The Stimulus Package - We're Waiting!

...the tools whereby we may hold him accountable to his promises, and be certain that his administration is transparent? Will his R & R plan achieve its objectives? Tell me what you think?

During his Weekly Address, on Saturday, January 24, President Obama assured the American people that he is working with Congress to enact an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan—a nationwide effort to create jobs and transform our economy, enabling our Nation to be more competitive in the 21st century. He promised that public dollars would be invested effectively, and that his recovery plan would be fully transparent and accountable. The detailed benchmarks of the R & R Plan is designed to jumpstart the economy and create jobs, and make investments in clean energy, health care, education, infrastructure, and other areas. Mr. Obama said the plan will address long-ignored national priorities, and make a down payment on our nation’s economic future, and lay the foundation for a more competitive 21st century economy. He said that there would be NO earmarks, promising on his white house website (WhiteHouse.gov) that he will "launch an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government."

The President is to be commended. He does not need the Republicans to pass his stimulus plan but he appears to be sincere in his efforts to reach across the isle in the spirit of bipartisanship. Democratic and Republican leaders are publicly arguing over President Barack Obama’s emerging stimulus plan. As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats insist the bill is on track for passage by February 16, Republican leaders continue to be in opposition to the bill arguing that it is too big and the proposed spending is irresponsible. Many conservative republicans tend to believe this Nation’s market place is a system with its own particular equilibrium, but past events has proven the market must be regulated as supply and demand are unmatched and prices remain unstable. Republicans are correct to express concerns about some of the spending that Democrats are proposing in the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. House Minority Leader John Boehner, a Republican, questioned how spending hundreds of millions of dollars on contraceptives—you read it right, contraceptives—could possibly stimulate the economy. My political views are usually opposite of Mr. Boehner's but I certainly understand how one's concerns regarding such irresponsible spending would give rise to pugnacious demeanor of any fiscally responsible politician. A reasonable person would agree that such expenditures are far beyond the bounds of financial prudence. According to Politico’s Jonathan Martin and Carol E. Lee, Mr. Orszag had guaranteed "At least 75 percent of the bill would go directly into the economy within the first 18 months." It is unclear whether the remaining 25 percent will go into the economy or toward purchasing a $35,000 dollar toilet for some fat cat’s office. For me, the remaining 25 percent is a matter of grave concern. I do not want Congress to earmark one single dime of the money allocated to the stimulus package for projects that does not stimulate the Economy. As stated in a report produced by the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus funds are not the price tag on the stimulus package. Referencing the CBO report, Congressman Boehner said that congressional Republicans are concerned about the size of the stimulus package. President Obama acknowledged, "Some are skeptical about the size and scale of this recovery plan." Pelosi admitted as much; suggesting that the stimulus package, currently at $825 billion, could become even larger. However, Harry Reid, the Senate Leader, does not believe the CBO report provides an accurate picture. He noted that Peter Orszag, President Obama’s Office of Management & Budget Director, told them CBO had only analyzed 40 percent of the stimulus bill.

I want 100 percent the funds in the stimulus package to go directly into stimulating our Economy. President Obama remarked in his weekly address on Saturday, January 24 that he was aware "That some are skeptical about the size and scale of this recovery plan. I understand that skepticism, which is why this recovery plan must and will include unprecedented measures that will allow the American people to hold my Administration accountable for these results." He promised to invest America’s tax dollars in what works. "Instead of politicians doling out money behind a veil of secrecy," he said, "decisions about where we invest will be made public." He said that "Every American will be able to see how and where we spend taxpayer dollars by going to a new website called recovery.gov." Although the site is not ready, I was encouraged when I visited the website Saturday evening, January 24 immediately after I heard the President’s weekly address. I encountered a message at the site that read: "Check back after the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to see how and where your tax dollars are spent. An oversight board will routinely update this site as part of an unprecedented effort to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending in our government."

In these times where we see more people file for unemployment than at any time in the last twenty-six years, I am encouraged and hopeful that our President has provided the American people a website—www.recovery.gov—that we may see how and where our government is spending our tax dollars. Like the President, I too "have faith that we will emerge from this trying time even stronger and more prosperous than we were before."

My Man! President Barack Hussein Obama. Mr. President, a majority of the people in this Nation supports you, sir. Lead us in our struggle to restore our global image as a Nation true to her own principles, the rule of law, and unquestionable respect for life, liberty, and justice for all. God bless our President, and God Bless the United States of America.

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