Stimulating Congressional Republicans: A Primer

[we vs us]

So it looks like Obama's done some serious tacking to the right on his proposed stimulus package.  News comes today that around 40% of his $775 billion package will be in the form of tax breaks for middle class workers and small businesses.  That's around $300 billion for the percentage-impaired.

This is a major turnaround from earlier rumors which had the stimulus package being bigger (up to $1 trillion) and being more geared towards transformative projects like creating an alternative energy infrastructure, a possible rework of the healthcare system, and a massive slate of construction projects (highways, bridges, schools, etc).

According to the article, Obama's new emphasis on tax breaks is geared towards convincing Congressional Republicans that the package is worth supporting.  For their part, Boehner and McConnell have been grumbling publicly about the size and scope of a stimulus package for awhile now, treading a fine line between acknowledging the need for government to do something vaguely helpful, and pushing back with some pretty predictable strains of free-market fundamentalism (your basic "let the economy correct itself" folderol).

After the tax breaks are subtracted, there will still be roughly $400+ billion for other priorities, but these days, how far does a $100 billion really go, anyway? Tulsa alone has $725 million shovel-ready projects on the table.

[RecycleMichael]

The remaining amount for infrastructure (60% of $775 Billion) is $465 billion. US population estimate today is 301,139,947.

This equals $1,544 per person. Tulsa has an estimated population of 393,049.

Multiply the two and Tulsa share is $606 million.

It seems like enough for me to do the things we want.

We have submitted the list. Will our two Senators and our Congressman fight to bring this amount back to Tulsa?

[Gaspar]

It actually looks really good.  

I love the statement from transition-team spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter. "We're guided by what works, not by any ideology or special interests."

He's not tacking, he's on a wave-runner, jumping wakes back to economic reality.

I'm liking him more.  

[Hometown]

I'm not counting on us getting our share and I'm not confident that our Congressional delegation will do much to help with this.  They are probably more interested in making symbolic gestures that appeal to the hard core right.

At least Kathy Taylor seems to be doing her part.  If the whole team was involved it would probably increase our odds.

And $660,000 or $725,000 million doesn't even begin to address Tulsa's many many deficiencies:  Like uninterrupted freeway between Dallas and Kansas City that takes the shortest route right through Tulsa.

[rwarn17588]

Oh ...

I thought this was a thread about another lawmaker caught in a sex scandal.

Carry on ...

[we vs us]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Oh ...

I thought this was a thread about another lawmaker caught in a sex scandal.

Carry on ...

Was I that obvious?  

Damn.