Congress Divided Over Competing Stimulus Bills

The Senate agreement on a roughly $827 billion economic stimulus bill sets up tough negotiations with the House primarily over tens of billions of dollars in aid to states and local governments, tax provisions, and education, health and renewable energy programs.

Congress is racing to finalize the legislation this week, with the price tag for the Senate plan now only slightly more than the $820 billion measure adopted by the House. Both plans are intended to blunt the recession with a combination of quick-acting tax cuts to help increase spending by consumers and businesses, and slower long-term government spending on public works projects and other programs to create more than 3 million jobs.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[TheIntellectualRedneck]

According to the CBO, the stimulus bill will actually hurt the economy in the long run. However, there is the possibility it will stimulate illegal immigration. In addition to providing up to 300 thousand construction jobs for illegal aliens, the bill will bail out irresponsible states like California. This will allow them to avoid dealing with one of the primary reasons they have a budget deficit. That reason is the extensive and expensive social net they have extended to illegal immigrants. Obama's stimulus will stimulate illegal immigration http://bloggingredneck.blogspot.com

[research]

The CBO says the senate bill is great:

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/96xx/doc9619/Gregg.pdf

They predict great short term, you know, Stimulus.

10 years plus Long term they are worried about gov capital crowding out private lending.

Well, since private banks are NOT investing, this seem moot.

So War stimulates the economy but domestic investment wont?

Care to explain that?

[research]

Investment in Americans always WORKS.

Who you love your fellow Americans.

[bpe]

Observe Americans and watch our elected officials do their jobs. If they do not want to work with people in the opposite party then we need to vote them out! Americans have basic needs that need to be met : housing/shelter, jobs( decent roads , bridges and public transportation to get there), access to affordable health care, affordbale food, quality envrionment and education. I will use my voice and my vote against anyone who continues to delay support to middle, low and poverty level Americans. Politicians,get down to the business having an America that works for middle and low income Americans not just rich Americans or risk losing your job.Only three republicans made an effort to work with Obama and someone called them a traitor to the republican party.How childish is this? These three republicans thought about Americans. Obama ,listen to the average Ameican. Republicans had a stimulus bill for 8 years spent money on the war, de-regulated wall street, sent jobs overseas and allowed corporate CEO's to spend billions on themselves at the cost of their employees. Enough! Americans don't want this nonsense. Republicans are hypocrits. What about the people who are unemployed? Lowering income taxes for middle Americans may help but what about those who do not have an income? Speak up people. Republicans spent down our surplus and created the deficit. Wasteful spending started with the Iraq war which is what Americans are paying for now! We need to continue to support Obama.

[bpe]

It is a shame that our are playing the same game. How dare the republicans question Obama's spending plan when it was the republicans who were in power for 8 years that spent so much money that we had this huge debt including spending money on an unnecessary war. Wall street was deceptive.­Corporatio­ns, banks ran amok with greed, deregulations and sent jobs overseas. We saw corporate bonuses, luxury airplanes and thousands of tax-breaks for the wealthy. I am tired of hearing the whining of the republicans who tend to use the word tax-cuts in hopes to connect with average Americans when in reality the tax breaks are for the rich. They do not want middle income Americans to better themselves. They don't want us to have well-made schools, quality education, decent jobs with a minium wage that we can live on, quality health care, and long term employment. It is time for us to give Obama more people in government who know how to work across the aisle either as democrats or republicans. I am tired of the same old junk. Republicans through a tantrum -basically saying if we are not going to get our way then we don't plan to talk or work with you. TMy life should not depend on people like this who cannot work with the opposite party and perhaps try something different but continue to wait for someone to foul -up so they can say I told you so.

[SouthPrairie]

PUT EDUCATION BACK IN

PUT MONEY FOR BROKEN SHABBY INNER-CITY SCHOOLS BACK IN

This is pathetic and shows exactly what Corruptlicans care about. We all know the public school system is unfair to schools in industrial areas. The industries that take from the community then run off and spend their dollars in suburban areas. Yes people should be allowed to spend their money where they want, but it is patently unfair for thes crumbling schools to be denied the tools they need to teach AMERICA'S young people at a 21st century level.

I AM APPALLED!!

Money for crumbling schools IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE!!

It is the infrastructure of America's future. There is so much talent that is being wasted in under funded schools and it is a crying shame that American Republicans who lauded Bush as he took us into a war based on false premises, have the AUDACITY to insist that education funds be thrashed.

