For the stimulus plan, “Buy American” can mean Canada, too. The White House will reportedly exempt our neighbors up north from the stimulus provision which favors buying American-made products. It had become a sore spot in Canuck-American trade relations, eh? source
the good The Congressional Budget Office, which has no ties to the White House, says that the economy will recover in late 2009, which they say is “largely the result of fiscal stimulus.”
the bad Despite that positive development, this negative development should get conservatives in a tizzy. The deficit will reach a record $1.6 trillion. The old belt doesn’t fit anymore.
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We have to bring these deficits down very dramatically. That’s going to require some very hard choices.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner • Regarding how they expect to pay for all of those deficits the government’s built up over the last year or so. Expect the teabaggers to freak out even more at this news. • source
-8.3%decline in local and state spending during the fourth quarter of 2008 – the height of the economic decline. The first quarter of 2009 also saw declines
+4.8%increase in local and state spending during the second quarter of 2009 – after the stimulus money hit; based on these numbers, the money is working, kids source
I had felt they would be pointless. There is no point in meeting with my constituents and listen to them and have them listen to you if what is basically an unruly mob prevents you from having an intelligent conversation.
New York Democratic Rep. Tim Bishop • On his decision to suspend town hall meetings with his constituents after a June event got incredibly out of hand. Bishop was forced to run to his car under police escort after some of the people at the meeting got out of hand in their opinions on energy, health care, and the auto bailout. He’s not alone, but the targets tend to be House Democrats who supported the $787 billion stimulus. YELLING ISN’T GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING, PEOPLE! • source