Nelson (D-Ne) says stimulus bill must be 'jobs, jobs, jobs'

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10554447

Published Tuesday February 3, 2009
Nelson says stimulus bill must be 'jobs, jobs, jobs'
BY JOE MORTON
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said today that senators are making progress on economic stimulus legislation and a new consensus on changes could be in place as early as this evening.

Nelson has been working with Sen. Sue Collins, R-Maine, and others to make changes in the legislation. The House passed its $819 billion version last week.


Sen. Ben Nelson.

Nelson said he wants to strip tens of billions of dollars from the bill for items such as smoking cessation programs and new computers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In its place, Nelson wants to put in at least "several billions" in funding for infrastructure projects that he says are more likely to produce jobs.

"We need to weed out non-stimulus spending and focus more on creating, saving and expanding jobs," Nelson said. "The goal back here has to be jobs, jobs, jobs."

Nelson said it’s clear that the recession is deepening into a depression -- and with so many people out of work, Congress needs to work across party lines.

"Unfortunately, this recession going into a depression didn’t come with a set of instructions for how to fix it, but it’s pretty clear some assembly will be required," Nelson said.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Govt. jobs, not private sector jobs. It's clear the private sector is made up of crooks nt

[sandnsea]

2. Computers fueled the 90s economy

Women need jobs too.

These men are relics.

[Warpy]

3. He's a Blue Dog

but he's managed to get the point, so I guess he's a student of history.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tideroller52]

5. Jobs, jobs, jobs

Although the majority of construction jobs are filled by men, (I work construction as a union Ironworker), there are women who do work construction. You then have to realize the number of women who do work in the offices and headquarters of the contractors. These include engineers, safety personnel, bookkeeping/accounting and management. Then there are the people who are employed by support type companies. Also, when all these people spend their paychecks, there is the effect it has in other segments of the economy. Last, but not least, we get better infrastructure which benefits everyone. How many jobs are going to be created by some of these other programs?

I agree with Nelson, spend the money on job creating projects. Those people will then fuel other segments of the economy. Instead of trickle down economics, lets try trickle up and out economics!