An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right

« Back to Smoke-Filled Rooms

So What Else is Going on Around the World? »

Stimulus On Hold

Posted by ANGELA WINTERS in At TMV.
Feb 7th, 2008 | Comments

As ridiculous as the Republicans have been with spending, we can always count on the Democrats to want to spend a little bit more. That $600-$1200 check you might have been expecting in June or July, has been delayed. Why? Senate Democrats wanted to add another $44 billion for the elderly, disabled veterans, the unemployed and “big business.” Stimulus package, with $44 billion add-ons, blocked

“Republicans banded together to block the $205 billion plan from advancing Wednesday, leaving Democrats with a difficult choice either to quickly accept a House bill they have said is inadequate or risk being blamed for delaying a measure designed as a swift shot in the arm for the lagging economy.”

This might end up being a good thing. If they can squabble about it long enough, maybe they’ll all realize rebate checks are not the right idea anyway. We have to learn to deal with the changing economic landscape and little bandaids aren’t the answer. Do they really think it will stave off a downturn, which BTW we are already in?

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

PaulSilver

I agree with your skepticism that the stimulus package is unlikely to stimulate. $150 Billion dedicated to infrastructure such as installing solar panels on all government buildings might create a boatload of jobs and kill several birds with one stone.

I suspect that the best thing Washington will do to stimulate the economy will be when they reform the social safety net, such as Universal Health Care so that workers are inspired to seek the jobs they want rather than the ones they are tied to with golden handcuffs. Or when they reduce the cost of college.

GeorgeSorwell

Paul--

Adding to your comment about the cost of college, I wonder if you've seen all the TV commercials for easy-to-get student loans. It's very reminiscent of all those "lost another loan to Di-Tech" ads that were constantly playing a few years ago. Now here we are with a mortgage crisis.

Maybe before there's any reform, there has to be a big crash first.

DLS

Right you are! The stimulus is merely a vote-buying gimmick and is an obvious election-year ploy (which made the Republicans willing to consider something, in addition to Democrats). That the Democrats would seek more gimmickry and to spend more money buying more votes was completely predictable..

Getting government downsized and much less expensive is the real long-term solution. I will make a concession to Paul[ ]Silver that yes, some kind of health care solution would be logical and desireable; "job lock" (an issue in the 1992 elections, don't forget) remains to this very day. (Just ask those of us who can otherwise not get insurance or pay ridiculous amounts with exclusions of all kinds that don't cover an expensive, chronic condition.)

T-Steel

People (like me) would have used those rebate checks to pay down debt, not go to the local mall and spend it. So the stimulus package would have placated the creditors slightly, not stimulate the economy. Now give me $50K and I'm good! Just a joke my good folks.

awinters

T-Steel - I agree with you. I have law school tuition and every extra penny I got would have sent it there. I think the only useful thing it would have done is for the unemployed.

pacatrue

Of course, unemployment benefits are part of what the Senate is trying to pass.... :)

casualobserver

Even Harry knows what to do to get it passed tomorrow.........bring it back to the House version.

Dave_Schuler

Why should he do that, casualobserver? The status quo is nearly perfect: Sen. Reid can blame the Republicans for problems with the economy while chiding them for hard-heartedness.

EEllis

Good luck you know that the dems would have taken the heat for not getting checks out. Which I'm sure is why, after not being able to overcome the filibuster, they conceded and passed the bill.

CitizenKang

Hate to break into this scholarly discussion on the merits of the stimulus package. I just wanted to note the headline from this morning's (Republican leaning) Riverside Press Enterprise: "GOP Blocks Stimulus Package"

As a Democrat, all I can say is, thank you.

DLS

The GOP blocked Democratic attempts to bloat the original package. You're welcome.

Slamfu

"$150 Billion dedicated to infrastructure such as installing solar panels on all government buildings might create a boatload of jobs and kill several birds with one stone."

God what a great idea that would be. I'm still staggered that our leaders are planning a shoot from the hip move like this thats come with such a pricetag. Its so George W. Bush.

blog comments powered by Disqus