House passes O's stimulus bill...

[LUVMBDiesels]

House Passes $819 Billion Economic Stimulus
Republicans Wary of Package's Price Tag, Spending Priorities
By Paul Kane and Michael Shear
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 28, 2009; 6:23 PM

With no Republican support, the House approved an $819 billion stimulus plan that will serve as the cornerstone of President Obama's efforts to resuscitate the economy, an early victory for the new president but still a disappointment because of the lack of Republican votes.
The measure passed 244 to 188, with 11 Democrats and 177 Republicans voting against it.
The two-year economic package includes $275 billion in tax cuts and more than $550 billion in domestic spending on roads and bridges, alternative-energy development, health-care technology, unemployment assistance, and aid to states and local governments. It would also provide up to $500 per year in tax relief for most workers and more than $300 billion in aid to states for funding to help rebuild schools, provide health-care to the poor and reconstruct highways and bridges.
Despite a last-minute lobbying campaign by Obama -- including coming to the Capitol yesterday for separate closed-door meetings with House and Senate Republicans -- Republicans opposed the measure and argued that it spent hundreds of billions of dollars on Democratic initiatives that would do little to stimulate the economy or create jobs.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) heralded the legislation as the first down payment on Obama's pledge, in his inaugural address, to provide "bold and swift" action to revive an economy that is losing more than 500,000 jobs a month, including 65,000 layoffs announced just this week.
"He said he wanted action, bold and swift, and that is exactly what we are doing," Pelosi told reporters before the vote.
A $475 billion Republican alternative, which focused heavily on reducing individual and business taxes, was rejected largely on party lines. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), a member of the GOP leadership team, ridiculed the Democratic plan as a "typical bill that is full of wasteful spending."
After Democrats initially estimated the plan would cost $825 billion, the Congressional Budget Office announced this week its total cost would come to $816 billion, with about 65 percent of those funds spent by September 2010. During today's debate, lawmakers added $3 billion for transit funding.
The Senate is expected to consider a separate bill next week, which could carry a price tag of nearly $900 billion, with a goal of sending a final version to Obama's desk by President's Day.
The stimulus debate comes on the heels of congressional action in mid-January that released $350 billion to Obama's new Treasury secretary, Timothy J. Geithner, to use in the effort to free up the credit markets, part of the massive financial rescue package approved last fall.
Hours before the House vote, President Obama told a group of about 100 business leaders that Congress must not delay in efforts to restart the economy and put people back to work.
"The businesses that are shedding jobs to stay afloat, they cannot afford inaction or delay," Obama said at a White House gathering this morning. "The workers who are returning home to tell their husbands and wives and children that they no longer have a job, and all those who live in fear that theirs will be the next job cut -- they need help now. They are looking to Washington for action, bold and swift."
In his remarks this morning, Obama called the meeting with the industry leaders "sobering."
The president directly challenged GOP critics who say the proposed legislation would not inject money into the economy for many years.
"Most of the money we're investing as part of this plan will get out the door immediately and go directly to job-creation, generating or saving 3 to 4 million new jobs," he said.
Although Republicans in the House were not persuaded, Obama was not deterred in reaching out to them. The White House announced this afternoon that he had invited Senate and House leaders from both parties for a cocktail party at the White House at 7:30 p.m.




Not a single Republican voted for it


$544 billion in new spending
$275 billion in tax cuts

Best part of the Bill

SEC. 1112. ADDITIONAL ASSURANCE OF APPROPRIATE USE OF FUNDS.

None of the funds provided by this Act may be made available to the State of Illinois, or any agency of the State, unless (1) the use of such funds by the State is approved in legislation enacted by the State after the date of the enactment of this Act, or (2) Rod R. Blagojevich no longer holds the office of Governor of the State of Illinois. The preceding sentence shall not apply to any funds provided directly to a unit of local government (1) by a Federal department or agency, or (2) by an established formula from the State.




Aren't these Infrastructure projects?
SEC. 1109. PROHIBITED USES.

