(AP) A group of Democratic senators is urging the Obama administration to suspend an economic stimulus program aimed at financing renewable energy, complaining that money is going to projects that are creating jobs in foreign countries. [source]Okay, but this is for highways and bridges and infrastructure!
WASHINGTON -- President Obama's top economist gave administration support for a new $75 billion stimulus plan that passed the House last month, but a new analysis shows the government has stimulated little in the past year through one of its most vaunted programs -- road construction.
In fact, regions and states that received ample stimulus funding for building roads and bridges had equally high unemployment rates as areas that didn't get cash from the $787 billion recovery package signed in February of last year, a new Associated Press analysis found. [source]
Okay, maybe not so much highways and bridges... but infrastructure! Is this what he had in mind?
[source]
And how about those tax cuts? No, not the cut in rates and the elimination of the marriage penalty. Those neat $250 rebates! Keep those in mind when the Bush tax cuts expire in 2011.
A couple earning $80,000 a year in adjusted gross income might pay about $2,200 extra. A married couple on $160,000 a year: Maybe $5,500 extra. [source]Not a big deal if you are not working or paying taxes. Maybe a big deal to the small business owner who might hire you otherwise.
I have to hand it to the President; he found the groove in front of his union buddies... even if he didn't make any sense to anyone else.