CNN: House Republicans unveil list of "wasteful" Senate stimulus spending. WTF?

[geardaddy]

First off, I'd like to know where this list comes from.

Secondly, I see a lot of good things on this list. Like these:

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.



That's right GOP, you've never wasted a penny on ANYTHING.
:eyes:


http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/gop.stimulus.worries/index.html?iref=topnews

[Ian David]

1. I don't see ANYTHING wasteful there except the project to stop Mississippi from drowning.

They didn't vote for Obama.

Let them learn to swim.

Or put their homes on pontoons.



No, not really.

But why do Repukes want to drown Mississippi?


Besides, there is no such thing as a wasteful public works project when we need to pull out of yet another Republican Recession.

Spending money on ANY public works project is an economic stimulus.

If we spent a billion dollars to pay people to put smiley face stickers on the backs of traffic signs, that would still be a positive economic stimulus.

[geardaddy]

8. MN, WI, IA and IL did

Everywhere else on the Mississippi voted for McSame. Let THEM learn to swim.

[Ian David]

12. Or they can learn to breathe under water.

Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps photographed trying to learn to breathe under water by inhaling water vapor in a tube.

[geardaddy]

14. I already know how to do that.

;)

[Why Syzygy]

2. It isn't tax cuts for the top 1%, silly.

:sigh:

[w4rma]

3. nice. (nt)

[47of74]

4. And from all of us who live along the Mississippi River...

I offer the following to the Republicans...

[book_worm]

5. I believe all of those things listed can create jobs--I don't see there point.

[firedupdem]

6. It kills me to see the same motherfuckers who have okayed

spending trillions in Iraq, for no apparent reason, are now questioning dollars being spent to benefit this country! I am so sick of these assholes!

Why can't more people call them out on this shit?

[spanone]

7. the media is just like ru$h, they want obama to fail

[Democrats_win]

9. The criteria, I guess, is: does it create jobs? Some of those don't

It's not that the list in the op is bad (some are very good) but there are a couple on this list that shouldn't be here because they are not necessarily part of a job creation package.

[geardaddy]

11. But the House Repigs consider all of the things on the list

"wasteful"

[TwilightGardener]

10. STD's? Tribal alcohol abuse? How does that help the economy?

[geardaddy]

13. OK, fair enough...

But what about all the other infrastructure things like improvements to building, etc.?

[TwilightGardener]

16. I think whoever puts their pet projects into a STIMULUS bill (not a

yearly appropriations/spending bill, but this specific STIMULUS bill) should be forced to explain on the House/Senate floor exactly HOW it will stimulate the economy and create job growth. And if the STD argument is "Well, if you aren't scratching your crotch all day, you'll be a more-productive worker", then the project gets stripped.

[Beetwasher]

17. By Keeping From People Getting Sick

It keeps healthcare costs down. It absolutely helps the economy.

Not to mention these programs are almost entirely SALARIES.

[TwilightGardener]

19. You've got to be kidding. Only in the smallest way would a few less

cases of herpes, etc. have an impact on the economy. That is absurd.

[Beetwasher]

20. No, It's Not

A few less cases? You have no idea how these programs work. The amount of money these programs cost in the stimulus is so insignificant compared to the total it's laughable AND from a cost benefit analysis, is worth it. The types of programs work and save money. For you and Republicans to make issues out of these paltry sums is stupid and ignorant. But go ahead and side w/ the Repubs on this.

[TwilightGardener]

21. I'm not saying it's not worthy legislation, I'm saying it doesn't belong

in an emergency stimulus spending measure. How long is it going to take for Billy Joe Bob and Lula Mae to get rid of their crabs and get back to work thanks to this spending item--YEARS?

[Beetwasher]

22. The Money Will Be Spent HIRING PEOPLE

People to run these programs. These programs consist almost ENTIRELY of salaries for the counselors, doctors, nurses, administrators etc. These programs will lead DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY to hiring people. Many (if not most) of the these programs are run out hospitals that are in DIRE need of funding in order to remain afloat.

That's stimulus.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Health care already has tons of jobs open--the health care industry is the

ONE industry that doesn't need "stimulated"--'cause people will always get sick. Speaking as an RN.

[Beetwasher]

24. Heh. WRONG

Every industry is being affected and jobs are jobs.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/38730897.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Minnesota health care: Condition critical

Once immune from recessions, the industry finds itself ailing as people forgo doctor visits. Local hospitals have shed more than 1,000 workers since last year and postponed construction projects. The University of Minnesota Medical School is "looking under every stone'' for savings.

--snip--

[TwilightGardener]

26. That's regional. If you're a health care worker, and you're willing to move, you will find work.

Now, unless this STD program is of a scale where they are going to hire THOUSANDS of workers who would otherwise not find work, it's not going to help stimulate the economy in a significant way, and you know it, so you can spare yourself the embarrassing bullshit arguments.

