Obama Team Offers Concessions On Stimulus In Talks With Senate Dems

President-elect Barack Obama tried Sunday to shore up support in Congress for his ambitious economic policies, with his top advisers offering concessions on his economic-stimulus proposal and preparing to detail conditions for how the incoming administration will spend the second half of the $700 billion financial rescue package.

Emerging from a two-hour meeting in the Capitol with Obama advisers Lawrence Summers and Jason Furman, Senate Democrats praised the President-elect's team for agreeing to make changes to its stimulus proposal based off of concerns senators raised last week at a meeting with the president-elect's senior aides.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[tdubssurf]

They say we now live a "post-partisan" world. The phrase implies that in 2009 we have all risen to a practical, solutions-based approach to politics that flies above your garden variety partisan rancor. If anything the past few months have shown us nothings changed.

http://www.caivp.org/article/issues/2009/2/10/looking-bi-partisanship-post-partisan-world

[Chaimirija]

what i love is how we all are supposed to make a sacrifice

in other words we pay for THEIR mistakes

WE PAY FOR THEM SREWING US

[PhilipTaylor]

It is the Wall Street WAY!

Wall Street makes the FEES and Profits and $100 Christmas Bonuses put in banks in other countries (IS for one)!

We cover the Massive Corruption in the PONZI SCAM of the "BANK"STERS (Gan_gsters) that resulted in their holding their OWN MANUFACTURED NEAR WORTHLESS PAPER victims now refuse to buy.

This is 100 Mad off Sch emes in one!

[Carolab]

So they focus on Bernard and then we don't have to focus on the REAL Ponzi scheme at work globally.

[PhilipTaylor]

Yes Carol! Tricks!

On your comment about AC LU, found this:

For argument sake, let's assume the ACLU is correct. Let's assume that the ACLU is justified in its thre ats against communities that mix re ligion and government. After all, the ACLU says any cooperation between chu rch and state is un-Cons titutional.

That puts both America and the rest of the free world in real trouble. As a case in point, imagine that no matter what your rel igious per suasion, you may very well believe as I do that US Gov a id given to IS is morally right, politically prudent, and Cons_titutionally sound.

Why is the ACLU silent on this bla tant vio lation of ACLU policy, cooperation and support between our gov ernment and the reli gious state of IS? We aren't talking about some small-town display of the T_en Com mandments in a tiny, rural cou_rtroom, or the placement of a reli gious symbol on government property. This is a global case of what the ACLU calls "Un-Con_stitutional."

US Gov ernment a id given to the st ate of IS is a classic case of what the ACLU interprets as vio lating the Cons titutional mandate for sep aration of chu rch and state. Why does the ACLU attack Chu rch-State cooperation inside America, then ig nore Ch_urch-St_ate cooperation between IS and US?

http://www.demko.com/o080519.htm

[Carolab]

Look at this:

The Fed owns all of our gold.

http://www.fgmr.com/esfgold.htm

[BritishColumbian]

Crafting legislation means negotiations not "concesstions". If a president expects to get eveything he lays out without any input from the other elected officials wouldn't that be a dictatorship.

PE Obama clearly stated he wanted input, he got it and now he is going to incorporate the part that works. All part of a democratic process isn't it?

[Donnat]

"Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Banking Committee, said that “there’s a willingness on the part of some Republicans to be supportive provided that there is some additional conditionality”"

You better be supportive, Republican crooks, you're the ones who got us to this sorry point in financial history.

And Obama, you better start listening to the Democrats a little bit more, especially after Jan 20 - you dance with who brung you, even if you do want to appear to be 'reaching out'

[armadillious2002]

Time will tell if Obama is a good President and what the country needs. One thing is for certain - since he is not even President yet - it is a little early to be making too many judgements.

He has a trouble platter that is full and heaping over that will be passed to him. I've always been outspoken on this site and will comment on his policy decisions as I see fit, but for now I'm giving him my support.

