The GOP has listed what they think is wasteful in Obama's new stimulus package. Here is the news article:
What GOP Leaders deem wasteful in Senate stimulus bill
Now, I hate it when the government has to spend money, period, but I guess we aren't going to stop them. So, the GOP gave their stimulus money to the banks, in hopes that the money would trickle down to us. Instead of using that money to give us loans, the banks decided to keep it. I feel trickled on, all right, but not with money, but with an infamous yellow liquid.
Now, the GOP has made a list of "unnecessary" articles in the current stimulus package. Most of the things they listed would give someone a job, which will stimulate the economy, but they are right on a few things:
• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
And then there are a few listings for alcohol and substance abuse or STD testing, which are a bit shaky.
What I can't believe is on the list:
• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.
These proposals are both green and job producing.
• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.
When there is a flood, it shuts down the economy of the area affected, so this sounds like good long term thinking to me.
• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.
• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
These programs which create jobs are a "wasteful" part of the stimulus package?
I agree that the stimulus package isn't perfect, but there are many programs that need to be done, and will create jobs in the process. I have pointed out the glaringly good and the glaringly bad. I have lesser agreements and disagreements with other articles on the list, but I don't want to repost the whole article. What do you think?
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Comments: 36
Remember Bob, it's wasteful spending if an oil industry/stockbroker/bank/Halliburton can't make a lot of money for nothing on it.
A note about paid/unpaid volunteers when people are out of work and can't find something in their fields, volunteering helps bridge the gap between jobs. The service can be put on a c.v. and counted as work experience. Volunteering can open new doors for people because they get the training for a task, sometimes giving them a whole new skill set. So supporting volunteer efforts is long term thinking.
that is the biggest mistake of all!
our kids ARE our future
destroy the kids destroy the future
• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.
These proposals are both green and job producing."
These should be on another bill, and should not be part of the Stimulas bill. They will not produce long term jobs or aid the economy.
"• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas."
Again these need to be on another bill, as they are done by the Corps of Engineers, and will not help the economy.
"• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.
• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service."
Hageln Sie zum Vaterland, Hagel zu Comrad Obama
Hopefully someone will publish a list of the sort of pork they tacked onto bills during their spending binge when they held power in gridlock fashion.
Regardless of your side of the aisle... Excess spending needs to stop!
We, as voters, need to be telling our elected officials that the "buck stops here". I think we'll be amazed at how powerful our vote is in reshaping HOW Washington does business! Let's face it... it can be done much better!
Remember Bob, it's wasteful spending if an oil industry/stockbroker/bank/Halliburton can't make a lot of money for nothing on it. (LOL, EM JAY)
Julia... are you suggesting that CONTINUED excesses in spending are "justified" because someone did it before? It's just the Democrats "turn"?
Tammy N., I don't know what Julia is suggestion, but I feel that the excess spending of the Democrats might better help us than the excess spending of the Republicans. However, you are right on this point:
Regardless of your side of the aisle... Excess spending needs to stop!
Normally I would say that it is up to the businesses to get the economy rolling, but they are not stepping up to the plate, right now.
Have you read the bill... either the House version or the Senate version.... or possibly both? I have. It's wasteful!
If you read it you will see that this stimulus bill is a "down payment" on bigger government. There is a LOT of government created in this bill. Who is going to pay for that increased government in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, etc? This isn't a one time expenditure.
Also, it isn't completely "informed" to blame the wasteful spending of the past on just the Republicans... the vote on the $700B bailout (and all it's lack of accountability) was passed during the Democratic watch...
I think it could be worthwhile to replace worn out federally-owned vehicles with hybrids. If and when statistics can prove the expenditure will conserve funds and protect the environment, funding may be allocated for that purpose.
I approve of Obama's decision to forbid legislators to accept gifts. I hope it extends to money for votes and for campaign funding. More than $3 BILLION was paid out by special interest groups in 2008. Why not collect those funds and disburse them before using tax dollars?
Have a Great & powerful day W/J!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /a>
$1 in government spending will generate $1 in spending. Even if you think some of it is "wasteful" its still going to put real money into real businesses, which employ real people. Jobs created will help keep people off public assistance, and generate tax revenue.
People also misunderstand what the purpose of the stimulus bill is. This isn't designed as a band-aid. We are far beyond band-aids. It's designed to encourage long-term growth. For example, investing in hybrid cars to replace current government fleet vehicles will actually encourage more research into hybrids as competition vies for the contracts. This benefits consumers in the long run with better pricing and products.
Yes. even spending the money on the stuff I don't agree with will give people jobs and such. And thanks for making the point that if the government buys hybrid cars, it will encourage research, I didn't get to that point in my posting.
Which are or aren't I'm not going to discuss.
EM? Cast the correct spell, or spell correctly? Both are an anathema to some Rep's I could name...
600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
I really can't believe that top one is on the list....
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My question is, what about the 11 million unemployed that are no longer getting a paycheck?