[Beetwasher]

28. You Don't Have A Clue What You're Talking About

But keep wallowing in your ignorance.

Jobs are jobs. Thes programs will create jobs. That's the definition of stimulus. Healthcare is an area of the economy that has been neglected, and preventive programs save money. It's a proven fact. So, you have job create AND an investment for FUTURE savings in healthcare. That's a double whammy for stimulus.

As to the regionality of this, you are beyond ignorant if you think that and have no idea how the financial crisis is hitting places like hospitals and other non-profits who run these programs and who depend on donations and investments such as endowments for their income and for operating costs. Donations have dropped dramatically and just like everyone's 401k's have lost tons of money, so have the hospitals and non profits all over the country, and as a result they are being forced, just like everyone else, to lay people off. And it will ONLY get worse if nothing is done.

But keeping spewing your ignorant nonsense.

[TwilightGardener]

30. You are hilarious. Your justification for STD screening as an economic stimulus

is now beyond absurd, and you know it.

[Beetwasher]

31. Keep Up The Ignorance, How Do You Think You Screen For STD'S?

Is it done magically? No. People do it. People who need to be hired and get paid salaries.

Imagine that. Doing a GOOD and NECESSARY thing, creating jobs and investing in future health care savings by preventing disease.


My, how ridiculous. :eyes:

You are descending into the realm of pathetic ignorance, but keep up with your Republican talking points. You have no clue about the details of the program, but because Republicans told you it's bad, you parrot them.

[ozu]

27. not so much

I'm in healthcare on the IT side and while the industry as a whole is weathering the economy slightly better than others, we're still being hurt and laying people off.

[JohnnyBoots]

15. If they turned all Federal Buildings green to run on natural energy, ie wind, they would

save a ton of money over the next 100 years. HVAC is the biggest energy draw and polluter in buildings. I think that would be 6 billion very well spent.

[ellie]

36. Agreed

As taxpayers, we are paying for the energy used in federal buildings. I want them to be the most energy efficient systems available.

[geardaddy]

39. I totally agree.

Better (green) insulated and powered buildings are a necessary investment.

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Sure the GOP wants to spend your money.... just look at the Pentagon and war $$$.

[ljm2002]

25. Time for Obama to use the bully pulpit...

...and reframe this debate.

Even if the bill goes through, allowing these criminals to frame the debate is simply unacceptable. Obama needs to take the bullhorn in his hands and start to appeal directly to the American people -- appeal to those who are at risk of losing their jobs, or who have already done so. Talk about spending multipliers vs. tax breaks for the wealthy and what has really happened. Talk about money spent on bank bailouts that have done nothing for Main Street.

President Obama, please use the power that you have. We are in dire need of your leadership on this issue -- not only leadership in the halls of the federal government, but in the country as a whole. People who listen to the radio and TV programs are having their opinions shaped and confirmed right now, you have the most powerful single voice in this debate, please USE IT!

[supernova]

29. Anying that isn't DoD is "wasteful" to these morans

:eyes:

[jpak]

32. They forgot these

The War in Iraq

KBR no-bid Iraq contracts

Faith based funding

Blackwater Iraq contracts

Tax cuts for billionaires

[LeeM]

33. What waste?

How is anything on that list wasteful? All of the items require people & construction (or production). Autoworkers, Public health employees, construction crews, engineers, inspectors, the direct impact is almost instantanious. Of course, most of the money goes to the civilian sector.

[Beetwasher]

34. Exactly

Welcome to DU!

[safeinOhio]

35. Millions like this on the googles

Sacramento, Calif.

House Republicans clearly suffer from a form of split personality. Last month, Minority Leader John Boehner unveiled a series of reform proposals he dubbed "Change You Deserve." But a few days later, over half of his GOP caucus voted for a farm bill full of pork-barrel projects.

Pragmatic Republicans who voted for the farm bill defend themselves privately by claiming GOP voters send mixed signals, saying they want smaller government while also pressing for federal largesse. But is that still the case following the egregious spending excesses of the Bush years, and the victory of John McCain, an antipork candidate, in presidential primaries?

[LeftHander]

37. Wasted if it doen't go for CEO bonuses.....nt

[ThoughtCriminal]

38. Same imbeciles who thought the New Deal was full of waste

Yes it also had money for infrastructure, improving park lands, conservation, even public art. It put people to work, restored the country and we still benefit from many of those projects. And by revitalizing our industrial base, when WW-2 came, we had the capacity and transportation infrastructure to win it.

The GOP never got over it.

[geardaddy]

40. kick

Write to cnn to have them stop parroting GOP talking points.