Found this article on www.google.com" target="_blank" >google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h2kcyAL18TkkXU0iWv_IQk3y8atgD96OOISG0" target="_blank">Google News…
It’s one dose of bad news after another — a slumping stock market, rising unemployment and billions of taxpayer dollars used to rescue ailing banks.
For Americans, the question is: How long will the economic crisis last? For President Barack Obama, it’s how long will the public wait before they start demanding results?
Gov. Bobby Jindal of Lousiana on Friday became the first governor to officially refuse part of the federal stimulus money, saying he would reject a portion of expanded unemployment benefits that would eventually require his state to raise taxes on businesses.
At least five other Republican governors are saying they also may spurn portions of the federal payout.
That’s raising objections from lawmakers, mayors and other critics who say the governors are putting political ideology before the interest of their constituents who need help.
Jindal is widely considered a strong contender in the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential sweepstakes. A rising political star, he’s been tapped to give the GOP response to President Obama’s address to Congress Tuesday.
I personally think this is all political posturing. The Republicans are upset at not getting a majority in the Senate and/or House, plus they lost the White House. Jindal cares more about his bid in 2012 for President more than his constituents’ long-term interests?
It’s time to put such petty things behind us and fix what has happened to the country.
Well that is the “billion” dollar question. Will this new package help the economy begin to come back rom this recession. The House of Representatives passed an $838B spending bill to pull the country out of this downward spiral.
Lets take a little look. The House has put several projects in the plan that are “supposed” to create jobs and hel “jolt” the economy. Well some of the projects, in my opinion, do not need to be in this package. Here is a chart showing what the House passed and what the Senate has tentatively agreed to. CNN Chart
I think that improving some of the federal buildings is important, but not so important as to be included in this bill. The transportation items are needed because our roads and bridges are in terrible shape and neeed reparing. The agriculture spending needs to be done because our farmers need help, if it is going to cost more to export goods to other countries, which make up a majority of these bigger farms income. Labor, health and education should be more because that is where it is needed most.
In my opinion, and John Stewart said the same thing on his show, lets do the “trickle up” theory. Give us the money, and we will use it to pay off some of our debts. Sure it may not pay off everything that consumers owe, but it will help jumpstart the economy. We will either pay off our mortages, or put it in the banks, which will help the banks stay afloat.
Site last updated Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
