It's not news to anyone who reads this blog regularly that I am thoroughly disgusted that a deal has been reached on the stimulus package (on various radio shows called 'spendulus', 'porkulus' and 'porkapalooza'). Even at $780 billion (a cut of approximately $200 billion), this bill is a tribute to pork-barrel spending. I am sorry to see that any Republicans were talked into going along with it. According to Power Line Blog, the process still has some distance to go; House Democrats are already talking about restoring whatever spending was cut by the Senate in conference (not the tax cuts, though). The only prayer this country has is for everyone to call their congressman (or any Republican leaders they know) and scream as loud as they can against this bill (remember the immigration bill?).
I presonally like "John Thune's proposal to scrub the entire pork bill and:
...replace it with a $936 billion across-the-board-middle-class tax rebate for 182 million Americans. The amendment would result in a tax rebate of $5,143 for single filers and $10,286 for married couples who file jointly."
It really is a shame that the Republicans do not have the intestinal fortitude to oppose this bill as a voting bloc. The bill is not good for the country, and the Republicans do not need to share the blame when it fails. Supporting this type of legislation is what caused them to be voted out of office in 2008. Do they have a death wish as a party?
According to Fox News website:
"Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Susan Collins of Maine appeared to be the critical Republicans to sign onto the bill, giving Democrats the 60 votes needed to advance to a final vote."
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