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24 Feb 2009 10:02

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U.S.: Obama to whiny governors: Stop being so whiny

  • If we agree on 90 percent of this stuff, and we’re spending all our time on television arguing about 1, 2, 3 percent of the spending in this thing … that starts sounding more like politics.
  • Barack Obama • On the stimulus package, parts of which may lead to states picking up the bill down the road. Some Republican governors have complained about this (somewhat loudly). Some of the complaining governors are potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates. • source

22 Feb 2009 10:35

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U.S.: Two states, two approaches to the stimulus

  • Mississippi: Ehhhh … Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, says he won’t take some of the allocated funds for his state if it means extra costs for Mississippi down the road. He specifically noted the unemployment tax, which might force the state to pick up the tab for increased benefits. “I mean, we want more jobs,” Barbour said. “You don’t get more jobs by putting an extra tax on creating jobs.” source
  • Mississippi: Ehhhh … Governor Haley Barbour, a Republican, says he won’t take some of the allocated funds for his state if it means extra costs for Mississippi down the road. He specifically noted the unemployment tax, which might force the state to pick up the tab for increased benefits. “I mean, we want more jobs,” Barbour said. “You don’t get more jobs by putting an extra tax on creating jobs.”
  • Massachusetts: Bring it on! Democratic Governor Deval Patrick, on the other hand, has zero qualms with taking a ton of stimulus cash, if it means building up the state’s – and by extension, the country’s – infrastructure. He specifically mentioned roads. “Whether governors say they will or won’t take this or that as part of the stimulus bill, in some ways, is irrelevant,” Patrick said. “People want that help.” source

17 Feb 2009 23:22

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U.S., World: Obama signed the stimulus. What’s his next order of business?

  • 17,000 fresh troops to Afghanistan source

14 Feb 2009 09:31

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Biz, U.S.: Obama has his stimulus package – he just needs to sign it

  • I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we’ll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done.
  • President Barack Obama • During his weekly radio address, on the passage of the $787 billion stimulus package he pushed through Congress. He hoped to get bipartisan support but it didn’t happen, with the bill passing along party lines. • source

10 Feb 2009 10:34

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U.S.: The Senate votes on the stimulus bill today. How big is it?

  • $827 billion right now, $100 billion less than before source

08 Feb 2009 21:25

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U.S.: Harsh criticism of the stimulus thing from a top senator

  • Everybody on the street in America understands that. This is not the right road to go. We’ll pay dearly.
  • Sen. Richard Shelby • The ranking Republican on the Senate Banking Committee. So, if this isn’t the right road to go down, why didn’t we go down the right road with our last president? Just sayin’. • source

06 Feb 2009 20:25

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U.S.: OK, the Senate may finally get behind Obama’s economic plan

  • $805 billion, the size of the current stimulus package source
 

18 Jan 2009 10:30

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U.S.: Add tax cuts and we’ll love your plan even more, Obama

  • 58% public support for Obama’s economic stimulus plan, according to a new CNN survey source