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in this Act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, or swimming pool.




FULL TEXT:


http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1

[POS]

We really needed a tremendously large spending package - thank God they got that passed!

[TheDon]

so wait.. they want to cut taxes but increase spending...


my brain hurts

[MTI]

Senators, I believe the ball is now in your court . . .

[LUVMBDiesels]

From what I have heard the Senate bill is about 90 BILLION dollars more than this House bill...

Wonder how they will reconcile them..

[veggihatetank]

Here is where the 825 Billion is going!

The Coming Depression
Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009

• The non-job creating spending in this bill includes:

a) $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. ( will this create 1 job?)
b) $400 million to study climate change. ( What’s there to study? Its a climate change!)
c) $200 million to revitalize the National Mall, including planting new sod.( BULLDOZE IT DOWN around $10,000 +removal!)
d) $1.1 billion to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a permanent board to ration health care services, a precursor to universal health care. (A Billion dollar BOARD OF HEALTH? Enough for FREE HEALTH CARE for a YEAR!)
e) Hundreds of millions of dollars for contraceptives and family planning services through Medicaid.
f) $650 million dollars for additional digital TV converter box coupons. ( turn the TV off and get to basics, IDIOTS!)
g) $166 billion in direct aid to help states pay their bills. ( Due to illegal immigrants)
h) $13 billion for reading programs.
i) $15.6 billion to increase the maximum annual Pell grant (for college students) by $500 from $4,360 to $4,860.
j) $3 billion to public health departments for additional immunizations. ( immunize yourself from a DUMB Gov’t)
k) $1 billion in additional funding to pay heating bills of low-income Americans. ( Give them a JOB, clean the streets ANYTHING)
l) $1 billion for the 2010 census. ( To count illegal IMMIGRANTS?)
m) $100 million for National Science Foundation scholarships.
n) $200 million for nutrition programs. ( Buy Macdonalds , Burger King and the rest of them foul places AND SHUT THEM DOWN!)
o) $200 million to provide incentives to teachers to raise test scores. ( Teach students how to write a check, pay a bill, apply for a scholarship, grocery shop, how to apply for a rental apt, EVERYDAY STUFF YA KNOW? BUT TEST SCORES? Bunch of Simpletons)
p) $2 billion in additional funds for low-income child care.
q) $900 million in additional funds to prepare for the pandemic flu. ( WHAT? Probably find a cure for every disease in the world with that money!)

[Hatterasguy]

All I can say is eventualy they will run out of money.

They are spending money like a millionare with a crack problem!

So which rifle should I buy? K98 or should I spring for the killing power of an M14? I want to buy one before my buck is worthless.

[catmandoo62]

can't go too wrong with the m14!

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by hatterasguy

all i can say is eventualy they will run out of money.

They are spending money like a millionare with a crack problem!:d

so which rifle should i buy? K98 or should i spring for the killing power of an m14?:d i want to buy one before my buck is worthless.

bar.....

[Honus]

The last time a Democratic president signed a controversial bill related to the economy without any Republican votes, the economy took off like nobody's business. Sure would be nice to see that happen again.

[mwood]

Originally Posted by dculkin

The last time a Democratic president signed a controversial bill related to the economy without any Republican votes, the economy took off like nobody's business. Sure would be nice to see that happen again.

And ended up coming full circle to where we are now.

[Honus]

Originally Posted by mwood

And ended up coming full circle to where we are now.

Not because of Clinton's tax increase, AFAIK.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by dculkin

The last time a Democratic president signed a controversial bill related to the economy without any Republican votes, the economy took off like nobody's business. Sure would be nice to see that happen again.

I hope that happens, but this time I don't see it.

What I am seeing is a ton of pork.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by dculkin

The last time a Democratic president signed a controversial bill related to the economy without any Republican votes, the economy took off like nobody's business. Sure would be nice to see that happen again.

What bill was that and how was it related to the economy? Also, were the conditions similar to what we are having now?

[Ara T.]

Increase spending and decrease taxes? Huh, some change.