Edward's price tag

[jillan]

Edwards' big _ and costly _ proposals By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
Fri May 11, 11:59 AM ET



WASHINGTON - Presidential candidate John Edwards is offering more policy proposals than any other candidate in the primary and his ideas are winning loud applause from Democratic audiences.



The question is whether other voters will cheer when they see the price tag — more than $125 billion a year.

Edwards is quick to acknowledge his spending on health care, energy and poverty reduction comes at a cost, with more plans to come. On Friday, he proposed an $8 billion college scholarship program, an outgrowth of his "College for Everyone" idea in 2005.

All told, Edwards' proposals would equal more than $1 trillion if he could get them enacted into law and operational during two White House terms.
...
$15 billion-$20 billion to help achieve his goal of ending poverty in the U.S. within 30 years. That includes $4.2 billion to increase the earned income tax credit, which refunds payroll and income taxes to low-income people; $4 billion to create 1 million short-term jobs to help the unemployed climb out of poverty; and $3 billion for $500 work bonds to help low-income workers save.

_$13 billion energy fund to develop and encourage more efficiency and renewable energy use. That includes $3 billion in tax credits for the production of renewable energy and $1 billion to help the U.S. auto industry modernize with the latest fuel-efficient technology. He said the fund would be paid for by selling $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and by ending $3 billion in subsidies for big oil companies.

_$1 billion rural recovery plan with initiatives like increased investment in rural small businesses, education, health care and resources to fight methamphetamine abuse.

_$5 billion in foreign aid to combat international poverty, including $3 billion to help pay for primary education for every child in the world.

Edwards also has promoted other ideas he has in the works, such as an education plan that includes his goal of eliminating financial barriers to college, a border security plan and federal spending on stem cells. But he's yet to announce details or costs. .....

There's definitely a lack of numbers in some of his proposals," said Paul Weinstein Jr., chief operating officer at the centrist Progressive Policy Institute. "I think you should be commended for wanting to provide universal health care and to eliminate poverty. I think it would be more legitimate if he would identify some of the ways in which he would pay for these things."

complete article at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070511/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_spending_6

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Well, if we'd quit pissing away the treasury on the debacle in Iraq,

we'd easily be able to afford Edwards' proposals.

[Labors of Hercules]

13. bingo. 'nuf said. n/t

[dragonlady]

2. Spending this money would make our country stronger in the long run

Sometimes you have to realize that it's wise to make some sacrifices to invest in long-term gains. And it's time for the richest few percent of the population to make a few sacrifices again.

[aquart]

3. Collect corporate back taxes, renegotiate oil and mineral rights.

Oh, and SOAK THE RICH.

No more Paris Hiltons.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. The tax and spend trillion dollar man. We are broke and have no money, John.

[Telly Savalas]

9. The United States has the highest per capita GDP in the world.

You really believe we should maintain our regressive taxation system?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

18. We have a $2.9 trillion budget

Even if we subtract the budget deficit from this we can spend $2.5 trillion this year without raising taxes and running a deficit. We have the wealth available. The question is what are we going to choose to do with the budget. Are we going to waste $2 billion a week in Iraq? Are we going to spend half a trillion a year on instruments of destruction? Or are we going to re-allocate money to health care, anti-poverty programs and spend less on corporate welfare for defense contractors and a failed war?

I am glad Edwards is stating what he intends to do and how he intends to do it. Every presidential candidate should be required by voters to do the same. Voting should not be a faith-based initiative.

[w4rma]

5. "The" queston, huh? (nt)

[Colobo]

6. That's why candidates can't be too specific this early

[Mojambo]

7. Nobody ever frets about how we are going to pay for tax cuts.

You notice that?

But when the programs to help ordinary people are put on the table, it's the first question that gets asked.

Edwards should say he's going to end the war (and all the stealing by Bushie contractors) and repeal the tax cuts for billionaries and then if that's not enough (and it could be) he'll do what Bush did, and borrow.

Because at least he'd be borrowing to invest in America's future rather than stealing for today.

[primative1]

17. P E N T A G O N

Its a one word answer. One look is all it takes..

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Nedra Pickler is a RW hag/hitwoman.

It/She may not even be a real person.

[Mojambo]

10. It DOES sound like a made up name. n/t

[Clark2008]

12. She's a real person.

I've met her.

(I used to be a reporter).

Here's a link to a really big picture of her:
http://blogs.chron.com/whitehouse/archives/Crawford2006%20006.jpg

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. I know she's "real."

I'm just not sure if she's real.

If one were to look at the body of her "work" over the last 8 years, it becomes obvious what her role is for AP.

[1932]

11. I am thrilled by the idea of investing that money in things that pay off and not

in bombs and tax breaks for the wealthy and no-bid federal contracts for companies that aren't giving back value to society.

[JNelson6563]

14. Imagine! Investing in America

and her people! WTF is Edwards thinking!

Julie

[mnhtnbb]

16. I was researching a company for an investment opportunity

and discovered that up to 30% of water is being lost in cities like New York
and Boston due to aged pipes that have been in place for 100 years.

Talk about infrastructure needs!