What is the "stimulus bill"?

[Blloyd]

I have a very broad understanding of what this bill is for, but can anyone direct me to the document itself and what exactly is in it. I'm looking for the official bill name/number and somewhere that I can go to see it myself. Thanks in advance.

[basstardo]

Here is the bill:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.05140:

Here is a link to Jim Webb's page that outlines what VA will receive.

http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=308060&

This is all a total waste if you ask me. Congress duped us as well by saying they would post the bill for 48 hours for review. They gave everyone a few hours to review, literally, and forced a vote. I doubt anyone in Congress had time to read the full 1076 pages of the bill. This is a crock of crap being shoved down our throats.

[Mark55]

nothing like being rushed into making a decision on the largest bill to ever cross their desks! it is sorta like looking at the first house or first car and instantly deciding it is the one. my understanding is that there is 30,000,000 dollars to help save some mouse in san fran. i thought they used gerbils for that stuff.

[BubbaHoTep]

. . . . my understanding is that there is 30,000,000 dollars to help save some mouse in san fran. i thought they used gerbils for that stuff.

LOL :D :D :D No doubt they're planning to diversify! :D

[drawinout]

I have a very broad understanding of what this bill is for, but can anyone direct me to the document itself and what exactly is in it. I'm looking for the official bill name/number and somewhere that I can go to see it myself. Thanks in advance.

Don't feel bad if you don't know anything about the bill, congress doesn't know anything either... It is 100% FACT that not a single sole in congress read the bill!! Not a one of 'em!!!

[drawinout]

nothing like being rushed into making a decision on the largest bill to ever cross their desks! it is sorta like looking at the first house or first car and instantly deciding it is the one. my understanding is that there is 30,000,000 dollars to help save some mouse in san fran. i thought they used gerbils for that stuff.

How about 10(?) million dollars or so for city canals.... I can't remember the exact figure, but it was in the millions.

[TimKan7719]

The bill and how it was passed and what was known about it from the time of its conception is step two to something that I dont see as being good for the vast majority of america.
Tim

[surfchunker]

Your not hearing anything about it cause the Liberal media wants to keep us in the Dark now that they have the President they wanted .... if the same bill was trying to go thru Prior Jan 17 the media would have went screaming .....

[drawinout]

It's crazy to me the bill passed the House of Rep.s with 0 Republican support. As far as I know there were only 3 republicans in the Senate that "supported" the bill. At least a few people didn't support a bill without READING it. How could OUR congressmen pass a bill that is going to affect the next several generations without even READING it??!!! Your children's, children's, children's, children's, children are going to be paying for this mess. Welcome to the new world my HOMEBOYZZZZ!!!

[sprtsracer]

Your not hearing anything about it cause the Liberal media wants to keep us in the Dark now that they have the President they wanted .... if the same bill was trying to go thru Prior Jan 17 the media would have went screaming .....

Whoa!!! Wait a minute!!! First of all, this bill was intended to help ALL of us!!! It will create "thousands of jobs", despite what the Republicans say! It's just "sour grapes" on their part, after all!!! Our elected President has iinsured us that there is no "pork" in this bill. and we should ALL realize that this bill is best for ALL of us, whether we or our Reps, have read it or not!!! Harry Reid and Nancy Pellosi have our BEST interests at heart, so lets all just shut up and blindly follow them, and we'll all be better off 4 years from now!!! OF COURSE, OUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN MAY OWE A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WHO GIVES A $HIT ABOUT THEM, HUH??? We are in it for US!!! In fact, I already have a promissory note for my 6 year old great grand-daughter (not born yet) to sign stating that she is willing to pay this money back as long as Nancy Pellosie's little "marsh mouse" has a chance to survive! After all, what's a few million, huh??? MY A$$!!!

[surfchunker]

Yes we are all just Sheepeoles .... blindly following along like sheep to slaughter

[emanuel]

I don't think we need this "stimulus", but then again, we just handed over billions to banks with no strings attached a couple months back, not to mention the hundred of billions that we funneled into Iraq with little accountability. If we're going to throw money at stuff, at least let's spend it on stuff here in the US.

[Blloyd]

thanks Basstardo. Looks like the first link is geared towards the stimulus from last year, but the second link is directly related to the stimulus bill I was trying to refer to - this years bill that was being voted on. Maybe I should have been a little more clear, but I like the breakdown in the second article for VA. Now that I have the name I'm sure I can google it and find it :rolleyes:

[basstardo]

Yep, you're right. That is the wrong one. Hmm...

Ahh, here we go... http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf

[Lightload]

Just alot of money being spent to insure that Obama and the Dems get re-elected. Tax rebates to people that don't pay taxes....yeah, right! Oh, and don't forget the millions to ACORN. I'm embarrassed to say that one of the Repubs that voted for the bill was Specter from my state of PA. Of course I didn't vote for Specter the last time so there's nothing more I can do except to not vote for him again. Socialism, here we come!