Keep in mind that he is an intellect and smarter than most of us. We're not used to having a President like this so I am looking forward to his Presidency and intend to give him some slack as he reveals himself and his governing style to us.

[cayuse]

Economics of Wealth Distribution

97% of wealth (400 Rich People), 3% of wealth (270,000,000 People in US).

Should be an easy choice of who get's stimulus be it GREEN Energy, EDUCATION, etc.

Example GREEN ENERGY: Government Spending should not be TAX INCENTIVE investment (o outlay of cash) for GREEN ENERGY if government builds the windmills, people buy the energy and GOD creates the energy for free and for ever.

This would mean the RICH are richer for ever. Maybe we should nationalize GREEN Energy?

[dmsdzinr]

WHAT a JOKE!!! Obama is left with the RUBBLE piled on this Country from 8 years of the WORST Administration in American history. Obama hasn't even started and right wingers are attempting to blame HIM for all the problems. GET REAL Folks, It took Bush/Cheney 8 years to SCREW IT ALL UP!, don't expect Obama to wave a Magic Wand and have it fixed in 8 days!!!

[Hank10303]

I agree wholeheartedly in addition the back bone congress seems to be showing is two years too late. Where was their backbone in September, why did they agree to give $350 billion away without strings attached? Why did they rush an unspecified plan through then. Now that we have someone that has spent the last year reviewing ways to fix this mess they want to nit pick ever detail as if they know what will work. They gave Bush, an obvious incompetent everything he wanted and then some. Now they want to curtail the efforts of someone not only willing to bear the full responsibility and burden of his proposed plans but has a plan.

[cayuse]

It did not take Bush/Cheny 8 year to SCREW IT ALL UP

The screw up started with Reagan if not Nixon. Trickle Down economics. Bush/Cheny pertetuated by Giving Stock Traders Tax Cuts ($10 Trillion Tax Cuts to the top 400 and Capital Gains at 15%). This is appreciation on Issued Stock with no contribution to Corporate fiiscal, Labor, Genius.

Making the Rich Richer does not contribute to Private Investment it is wealth distribution only

[LauraSerena]

I certainly hope Obama's economic team has made some real concessions. They need to focus on actual job creation. Not just trickle-upon economics. What they proposed to Congress initially was unacceptable. They need to be taking a cue from FDR, not Obama's hero Ronald Reagan.

[vjoseph]

Sigh, more unsubstantiated rumors

[2bad]

You say he has proposed "trickle-up economics". Two sentences later you say Ronald Reagan is his hero, the godfather of trickle-down economics. You post makes no sense!

[Kalima]

You know what, I've been here quite some time, the thing that bothers me the most
about the site and a few of the posters here who claim to want change, is this, your
comment, that after 8 years of GB, you still expect so little. Is there anything that
would satisfy you now, I doubt it, why bother to vote?
After 8 years of chaos, you and many here, demand too much.

[vjoseph]

BINGO

[Hank10303]

Congress gave Bush, an obvious incompetent everything he wanted and then some. He was the proponent of the Regan trickle down theory and of the concept that big business should be the driving force of our economy. We are drowning in that self centered concept of government. It has made white collar crime pervasive and ramped Now Bush and congress are running away from their acceptance of the responsibility of those actions. Yet, congress seems to want to curtail the efforts of someone not only willing to bear the full responsibility and burden of his proposed plans but has a plan. Someone that has studied and reviewed what was occuring for the past year with several top buisness persons and economist. Something congress has just begun to do. Let Obama enact his plans and policies; if he is successful congress can once again ride his coat tails as they did in the last general election. If they limit him as they seem intent on doing they suffer the responsibility for giving Bush a free ride and restricting Obama's efforts. Congress nows the time to follow the leader.

[cayuse]

I right Bush was for "big business" over the worker. By not collect Corporate Tax

But worse he Redistributed the Wealth, by give tax cuts to the Rich for appreciation of trading stock with Capital Gains and Income Tax decreases on the to 400 wage earners.

