Archive for February 2nd, 2009
February 2nd, 2009
But Porkulus still includes over $300 million to combat sexually transmitted diseases, an earmark of more than $2 billion for national parks being pushed by an organization whose chief lobbyist is the son of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Wisconsin’s David Obey, $200 million for new sod for the National Mall (the old sod apparently having been wrecked by the near record turnout for Obama’s inauguration), $44 million to repair the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (also on the National Mall) and $600 million so the federal government can buy some new cars from Detroit (well, someone has to).When push came to shove this pork-laden, special interesting supporting, mother-of-all spending legislation did pass the House– but without a single Republican voting for it. As a result, its prospects in the Senate have gotten worse, with Republicans and Democrats both suggesting Porkulus is in trouble.
See the rest here….
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/02/02/roff_stimulus_obama/
February 2nd, 2009
Here is an excerpt from the story link below…this is another ridiculous example of the House Stimulus Bill…
…”Another such item, which was removed from the bill, was a plan to spend more than $200 million on birth control funding as a way of stimulating the economy.
Who could possibly defend such a thing? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi concocted an argument that was ridiculous and offensive. In fact, the argument was so bad that it might have single-handedly led to the demise of the funding, which some conservatives considered a giveaway to Planned Parenthood.
When ABC’s George Stephanopolous asked Pelosi to explain how birth control helps the economy, here’s what the speaker said: “The family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now, and part of what we do for children’s health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those — one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.”
You know the nation’s cupboard is bare when politicians propose limiting the number of births as a way of improving the economy. That’s a conversation we shouldn’t be having.
There is nothing more private — that is, none of the government’s business — than the personal decision that a family makes about how many children to have. Besides, Pelosi’s comments had an ugly ring to them.
For a minute, it sounded as if the House speaker was channeling the ghost of Margaret Sanger. The 20th-century birth control advocate is a hero to those who worship at the altar of reproductive freedom. She even founded the American Birth Control League, which became Planned Parenthood.”
See the rest here… http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/navarrette.stimulus/index.html
February 2nd, 2009
While this industry may not appeal to the highly college trained professionals, it shows that a successful business can be enjoyable and profitable. Who knows, it may even lead to starting another manufacturing business!
See this story here….
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123335089490734627.html
February 2nd, 2009
U.S. Reps. Don Manzullo (R-IL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and 49 of their colleagues today co-signed a letter to the House leadership urging them to require any money spent under the proposed stimulus bill be used to buy American-made products whenever possible.
“Whether you support the stimulus bill or not, we should all agree tax dollars should focus on creating American jobs, not more jobs overseas,” said Manzullo. “That’s why I support this Buy American provision. It will ensure any spending in the stimulus bill will support American jobs.”
Lipinski added, “Congress is currently considering whether we will spend $825 billion - or more - American taxpayer dollars to get the economy moving again and put people back to work,” said Lipinski, “Everyone should agree that these taxpayer dollars should be spent here at home. Wherever possible, Federal, state, and local governments, contractors and subcontractors should spend the stimulus grants to help American industries and American workers.”
The Buy American Act of 1933 requires the federal government to support domestic manufacturers and workers by purchasing American-made goods, but it is riddled with loopholes and is often waived. Unless a strong “Buy American” provision is added to any economic stimulus bill, American industries, workers, and families will not reap the full benefits of the stimulus package.
Manzullo has led Congressional efforts to strengthen American manufacturing and has successfully passed several bills to strengthen the Buy American Act. In 2001, he forced the Defense Department to cancel several foreign-based contracts for Army berets and instead rebid the contracts for American-based firms.
