on can you ask him about how Social Security has had money taken from it for causes other than people's benefits being payed in and how that is a big problem to then say it is mandatory spending...what until they find a way to go into the fund for other means...that kind of mandatory.
As always people thanks,
Miranda
Hello ac360 and company .I think what mr Obama I has done for this country so is great
I don't agree with the dems spending frivolously, we need to spend what we have to spend and hold on to any money left for the next crisis that's right around the counter. On the other hand, the GOPs are such hypocrits, they lavishly spent under the Bush administration, which put us in this situation and now they're worried about spending. We have spent more on the war, we never should have ventured into than we are spending trying to save the country.
It would be nice to have a group of politicians who are like the pres. whose agenda is saving a country on life support.
Hi Anderson, Erica, Megan, Chris S., everyone blogging. Wow, cutting, reducing? prescription drug benefits for elderly who are wealth, and reducing tax deductions for people making over 234K a year can raise 634 billion. That sounds practicable.
Did I just understand that the Obama Administration is considering taking away or Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction? I am single, making 125k. So all this talk about "families that make under 250k is confusing, as no one tells us how it affects individuals.
I guess one man's earmark is another man's community improvement project.
The working class and middle clas poor people need to have refoirm in healthcare and jobs . I hope they can recieve umepmloyment benifits too .
Mike in NY,
I agree! You're right! I never thought that before...... it blow my mind!
Anderson,
I think President Obama is on the mark in dealing with the health care problems. It was not to long ago when the auto industry was negotiating with the UAW in order to drop health care benefits for retirees because they were just to expensive.
Good evening Anderson and fellow bloggers!
Anderson,
Test stress on banks. How is that?
It's equivalent to the stress test in computer systems – simulation in various scenarios in abnormal conditions?
Such tests go until April? May?
And until there, as is the situation?
$950,000 for a convention center in Mertyll beach… what a deal!
Those two little darlings are America's little girls. So precious to see. They remind me of my 32 year old baby girl. LOL
CaseyJ, Trickle down economics is classic Reagan. I didn't know you were Republican.
Oh, Mike (syracuse) can you ever say anything positive? I need Xanax just listening to you. How would YOU solve the crisis?
aww..Mrs First Lady..I do the same thing..as every parents should..
My little sister would love any improvement in health care, she has a wonky pancreas, and her pills (of which there is no generic) cost $800 each time she needs a refill.
Both democrats and republicans share the blame for all these pet projects. I wish they would take the President's advice and reconsider their actions. I hope the President can use his veto power on some of these projects. The real problem in washington seems to be congress.
There aren’t enough rich people to pay for all of these programs and now Obama is trying to nickle and dime the seniors?
Seniors making over 170K year.
That's different from seniors making 10K or 20K a year...
@Mike in Syracuse...I think you're on to something regarding potentially raising the retirement age. I see many, many retirement age people working that don't have to. BUT, that's not a long-term fix. The system will simply catch-up again (until the retirement age gets raised to 100 I suppose!).
It's impossible to prevent all earmarks as the individuals requesting them obviously don't view them as such. The issue is really regarding a lack of sense of fiscal responsibility. To just tag the problem with the title "earmarks" ignores the scope and heart of the issue.
$950,000 for a convention in Mertyll beach... what a deal
Here let me shed a tear for the retired person making 170K/year with subsidized medicine, And most americans make a quarter of that with no health insurance? give me a break, they want to be buried with that money or what? fair is fair and 1 in 8 americans without access to healthcare is not fair right or profitable for business
This earmark spending is so selfish on the representative part! What don't they understand about Pres. Obama's demand for zero pork? I hope those earmarks will be taken out!
I agree with Obama's plan to put caps on the wealthy senoirs they can afford to pay for thier healthcare good it's about time!