[Ammobob]

NObama and the LIBS talked down the economy for years. Now, they got what they wished for. His campaign promise of bringing HOPENCHANGE is even being questioned by loyalists at the NYTs. Maybe, because they are looking at bankruptcy with no TARP money available?

[tgd]

If you are a regular reader of the NYT you would know that there are no Obama "loyalists" at this newspaper. During the primaries they endorsed Hillary and reporter's personal anti Obama opinions were included in "news" stories. They regularly run less than complimentary articles on Obama even though he is not yet president.

If they had held Bush's feet to the fire rather than being cowed by him and his administration and being a cheerleader for the Iraq war, maybe we wouldn't be in the shape we are in today.

[Ammobob]

As predicted by many ANTI-OBAMACANS, reality is nipping at NObama's butt. In his Sunday interview, he backtracked on many campaign promises and campaign rhetoric. Will the NObama Bubble burst? When the kool-aid wears off, many dissillusioned sheeple will wake up. But hey, enjoy the dream ride why you can.........and then there's Congress...........

[Kalima]

Your useless Congress, seems to be the problem, your repubs, never sharing a problem
with the people who suffer the most, is another.

Your history is GB for 8 years, explain it if you can.

[Icantbelieveher]

Everyone expected that since the economy tanked (a la Bushy), he wouldn't be able to do what he had intended to do! What we want is any change from Bush administration's theories that tax cuts for wealthy do anything but make their savings accounts and portfolio's larger, and corporate tax cuts have done nothing but create larger salaries and bonuses for executives!

Redistribution of wealth to 1% of the population has meant that 99% of Americans don't have the $$$ to buy anything that 1% is selling! That stagnates the economy. In addition, you had the mortgage meltdown and gas eating anything that might have been left of our disposable wealth!

Obama was not president when this was all happening! Bushy was president.

[MacQ]

My biggest fear has been that for the next 4 years (or 2 anyway) Mr. Obama would be out front giving distracting speeches, while Mr. Reed and Ms Pelosi have a heyday enacting and meddling their mostly idiotic agendas.. . in other words that he would just be their front man. I think that's what they thought too.

Perhaps that will not be the case. It remains to be seen.

[spinns17]

im starting to see pe obama making to many deals.he better start sticking with what he said he was going to do.and i better start seeing congress do there job .like putting these company crooks and government crooks in jail.

[bikerdude]

Concessions? I hope, really hope. that PE Obama is not selling out the poor and middle class to the interest of corporations and the rich. That would be a huge broken promise. If he wants to talk to Pelosi about "what is important", he should tell her to get moving on impeachment.

[hortonhearsawho2]

concessions on stimulus...a sexual guide to a happy marriage.

[Kalima]

There is no such thing, shame on you.:)

[hortonhearsawho2]

I have the wrong guide is it....

[cayuse]

No, Your Right, if you mean "holding hands" with the republicans for he purpose of a "domestic partner" relationship. It would be a sexual relationship. Keep your handbook

[Rule Of Law]

Hey Cayuse, is that handbook illustrated? :)

[drock973]

Here's the latest news on the Climate Commisar:

"Until last week, Carol M. Browner, President-elect Barack Obama's pick as global warming czar, was listed as one of 14 leaders of a socialist group's Commission for a Sustainable World Society, which calls for "global governance" and says rich countries must shrink their economies to address climate change.

By Thursday, Mrs. Browner's name and biography had been removed from Socialist International's Web page."

[Annieke]

As far as I know being a socialist is not something like a crime against humanity.

Being a conservative liberal (also a dirty word in American politics) I am no fan of the socialst party in my home-country The Netherlands.

But seeing the tremendous problems the US is facing and the in-equality of chances, opportunity and welfare within the US a more 'social' face is needed within Washington.

[swo68]

Hmm sounds Borg like.