WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Senate voted 61-37 to approve President Barack Obama's proposed $838 billion economic stimulus bill Tuesday.
The measure will now have to be reconciled with an $819 billion version the House of Representatives passed on January 28.
From CNN Politics
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AWESOME..
GOOD JOB ELECTED OFFICIALS!!
CONGRATS MR. PRESIDENT!
Here's to what is hopefully a turn upwards!
BYE BYE AMERICA!
About fricking time!
Thank God! Now, can we all move on to discussing the next step in trying to save our country?
What Repuglicons will be on the conference committee?
God help my children. I can't leave them enough to pay off this debt when they grow up, and the government will take every penny they make in future taxes and it still won't be enough.
Good job at screwing up our future you dumb Dem's in congress!!!
Where was CNN yesterday????
Suppose our children will thank us one day for giving away their future to the rich?
bout time. I guess there were only 37 idiots still in denial or in need of a reality check.
Way to go Dems! Now the conference committee will probably determine the exact nature of the bill.
And while those 3 GOPers try desperately to save their political party , the rest of the feces-flinging monkeys in the GOP seal their own fate. I wonder how they're going to try to rewrite this one to take credit when the stimulus saves our collective a$$. That's right...they can't. Obama showed more cajones than any recent president by fully owning this thing last night and taking responsibility for what he felt was a necessary act.
OMG--WHAT A BUNCH OF DUMBA__, THIS WILL NOT WORK, WAY TOO MUCH PORK
Well I think like most people I don't like this bill, but I see no better alternatives. So let's get this done, cross our fingers & hope like all hell that most of this bill works! Remember (to those of you who advocate against this bill) that the last time the worlds lone supper power (Rome) collapsed it caused the dark ages!
When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers must find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well.
Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big bonus.
Our government should not be immune from similar risks.
Therefore:
Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members.
Reduce Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State).
Then, reduce their staff by 25%.
Accomplish this over the next 8 years
(two steps/two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting.
Some Yearly Monetary Gains Include:
$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress. (267 members X $165,200 pay/member/ yr.)
$97,175,000 for elimination of their staff. (estimate $1.3 Million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each member of the Senate every year)
$240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion/yr)
The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country!
We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing.
Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few)
Note:
Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. Also, we have 3 senators that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ months (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.
Summary of opportunity:
$ 44,108,400 reduction of congress members.
$282,100, 000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.
$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.
$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining hou se members.
$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate members.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members.
$8,073,383,400 per year, estimat ed total savings. (that's 8-BILLION just to start!)
Big business does these types of cuts all the time.
If Congresspersons were required to serve 20, 25 or 30 years (like everyone else) in order to collect retirement benefits, tax payers could save a bundle.
Now they get full retirement after serving only ONE term !!!
Here's the thing, no person is perfect, and no one can predict the future, but Obama is wise, pragmatic, and politically savve–there is no way he can let the economy collapse on his watch–his political future depends on it and so do the lives of his daughters and future generations of Americans. What is inadequate or fails, he will work to repair or eliminate. What's missing he will work to add. What's working he will work to expand. He has no other choice, nor do we. Republicans need to understand that. Yes, they're banking any recovery won't be evident til after the 2010 elections so that they can sail into office and then bask in the success of Obama's plan after the recovery picks up. But that will just set them up for failure in 2012. My advice–do everything to help Obama succeed and share in mutual success.
Tell your children to watch the news tonight as the USA becomes the United Socialist States of America. They will be able to tell their children they were there the day responsibility died.
I wish this was a democratic society and the public had a voice on this "Stimulus Package" a.k.a. Spending Socialist Package. The country is quickly going down the wrong path.
Now, can we all just get along?
Congratulations, every individual in the US now owes another $18,000 in taxes. But wait 40% of Obamanation doesn't pay taxes. So those of us who are not on some sort of liberal sponsored entitlement program now owe another $25,200 to the democrats. Way to go. And don't forget they aim to get more for "the children. Bunch of lying thieves.
God help us
Sad day for the United States-great day for the Socialist States.
I PERSONALLY COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF OUR NEW PRESIDENT. HE HAS GIVEN A COUNTRY HOPE AGAIN SOMETHING WE DID NOT HAVE. WHAT WE HAVE ENDURED UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTATION SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD NO SAY IN ANYTHING. WE NOW HAVE A VOICE AGAIN. THANK GOD FOR OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This morning I sent a very respectful email to our Republican Representative from NC and let him know I will work hard for WHOMEVER RUNS AGAINST HIM the next time.
Enough emails, enough phone calls, maybe they will get the message. Staying quiet gave us the last 8 years. Do you want more republicans giving to their wealthy old friends?
Great!!! Congs Barack.