Key Democrat Says Lawmakers Should Strip 'Tens of Billions' From Stimulus

[blueclown]

Caution, it's from Fox "News".

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/02/key-democrat-says-lawmakers-strip-tens-billions-stimulus/

A key Democratic senator told FOX News on Monday that he wants to strip "tens of billions" of dollars from the economic stimulus proposal, rejecting the White House claim that senators are complaining about just a tiny fraction of the package.

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Republicans and Democrats alike want to gut the nearly $900 billion program of items that he says will not stimulate job growth.

President Obama and his aides have downplayed disagreements over the package as it comes before the Senate for debate. Obama said Monday that "modest differences" should not stall the package, and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said GOP objections center on about $700 million worth of items -- or "seven one-hundredths of one percent" of the total package.

Not so, said Nelson.

"It's more money than that," he said. "We're talking in the billions, and tens of billions, that we're looking to exclude from this particular program."

He singled out provisions in the bill for programs like U.S. Department of Agriculture computers and medical research as items that are worth funding -- but not in a stimulus package.

Lawmakers like Nelson, along with Republican congressional leaders who are noisily slamming the program, could complicate the administration's efforts to push through the stimulus in the days ahead.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that the plan must do more to address housing and make mortgages more affordable. He said the package his colleagues would support must be "dramatically different" than the $819 billion version that passed on the House side last week without any Republican support.

"Nobody that I know of is trying to keep a package from passing," McConnell said. "We're trying to reform it."

I'm tired of "Democrats" like Ben Nelson undermining our president and his "own" party. And what makes Ben Nelson a "key Democrat"? He's just one of 59. Clever word play by Fox "News".

[nichomachus]

1. Just like they stripped it from the bank giveaway bills???

[Autumn]

2. So we can probably assume

Nelson or his people got theirs under bushes grand theft and now it is his solemn duty to make sure no one else gets anything.

[global1]

3. I'm Sorry - But How Hard Is It To Set Down Guidelines As To What Should & Shouldn't Be.....

part of this economic stimulus package? How did what is currently in the bill get there? Did the Obama team put this together or did every Congressman and Senator get his licks in to add something to this bill?

How hard is is to set some guidelines as to what constitutes a valid addition to the stimulus package?

A form that allows one to make a suggestion for the package: (Here's just an example I quickly put together)

1. Stimulus Action - describe the action
2. What it Accomplishes - job growth, tax relief, etc
3. Sector of the Economy - Business, healthcare, green, etc.
4. If it creates jobs - how many jobs; permanent or temporary; etc
5. $'s needed to be appropriated

Once everyone puts in their suggestions and answers the questions. The there is a need to go through the pile as a bipartisan effort and separate out the stimulating ideas with those that really don't and are just fluff or earmarks.

Then prioritize the ones that remain.

Guidelines should be put together to monitor the progress of each that winds up in the final bill that passes. If it is doing what it should be doing - maintain. If it looks like it's not working - pull it - and reauthorize the monies to those projects that are working.

I would like to see that the money is spent the way it was intended - and if it is a job creation action - that those jobs are jobs here in the U.S. and the monies appropriated should not be used to hire people in India, etc.

I know that this probably represents a longer time line to get a package that goes through this scrutiny passed. But I believe it is better to spend that time up from and get buy in by all involved versus throwing up a whole bunch of ideas and seeing what sticks to the ceiling.

[Thrill]

4. What a surprise. We never heard this when he was kissing Bush's ass

Getting several Democrats to support those Tax cuts

[Occam Bandage]

5. I think we need quotes around both "key" and "Democrat" there. nt

[AlinPA]

6. Limbaugh will issue his command for senate republicans to filibuster and Nelson

will probably join them.

[firedupdem]

7. When I moved here and checked Nelson's website I was

amazed. It was a bush ass kissing blog site. This guy is not a Democrat.

[Zodiak]

8. Ben Nelson

He is the single worst senator we have. During the two years I tracked Senatorial votes, he voted a total of ONE time with the Democrats on a key bill. The other 25 or so went with Bush and the Pukes. Disgusting. He was a member of the gang of 14 and was the only Democrat to vote against his party to enable Dick Cheney's office funding.

He is a habitual turn-coat, and I think he exists in the Democratic party only as a spy and a spoiler.

Here are his financial supporters:

In the general election, Nelson was endorsed by the National Rifle Association, Nebraska Right to Life <5>, Nebraskans United for Life <6>, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses <7>, Nebraska Farmers Union PAC, National Farmers Union PAC, the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC, the Business-Industry Political Action Committee, and the Omaha Police Union, all of which are conservative-leaning groups.

NO ONE has a less Democratic record in our caucus, Ben Nelson makes Leiberman look like a Kucinich. It does not surprise me in the least that he is squawking to Faux news.

If he was not so popular in Nebraska, we should take him down in a primary. But he won by more than with more than 60% of the vote.

[Arkana]

9. Then Ben Nelson can vote against it.

We still have 58. Fuck him.

[martymar64]

10. Ben Nelson is about as much of a Democrat as Limbaugh

DINO Nelson can go suck donkey dix.

[mmonk]

11. I thought you said Democrat but I see it's about Nelson instead.

[Barack_America]

12. Ben Nelson needs to decide if he's a Democrat or a Republican. nt