Let’s Discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
CNN reports that GOP “leaders” released a list of items in the stimulus bill that concern them (the one that all House Republicans voted against last week).
Let’s look at some of the things that GOP “leaders” consider “wasteful spending:”
$1.2 billion for “youth activities,” including youth summer job programs.
Yeah, because job creation isn’t a priority when people are getting laid off left and right. Thanks, GOP.
$850 million for Amtrak.
I have never understood why the GOP hates Amtrak so much. It’s good for every industry to have fast, safe, efficient ways for their employees to get around. Plus, Amtrak jobs are good jobs. I wish we still had passenger train service out here in Lubbock.
$600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
Can’t have the federal government setting a good example for car buyers and the auto industry, now can we?
$6 billion to turn federal buildings into “green” buildings.
Here we have an opportunity to improve our environment and create some great, un-outsource-able jobs. Green buildings are another area where bold leadership can show us the way.
$25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
If you’ve never read about this issue, get ready to be depressed. It’s about time that we do something about what is truly an epidemic. This money will create jobs that will make a real difference in a places where it’s needed the most.
$500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
$500 million for state and local fire stations.
$650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.
Jobs and security? Nope nope nope!
$200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.
Remind you of any Texas Governors that like to cause problems for community college funding?
$125 million for the Washington sewer system.
There’s no way this can be a waste! Those sewers have got to be clogged from eight years of Republican Effluence…
Looks like the GOP is saying a big fat “No, we can’t!” to economic recovery and investment in our infrastructure. If a bill ain’t a no-bid contract or a handout to their rich buddies, I guess it must be a waste in the eyes the GOP.
Thanks to blog reader John F for pointing out the CNN link. If you’d like to search the contents of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, you can search the house.gov website for H.R.1 to access the full bill.
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February 3rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I can see jobs being created by every single one of these items. The problems that Republicans have is that they hate Government and to them if a person can work for the government and build a wall and get great benefits while building that wall, then it takes away the profit that the corporate General Contractor’s board can profit from the wall by not offering health insurance, job security or benefits.
This is the idealogical difference. The people who believe Government works run it well, the Republicans who don’t would rather see the private corporations make the money and hoard the earnings and not give the worker anything in return other than the pay.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I have to say I was amused by the list. You know the GOP is desperate when they include the Census as “waste”. You know, its only required by the Constitution.
As for other programs, I’m amazed that there were only about 3 items I would consider to be “bad causes” or “unnecessary”. The $2B coal plant is certainly debateable, but I don’t know enough about the details to say for certain. The rest of it is peanuts.
How much have we been spending on Iraq each week? Where’s that list from the GOP?
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Hey !!!- this is a “stimulus” bill - All these programs may have merit, but none will stimulate the economy quicly whick is the intent of the bill. If you want these programs put them in the regualr budget!
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Typical narrow minded American mentality. Since we are in financial ruin lets spend money on everything we can while the ship goes down. Lets Embolden China and the Middle Eastern countries even more so the government can have children washing there new Eco-friendly cars this summer. You might try and grasp the severity of the problem on a global scale. It is entirely irresponsible for these elected officials to put this crap in a STIMULUS BILL! The cars, the children, being green, alcohol and tobacco programs, and maybe even the sewage problem (with all this BS) are important, but they should be debated on a different Bill. This isn’t the time to push an agenda it’s a time to seriously fix whats wrong with this country.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
You are an idiot. This is supposed to be an economic stimulus. None of the lefty pet projects on that list will do a damn thing to stimulate the economy. Did you ever even take Economics?
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
You have to be kidding me. I’m an independent and even I see this stimulus as a way for Obama to push his liberal social spending agenda. Liberals complain about the fear cultural during the Bush administration and how they used it to influence policy. Obama is doing the same thing here by railroading his political spending agenda through congress with the name Stimulus on it. “DO THIS OR ELSE THE ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE”. You can’t have it be the worst thing in the world for one side of the aisle and OK for the other. You can make an argument that any type of government spending creates jobs (even the hated military spending that liberals cry about all the time). Get your rose colored glasses off.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Typical liberal response, delete my posts…
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I’m sorry but, you’re an idiot! Our country is facing serious economic problems and you’re making jokes about how important Amtrak and hybrid vehicles for federal officials are? Are you insane? None of the items listed, are a priority. Right now, the main focus of the stimulus should be for creating jobs and cutting as many taxes as possible. Over 600,000 Americans filed for unemployment last week, do you think they give a damn about “going green”?
Freakin idiot!
