Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:40 AM
By: David A. Patten
The gargantuan stimulus bill Congress has rubber-stamped with virtually no Republican support contains tens of billions of the very spending projects that made the legislation a lightning rod for criticism.
And although the bill is generally described as costing $787 billion, the Congressional Budget Office reports the actual figure is now closer to $3.27 trillion.
That stems from the $744 billion it will take to pay for the additional debt the legislation will create, and $2.527 trillion in increased spending from the new and expanded programs the bill will spawn over the next decade.
To view the letter to Nancy Pelosi, go here.
The bill now spans more than 1,000 pages. While Democrats removed some provisions that fiscal conservatives objected to, most of the pork remains. Among them:
The plan has more than $3 billion in “neighborhood stabilization” and Community Development Block Grant funding, much of which may go to benefit ACORN, a low-income housing and voter registration “community” organization that is under federal investigation for its suspicious voter registration practices.
- $1.3 billion to bailout AMTRAK, the perennial money-loser railroad.
- $1 billion for educational programs, including courses on sexually transmitted diseases.
- $30 million for restoration of wetlands to be spent in the San Francisco Bay Area – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s district. The money will go in part to protect the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse.
- $200 million for a low-pollution, coal-fired power plant in President Barack Obama’s home state of Illinois.
- $45 million for ATV four-wheeler trails, and government office renovations, according to RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
- $200 million to provide computers to community colleges.
- $50 million for the National Endowment of the Arts.
- Over $650 million in coupons to help consumers buy digital TV converter-box coupons.
- A reported $300 million for hybrid vehicles and electric-powered cars. According to the Washington Times, this item will include buying golf carts for federal workers.
GOP Sen. John McCain summed up his view of the bill: “This measure is not bipartisan. It contains much that is not stimulative.”
Some of the criticisms of the bill, however, center on policy rather than cost.
The Heritage Foundation, for example, reports the bill reverses the bipartisan welfare reforms achieved during the Clinton administration.
Also, opponents have slammed the bill for being “anti-religious,” because it expressly prohibits the use of stimulus funds for faith-based schools, schools of divinity, facilities used for “sectarian worship,” or places of religious worship.
© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
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I'm sure that one could argue that the pork in the "stimulus" bill will create jobs. According to Senator Lindsey Graham, some of these jobs (about 20%) won't be created for 18 months. I guess 80% is better than none, but I'm note sure that anyone, including Senator Graham, has a clue what this bill really contains, or what it will do. It was a rush job and because of that, probably half-assed.
Since the President was in such an all-fired hurry to get this passed, I sure hope that it will do the trick and get the economy moving. But if it was such an emergency, why did it take four days to get signed after passage? Doesn't sound to me like it was all that important.
I won't hold my breath. I'm an optimist and tend to believe in anyone and anything until it's proven otherwise and I'll wait and see what happens with this, hoping, believing that this will work.
But I'm not stupid either. It was this type of action that took us into the Great Depression of the 30's. I will hope this isn't a case of history repeating itself. That won't bode well for the future of Democrats or, I will dare say it, Blacks aspiring to the Presidency.
Yes, I said it. This is how I get there: Obama, the first Black President, is a trailblazer. If he falls on his face, I fear that it will be a long time before another Black, no matter how well qualified, will be elected. I sincerely wish him the best, hope that history will not be repeated, and I honestly hope that he has the right people advising him and that he makes the right decisions.
Only time will tell.
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