Democrats Get Down To Brass Tacks On Jobs Bill

[NJmaverick]

"Any member of the caucus was invited, and everyone was asked to bring a series of policy ideas," the aide said. "Nothing was considered too crazy."

At least 40 members of the caucus attended at least one of these meetings. We collected 121 policy ideas, and since about December--beginning of December--we've really started focusing on winnowing that list down to something more manageable--stuff that really gives us the most bang for the buck.
The work continues, but leadership believes it has the basis for a package.

"We've identified four main areas: small-business job creation, infrastructure jobs, green jobs, and public sector jobs, the last of which is more of going to be a job-preservation--giving aid to states to retain teachers and firefighters," the aide said. "Small business, infrastructure, green areas are where we think we can really create some jobs."

Soon after the Senate return, leadership hopes to present members with an ideas package, outlining what they hope the yet-to-be written legislative package will look like. Yet to be decided, though, is whether the bill will have to pass through all the slow-moving channels of the Senate, or whether leadership will leapfrog most of them.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/democrats-get-down-to-brass-tacks-on-jobs-bill.php?ref=fpb

[mdmc]

1. They know we like jobs, everyone likes jobs, jobs are good

They should have come out with the jobs first, the mandated for profit insurance..sometime later..

[NJmaverick]

2. Health care costs were hurting companies, so it had to be addressed

[Berry Cool]

3. Please, PLEASE leapfrog the Senate.

The last thing we need is Joe Lieberman threatening to filibuster this because "spending" is not the way to create jobs, "tax cuts" are. Because that will make me do this:

[clear eye]

4. So they're not going to call everything useful "too expensive"?

As the entire borrowing power of the U.S. Treasury is going into endless war and endless bank bailouts and gov't-backed "loans" to Wall St, and the states are groaning under the burden of more and more unfunded mandates, it leaves one wondering what money they will find to pay for all the wonderful ideas. Considering the spending priorities so far, I am definitely going to wait and see before I get my hopes up that anything helpful will be passed. I don't think I could take watching another moderately effective plan for dealing w/ a critical need be whittled away to nothing but excuses.

And why are the leaders of U.S. based mega-corporations not meeting in this time of U.S. economic crisis to brainstorm ideas for creating jobs? Are they eagerly waiting instead until working people are brought to their knees and will except the most meagerly paid slave labor?

[notadmblnd]

5. Well republicans have been hollering for job creation

Let see what they bring to the table this time? I'll bet the only thing they bring is no.

[NJmaverick]

6. I'm thinking they will bring 'NO!"