[emanuel]

So if this stimulus bill is a waste, then by that same logic isn't the money we bailed out the banks with a waster, plus all of the money we've spent in Iraq and Afghanistan?

[FL FISHERMAN]

So if this stimulus bill is a waste, then by that same logic isn't the money we bailed out the banks with a waster, plus all of the money we've spent in Iraq and Afghanistan?

I think that is the point that some are trying to get across here. I don't even like to get into it. Coming from the military side, I don't know how we do it(I know why mind you)(talking about$$$$) but to me it seems we need money...ok lets print some more. :rolleyes:

He promised change.......I hope its on the way....

[ledweightII]

ACORN is to receive 5.7 BiLLION dollars. This bill guarenteed Bank CEO's that even with a cap on their salary that they get stock options that will be paid by the tax payers whether they are able to recover or not. The dems were able to pass a bill when they were in control back in the 90's that guarenteed home loans to ppl fully being advised that a majority would be unable to pay for the loans. I knew something was amiss when a T.V. Program was on 'Flip this house' where ppl almost doubled their investment. Everybody wanted to pirchase a second home and make a profit but somewhere it had to crash and now ppl like me will not qualify for tax credits like the rich or the poor. They are the real winners here. Ppl who barely work during the year by choice will get a tax return of up to 3400.00 even if they didn't pay but a dime in taxes. So these CEO's will get HUGE benifits and not be held accountable and the po' can get new skins on 'dar 'dubs. Yeh, this stimulus is going to stimulate my lower rear.

[ledweightII]

I keep hearing that to do something is better than nothin'. I hope that this works this time but to throw darts in the wind at a dart board more often than not hurts rather than help. I guess it is simular to appointing a tax cheat to be in charge of the treasury. Who else would you want to be in charge but somebody who knows how to work the system. It amazes me how a centralized leader of this country can be sooo pure and clean and have such a hard time vetting cabinet positions where his appointees have skeletons in their closets that would land a bunch of us either in jail or heavily fined. How could someone so clean be surrounded by so much scum? The obamanation hasn't even got his training wheels broken in and the mess is just piling up. So this stimulus bill is meant to bail out banks for bad loans that shouldn't have even been granted in the 1st place but it is a RIGHT to own a home in 'da land of 'da free. Thanks dem.s for allowing your pockets to be stuffed with equal opportunity. Here's another stimulus. Victims of crime help will be cut by 11% and the prisons are releasing 15%. Welfare is being increased by double digits. AND I'm getting 13 dollars more a week. Awesome. I feel stimulated. So if ya want change take that 13 dollars, go buy one of those innagural plates of our new savior and put it on your dresser. Everytime you get through paying your bills throw your change in that plate. That's the only change you'll see.

[ledweightII]

A small business owner told me today that the stimulus had 67 billion set aside for them(small business owners). He says that obama line vetoed it to 4 billion. Is this correct? That would mean that ACORN is goin' to get more than them. I see where a link was on the news to see where its going. recovery.gov

[jhmorgan]

A small business owner told me today that the stimulus had 67 billion set aside for them(small business owners). He says that obama line vetoed it to 4 billion. Is this correct? That would mean that ACORN is goin' to get more than them. I see where a link was on the news to see where its going. recovery.gov


Im not seeing those numbers when I read through the bill. What I see under the Small Business section is the $426 Million in loans (I think thats the #, its hard trying to find certain sections in the bill once you go past it) for SBs, with another $4 mil. set aside to pay for the administration of the loans.

I just did some quick math on a breakdown of the bill and realized that roughly $10.05 BILLION is being spent either a) building new rail systems or b)maintaining old rail systems. I understand the desire to push Americans towards mass transit to (in theory) relax our dependency on foreign oil, but RAIL SYSTEMS?!? We really could not have thought of a better way to spend that money? If you are going to use it on public work projects, why not give that money to the states to put towards Interstates and Freeways? One of the biggest expenses year in and year out is the maintenence of existing roads. This money could have drastically eased that burden on the states. But no, our great leaders decide to piss it all away on a mode of transport that is nearly as antiquated as the ferry, paddleboat, and canals. I already feel better

[Talapia]

There are definitely some things in the bill that I do not like.
Things that seem "porky" to me. On the other hand any attempt
to make it seem like the repubs would have done any better
is a total joke. There is no savior. The fault lies with us the
American people. We elect these politicians and then do not
take them to task when they act on their own behalf and not the
American People. All of these labels "libs"..."dems"..."conservatives"
is all BS. Greed is what drives people. Greed is in every political
party. I refuse to be labled. I think that anyone who does
is crazy. I am more complex than that.

[BubbaHoTep]

There are definitely some things in the bill that I do not like.
Things that seem "porky" to me. On the other hand any attempt
to make it seem like the repubs would have done any better
is a total joke. There is no savior. The fault lies with us the
American people. We elect these politicians and then do not
take them to task when they act on their own behalf and not the
American People. All of these labels "libs"..."dems"..."conservatives"
is all BS. Greed is what drives people. Greed is in every political
party. I refuse to be labled. I think that anyone who does
is crazy. I am more complex than that.

