|
 |
 |
|
On Stimulus, Internecine Squabbles
-
02/06/09 08:13 AM ET
The Senate is back at it with the stimulus debate today, after shelving plans to vote on it last night. Why the delay? The president's party doesn't have the votes. It isn't Republican opposition that is giving them the bellyache now; those GOPers aren't coming over for love or money.
The problem is with nervous Democrats who want a smaller, more stimulative bill. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told Time magazine this morning that "composition and size are still sticking points." If you have a problem with both of those, it means you think the bill still stinks.
At the House Democrats’ retreat in Williamsburg, Va., last night, President Obama gave a rousing rallying cry for the package, raising his voice and attempting to get his party fired up and ready to go to conference with the upper chamber. What a mess that promises to be — I can say that without seeing the final draft of the Senate bill.
The bill got larger when Democrats voted for Republican amendments to provide $15,000 tax credits for homebuyers, which adds on $20 billion. The bill also contains another tax concession not found in the House bill, a $70 billion patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax. But the knives are still out for education funding, arts funding and new computers for the Department of Agriculture, and there are several Democrats who want to do some serious cutting.
President Obama has launched into campaign mode late in the game, considering Republicans started campaigning against this bill — on television, radio and the Internet — weeks ago. The American people listened. The process looks partisan and bungled, and while it may be rescued completely by a healthy, bipartisan conference, I doubt it.
In my column this week, I proposed Obama put the brakes on this and start over with his own bill. Congress is a co-equal branch, but a partisan bill that passes without any GOP support, balloons the deficit and may or may not affect the economy is a bad way to start his presidency.
Obama wrote yesterday in The Washington Post that our destiny isn't written for us, but by us. He should heed his own words, and know that it's not too late to show bold leadership by taking the reins and getting this right — or at least a whole lot better.
WILL OBAMA LISTEN TO THE CENTRISTS IN CONFERENCE OR SIGN THE DEMOCRATIC BILL? Ask A.B. returns Monday, Feb. 9. Please join my weekly video Q & A by sending your questions and comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you.
The problem is with nervous Democrats who want a smaller, more stimulative bill. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told Time magazine this morning that "composition and size are still sticking points." If you have a problem with both of those, it means you think the bill still stinks.
At the House Democrats’ retreat in Williamsburg, Va., last night, President Obama gave a rousing rallying cry for the package, raising his voice and attempting to get his party fired up and ready to go to conference with the upper chamber. What a mess that promises to be — I can say that without seeing the final draft of the Senate bill.
The bill got larger when Democrats voted for Republican amendments to provide $15,000 tax credits for homebuyers, which adds on $20 billion. The bill also contains another tax concession not found in the House bill, a $70 billion patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax. But the knives are still out for education funding, arts funding and new computers for the Department of Agriculture, and there are several Democrats who want to do some serious cutting.
President Obama has launched into campaign mode late in the game, considering Republicans started campaigning against this bill — on television, radio and the Internet — weeks ago. The American people listened. The process looks partisan and bungled, and while it may be rescued completely by a healthy, bipartisan conference, I doubt it.
In my column this week, I proposed Obama put the brakes on this and start over with his own bill. Congress is a co-equal branch, but a partisan bill that passes without any GOP support, balloons the deficit and may or may not affect the economy is a bad way to start his presidency.
Obama wrote yesterday in The Washington Post that our destiny isn't written for us, but by us. He should heed his own words, and know that it's not too late to show bold leadership by taking the reins and getting this right — or at least a whole lot better.
WILL OBAMA LISTEN TO THE CENTRISTS IN CONFERENCE OR SIGN THE DEMOCRATIC BILL? Ask A.B. returns Monday, Feb. 9. Please join my weekly video Q & A by sending your questions and comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you.
Most Viewed RSS Feed »
