Stimulus reduction

This stimulus plan looks like it may pass. But it is already being compromised mightly.

Check out some of the cuts: Fuller list here.

Total Reductions: $80 billion

Eliminations:

Head Start, Education for the Disadvantaged, School improvement, Child Nutrition, Firefighters, Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, Prisons, COPS Hiring, Violence Against Women, NASA, NSF, Western Area Power Administration, CDC, Food Stamps

Reductions:

Public Transit $3.4 billion, School Construction $60 billion

Increases:

Defense operations and procurement, STAG Grants, Brownfields, Additional transportation funding

 

Hmmmm, education and children take a hit. This is beginning to look like a Republican bill. Why did we give 700 million to Wall Street [which went unaccounted for] but now propose to cut all of this out?

Anyway, if it passes Obama will get the credit by the press. Politically this is a good thing for Obama. However, we can do better.

 

 

Comments

[Harmony Orthia]

They're cutting it out because it has nothing to do with actual stimulus. While some of them are very good causes, they don't deserve to get it through the guise of economic stimulus. They can and should be brought up through different means.

A lot of politicians are throwing all of their pet projects on to the package because they know that it will be pushed through with little objection. You know, political business as usual that we were promised would end. 

[Kipuka]

Yes, true. Except the cuts to education are too bad. It's a compromise of sorts. Problem is few Republicans will be voting for this thing and [in my opinion] The Democrats should have put in the most progressive package imaginable and dared the Republicans to filibuster it. They wouldn't have because filibusters are rare. However now the bill is compromised and most of the Republicans still won't vote for it. So it is not really a win. See what I'm saying? Politically you should never give an inch if you have both Houses. The Republicans tend to be tougher than most Democrats on that point.