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Instead of spending money why doesn’t the government cut costs? This is why we are at where we are now. The republicans decided to spend billions of dollars on an unnecessary war. The number one cause of bankruptcy in America is student loans. How about more money for scholarships? A youth summer job progam does not help anyone. Youth will fill in low paying jobs as they always have. It’s the people with families they need to support, who need jobs. Six hundred million dollars for hybrid vechiles for government employees is not a stimulus. They are perfectly capable of buying cars on their own. In a time of economic crisis should we really be spending $6 billion dollars on green buildings? Hopefully, the jobs created in building these will alleviate the high cost. The other stuff seems like good investments, we’ll see though…
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Some of these programs might be great, but if they’re not going to stimulate the economy why are they part of an economic stimulus bill? Government jobs don’t stimulate the economy other than in rare cases, and government estimates of how many jobs will be created and how much good those jobs will do are always wildly overblown.
As necessary as government is in some cases, it is an economic parasite and can only live by taking money out of our pockets. If the government creates 100,000 jobs that sounds great, until you understand that this means there are 150,000 private sector jobs that weren’t created because the money was siphoned off for those government jobs. Government simply cannot control the distribution of goods and services as well as individuals can. Whenever they try to we end up with exactly the opposite of what was intended. Case in point the Great Depression, the economy of the Carter administration, our current economic downturn, the poor economy of the Soviet Union, etc. All these were caused by government trying to run the economy and over-regulate things. Some regulation is good, but too much ends up making everyone miserable and we’re enjoying the fruits of it right now. If this stimulus bill goes through without major revisions the economy will only get worse as a result, although I’m sure Obama’s team would find a way to blame it on someone else.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
The passage of the original “BAILOUT BILL” should have been an indiction of self-incrimination of each politician who had their hands in the cookie jar!!!!! How about a nominated Treasury Secretary that had evaded taxes! How much more “$$$CHANGE$$$” can tax payers stand????
Our SOCIALIST government needs to visit the Washington monument in Washington, D,C. and get the low-down from the employee of the Parks & Recreation who runs the elevator, explaining the symbolism of Washington’s statue at the base of the elevator. It will really piss you off how far left our country has gone!
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I think you’re misunderstanding the point of the GOP’s opposition. It’s not that many of these bills aren’t good ideas, it’s the fact that they’re being tacked on to a bill that is designed to stimulate the economy. It is not the time to bankrupt the nation with additional spending, when the country is already 9 trillion dollars in debt. The only thing this country can afford to spend money on are projects that are guaranteed to help stimulate and sustain the weak economy
February 4th, 2009 at 6:46 am
I created a poll where you can vote your opinion on each of the items covered in the CNN article:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Wastful-Spending-or-Good-Growth-Idea
I hope, but doubt, lawmakers review each item as closely.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Look at your own words. What does any of this have to do with stimulating the economy. Nothing. That is why this bill is considers PORK. You know the animal GOD considers unclean. This bill has very little to do with the economy, and more about hand outs. If you would like some of this pork to go through congress, draft another bill specificaly for all of this garbage.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Apologies to everyone who had comments in the moderation queue — I’m not used to getting this many responses!
If you’ve had a comment approved before, you will skip the moderation queue in the future.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
FYI- buying NEW hybrid vehicles is actually far less “green” than using your already manufactured car that you’re currently driving around in. If you really want to be “green” with your vehicles, drive your car until it dies and then buy a hybrid! The manufacturing process of any car outweighs the emissions that you “save” by driving a hybrid car. Better yet, don’t buy a new car at all, buy used and you’re saving the environment from far more pollution than you would by purchasing a NEW hybrid car. But then you’d be seen in a used car, and we can’t have that can we?
February 4th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
@cassandra — I agree. I’ve driven the same (used) car for 10+ years now. When it craps out on me, I’ll hunt for a plug-in hybrid.
Having the federal government purchase hybrids sends an important message, however. Plus, it will stimulate the auto industry in the right direction.
February 4th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Sorry, but I don’t see how it’s sending an important message. Buy new cars, but buy more expensive hybrids so it looks like you’re helping the environment? The best message our government could send us is to save your money and use what you have until it is absolutely necessary to buy new. Our country is obsessed with having the newest, shiniest toys which is why the majority of our country is drowning in debt. This “stimulus” plan is a mirror image of our country’s financial hardships, except instead of someone sitting at home wasting their own money and building debt for themselves, our government is spending our HARD EARNED money for these ridiculous things. They need to set the example of spending your money wisely, not taking advantage of the people around you.
P.S. I’m glad to hear that you are not on the buy a new hybrid bandwagon, that’s more than I can say for most of the “greenies” out here in LA.
February 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
@cassandra — I’m too broke to be on any sort of hybrid bandwagon at the moment anyway. :) But I do seriously believe in using things to their full potential as much as possible. My next project along those lines will be turning a bunch of plastic restaurant cups into planters for an herb garden.
Your point is well taken about the government purchasing new hybrids when it may not need new vehicles at all. Honestly, I think that’s too subtle for the general public. I’m just happy to see the message of “hybrid vehicles are good” out there at all.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Too funny! In Costa Rica, people are gardening while wearing not a stitch of clothing!