It makes sense though, because they do not want a sophisticated citizenry. Then who would they manipulate? They want the B.l.o.w. the D.u.m.m.e.­r and L.u.s.h. L.i.m.b.l.­a.h blah blah to rule America so they know they cannot support our multi-ethnic talent in the inner-cities.

SHAME ON YOU CORRUPTLIC­ANS--SHAME ON YOU.

[TiaL27]

GOP Theme Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxrd_jZJxkg

[TiaL27]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dd9C38E4QY

[HeIsTheOne]

Well, it's time for this old woman to hit the hay.

But I'm offering this final song by my favorite Stevie Wonder as consideration. Don't think about the woman connotatio­n....think about the message of compromise. Wish I could be on here more, but I thank you each for your input as we continue the appropriate mission. Good night all and be well. Hito.

But, very well, I believe I know you-very well
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2lNf2WHxeI

[HeIsTheOne]

I'm so glad I'm living in the USA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVvDdK9AXkU&feature=related

WIth Chuck Berry and Ronstadt. What more could you ask for?

[abby4ever]

Nice song!

[HeIsTheOne]

Jeez, thanks Abby.

[hardybear]

Have to retire, thanks to all for the great music and discussions!

Sweet dreams. :)

[Amondale]

G'nite.

[ThunderclapNewman]

G'nite. sleep well.

[VegasBabe]

Nite hardybear.­...see ya tomorrow!!!

[SurferKit]

Night, bear. Sleep well.

[abby4ever]

Sweet dreams, bear.

@:]

[indypete]

Good night all.... I have to get my saxophone out and do a bit of practice.

[SurferKit]

Night, Pete.

[VegasBabe]

Nite Pete, see ya tomorrow?

[Amondale]

G'nite.

[scouserinlondon]

Gotta get them jaw muscles up to speed. Night babe x.

[ThunderclapNewman]

For Hardybear.

Here's another of Maggie's songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ6z1Z2ErPk&feature=channel

[hardybear]

Thank you, her voice is just hypnotizing.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Try these two sites for her music.

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mlafsf

http://lonesomecoyotes.com

[SurferKit]

Oh. She rocks!

[VegasBabe]

Where has all the time gone? Listening to each of these you tube pix, all of which I'm thoroughly enjoying, it occurs to me that many of us here are, dare I say it..middle­aged?
Somebody stop me...I'm becoming morose

[ThunderclapNewman]

This will make you feel better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ6z1Z2ErPk&feature=channel

[brynnrose thorn]

I sure made ME feel better, she looks even older than I am!

[VegasBabe]

Thank you Thunder,..­.that makes me feel sssssooooooo much better. NOT! LOL

[hardybear]

Since I love Janis/Melissa Etheridge/Joss Stone, her alto
is just exhilarating ... many thanks.

[indypete]

I have to cop to middle aged..... although I don't know too many people who are 112.... I suppose I have to cop to late middle aged!

[HeIsTheOne]

Middle age is just the beginning of a new awareness. We're finally old enough to appreciate TRUTH!

[HeIsTheOne]

I am no better and neither are you
We're all the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me
You know me and then
Still can't figure out the bag I'm in
I am everyday people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-336qHRGv1M

[JohnGault44]

Dance to the music
All nite long
Everyday people
Sing a simple song

Mama's so happy
Mama start to cry
Papa still singin'
You can make it if you try

I want to thank you falettinme be mice elf agin
Thank you falettinme be mice elf agin

[Amondale]

That's the spirit.

[HeIsTheOne]

"All we need is a drummer, for people who only need the beat, yeeeah....­"

Oh, that's right, Obama got elected.

We have the drummer.

Yeah!

[streak of rin tin tin]

Hey all you pompous @ss, double latte drinking, no god fearing, no gun totting, tax and spend, Liberal Elite mofo's...

Goodnight;-)

[SurferKit]

Night, streak. Hurry back.

[hardybear]

Sweet dreams, rinny. :) Merci for the great tunes.

[HeIsTheOne]

Good night RTT!

I'm going to go and eat a boat load of arrugula and be happy that I can (for now)!

[Amondale]

Sleep tight, don't let the bed pugs bite.

Pugs? I meant to say pugs.

I did it again.

LMAO

[indypete]

Aloha Rinny.

[MissTraci]

New main?