IMO, excellent post Talapia.

[Mark55]

There are definitely some things in the bill that I do not like.
Things that seem "porky" to me. On the other hand any attempt
to make it seem like the repubs would have done any better
is a total joke. There is no savior. The fault lies with us the
American people. We elect these politicians and then do not
take them to task when they act on their own behalf and not the
American People. All of these labels "libs"..."dems"..."conservatives"
is all BS. Greed is what drives people. Greed is in every political
party. I refuse to be labled. I think that anyone who does
is crazy. I am more complex than that.

just how do you take them to task? sure you can not re-elect them next time, but all you will get is someone just like them to replace them. it is as you stated...greed! it is the system that is wrong.

[emanuel]

I just did some quick math on a breakdown of the bill and realized that roughly $10.05 BILLION is being spent either a) building new rail systems or b)maintaining old rail systems. I understand the desire to push Americans towards mass transit to (in theory) relax our dependency on foreign oil, but RAIL SYSTEMS?!? We really could not have thought of a better way to spend that money? If you are going to use it on public work projects, why not give that money to the states to put towards Interstates and Freeways? One of the biggest expenses year in and year out is the maintenence of existing roads. This money could have drastically eased that burden on the states. But no, our great leaders decide to piss it all away on a mode of transport that is nearly as antiquated as the ferry, paddleboat, and canals. I already feel better

Rail for mass transit is not a bad idea. Imagine if we could get most or all of those diesel-guzzling tractor trailers and buses off the roads. Now would be a good time to invest in CSX.

[jhmorgan]

Rail for mass transit is not a bad idea. Imagine if we could get most or all of those diesel-guzzling tractor trailers and buses off the roads. Now would be a good time to invest in CSX.

Or work for them, it made me wanna go apply in person since they have an office a block away from mine...

But really, my boss and I got into this same argument about RR for mass transit. I would not disagree that the CURRENT RR's need money to maintain their safety, structural integrity, etc. However, I dont think its smart to be dropping billions on NEW RR projects like Lite Rail. From my understanding, most of the RR for commercial use are sufficient. The American people are just never going to warm up to the idea of mass transit, unless necessitated by city confinements where auto's are out of the question for most people. Couldnt they have found better places to allocate that money? Like all the stretches of I-95 that need to have thework completed? Or any other highway around America? Hell I would have been much happier if that money had just stayed out of the debate. For all our sake, I really hope this plan works but it truly scares me in the long term picture

[emanuel]

I don't like the idea of all of this spending either, whichever party it comes from, because it puts us further into debt. However, unlike previous money we pumped into the wars and the bank bailouts, this money has a better chance of recycling through the economy.

As for rail systems, I've been wishing for years that we could remove most of the commercial trucks from the roads. I know for alot of the rural areas, rail transit is not worthwhile, but I have enjoyed it in DC, NY and LA.

[wolfva]

Just alot of money being spent to insure that Obama and the Dems get re-elected. Tax rebates to people that don't pay taxes....yeah, right! Oh, and don't forget the millions to ACORN. I'm embarrassed to say that one of the Repubs that voted for the bill was Specter from my state of PA. Of course I didn't vote for Specter the last time so there's nothing more I can do except to not vote for him again. Socialism, here we come!

Don't forget all the health care provisions. Come the next election the Democrats will be telling people, "You have to keep us in office or the Republicans will TAKE AWAY YOUR FREE HEALTHCARE!!!!" Best way to stay in power, give the people freebies and assure them the freebies will keep coming as long as you keep voting for them.

So if this stimulus bill is a waste, then by that same logic isn't the money we bailed out the banks with a waster, plus all of the money we've spent in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The money we bailed out the banks with is a waste. However, the money spent in Iraq and Afghanistan was NOT for a bail out, but to bring Democracy to those countries and making terrorism unfavorable. Considering Iraq just held nation wide elections with the largest turn out ever, and the least amount of violence since the invasion...and considering that Saddam is no longer in power paying bounties to terrorists who kill US and Israeli citizens while undermining security in the region and killing 100,000+ of his own people a year...well, I for one am glad that a portion of my taxes went to free those people from a cruel dictator, and I'm hoping we free Afghanistan from the Taliban's grip forever.

A small business owner told me today that the stimulus had 67 billion set aside for them(small business owners). He says that obama line vetoed it to 4 billion. Is this correct? That would mean that ACORN is goin' to get more than them. I see where a link was on the news to see where its going. recovery.gov

I don't see how that could be possible since there is no line item veto anymore.

This bill is mostly pork. And thanks to Pelosi, it most definately was NOT a bipartisan bill, seeing as how she refused to allow Republicans to work on it. The Republicans put forward a couple of stimulus bills of their own, but Harry Reid refused to let them get to committee. What's really interesting is how the lobbiests got to read the bill before Congress or the Senate did. Since when do lobbiests get to do that? Not that it matters, I suppose, considering not one Representative read it. Obama claims he read it line by line, but in the time frame given that is unlikely.