Commentary: Ridiculous items in stimulus plan

[OnePimpTiger]

Commentary: Ridiculous items in stimulus plan

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed President Obama's $819 billion economic stimulus bill pretty much along party lines, with the exception of 11 Democrats who voted against the plan...

...I'd settle for removing more of the ridiculous items that House Democrats slipped into the legislation to advance their sociopolitical agenda. Like $350 million for child care on military bases. Or $335 million to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

In normal economic times, there might not be anything wrong with this. But these aren't normal times. And these politically motivated giveaways do nothing to fight the recession.

So bad even 11 Democrats voted against it...

Also found this, proposed to be included in the stimulus bill, in this article:

Expand home buyer credit: Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said last week he would propose an expansion of a temporary $7,500 first-time home buyer credit so that it applies to all purchases of primary residences.

Some Republican senators have called for an increase in the credit to $15,000.

On "Face the Nation," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday that lawmakers "can do more for housing." The proposal to increase the home buyer credit to $15,000 and make it available to all home buyers is "something that we look favorably upon," he said.

The Senate recovery package as it stands now removes the requirement under current law that the credit be repaid by buyers over time, assuming they don't sell their home for three years after claiming the credit.

The credit phases out for individuals making more than $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).

A perfect example of not learning from your mistakes. Helping people who can't afford to buy a house buy a house is one of the main reasons we're in this mess...have we already forgot the housing and foreclosure crisis that we're actually still in?

[OnePimpTiger]

Just found this article: What GOP Leaders deem wasteful in Senate stimulus bill. Can't quote the whole article, so here are a few that stood out:

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.
• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.
• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.
• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.
• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings

That should really stimulate the economy.

Kind of off topic, I read a great example of just how dumb people are when it comes to the economy. In the comments at the end of some article, a lady said she was against the stimulus bill because of all the tax breaks it gave to corporations and said politicians apparently didn't learn anything in the past eight years. Why do people not realize that corporations and commerce are the backbone of the American economy...or any economy for that matter?

[angel0430]

THis is crazy, they are taking advantage of the economy to spend money on other stuff.....this is just ridiculous

[Star_Cards]

I think the best stimulus plan is to give everyone an income tax holiday of some degree. That way each person gets what they actually earned themselves. Plue if people have more take home pay they can buy more things or be able to pay for the stuff that they have.