The Farts of Compromise; Hacking the Stimulus

[Orwellian_Ghost]

The Farts of Compromise; Hacking the Stimulus
Old Politics Undercuts the New as the Senate Reverts to Horse Trading

by Danny Schechter
It became clear Friday night that our economy may not recover until our politics do.

To President Obama, the delays and endless Congressional carping about his recovery plan was "inexcusable." He was reduced to reading the latest unemployment numbers aloud as if to say, ‘what world are you guys in?

"Last month, another 600,000 Americans lost their jobs," Mr. Obama said. "That is the single worst month of job loss in 35 years. The Department of Labor also adjusted their job loss numbers for 2008 upwards, and now report that we have lost 3.6 million jobs since this recession began."

<snip>

With Rahm Emmanuel brokering compromises and chipping away at the solid wall of Republican bluster, the Dems gave up some of Obama'a promised middle class tax breaks in a bill downsizing government spending-which is, as the president noted, what a stimulus is. In the end, GOP favored tax cuts made up 42% of the measure, roughly proportional to the number of seats they hold. This was politics, not principle, at work.

To get the deal, here's part of what the Obamacrats sacrificed:

* $40 billion State Fiscal Stabilization
* $16 billion School Construction
* $1.25 billion project based rental
* $2.25 billion Neighborhood Stabilization (Eliminate)
* $1.2 billion in Retrofitting Project 8 Housing
* $7.5 billion of State Incentive Grants
* $3.5 billion Higher Ed Construction (Eliminated)
* $ 100 million FSA modernization
* $50 million CSERES Research
* $65 million Watershed Rehab
* $30 million SD Salaries
* $100 million Distance Learning
* $98 million School Nutrition
* $50 million aquaculture
* $2 billion broadband
* $1 billion Head Start/Early Start
* $5.8 billion Health Prevention Activity
* $2 billion HIT Grants
* $1 billion Energy Loan Guarantees
* $4.5 billion GSA
* $3.5 billion Federal Buildings Greening.



<snip>

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/02/09-3

[msongs]

1. bipartisanship = repubs still in control while dems dishonor their values nt

[Winterblues]

2. * $3.5 billion Federal Buildings Greening.

Why would anyone not want to make Federal building more energy efficient? Can't be the cost, it is less than we spend in two weeks for Iraq. What can be their rationale? I am really interested in their thought process on this one..

[chill_wind]

3. Senate Dems were rolled by Rahm

to cut even more. Rahm deserves a place in the new urban dictionary.

Rahm-
noun, common - a closet Republican.


Bipartisan Deal Eases Way For Stimulus Bill in Senate
Compromise Sets Up Tough Negotiations With House

Obama endorsed the moderates' effort and brought its leaders -- Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) -- to the White House to discuss their proposed cuts. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel attended the final meetings in Reid's office last night to work out lingering differences. Before Emanuel arrived, Collins said, Democrats were advocating $63 billion in cuts. "Then Rahm got involved, and a much better proposal came forward," she said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/06/AR2009020602097_pf.html

Aid to Low-Income Families Total

▼$26,955,100,000

Aid to States Total

▼$37,660,000,000


more-- good side by side chart
Link: http://www.propublica.org/special/the-stimulus-bills-house-vs.-senate