By Caitlin Taylor

Jul 6, 2009 2:14pm

Dem Senator: Second Stimulus ‘Probably Needed’

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: As job losses mount, Democrats are growing impatient about the impact of the massive stimulus package passed earlier this year, with talk beginning on Capitol Hill about a possible second stimulus bill. Today on ABCNews.com’s “Top Line,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said a second stimulus is “probably needed,” and predicted that Congress is likely to act before the end of the year to inject even more federal dollars into the economy. Said Whitehouse: “I think that it is probably needed. We’re going to need to have some further discussion. It will probably take place towards the end of the year and we want to take a look at the economic conditions at the time. But it certainly should be on the table at this point.” Whitehouse’s home state of Rhode Island is among the hardest-hit in the current economic downturn. In light of a Providence Journal story revealing that most stimulus money headed to Rhode Island has gone to close the state’s budget gap — instead of on job-creating projects — we asked the senator whether he was satisfied with the spending pace and overall impact of the first stimulus measure. “No — obviously not,” he said. “I think that the sooner we can get these jobs out for people the better off they will be, and the sooner the economy can really start to turn around in a way that means something to regular people and not just to bank executives. So, we’ve got a job to do to try to speed that up.” He continued: “We very may well need to do a second stimulus, and we have to reassure the American people that just because the banks are back on better footing again, we haven’t overlooked them. They’re the priority, and we gotta make sure that’s clear.” The Obama administration, while acknowledging that the stimulus’ impact hasn’t been what they predicted it would be, is putting off questions about a second stimulus. On ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden said that while administration officials “misread the economy” earlier this year, it’s too soon to say whether more stimulus spending is necessary. “I think it's premature to make that judgment,” Biden told Stephanopoulos. “This was set up to spend out over 18 months. There are going to be major programs that are going to take effect in September, $7.5 billion for broadband, new money for high-speed rail, the implementation of the grid — the new electric grid. And so this is just starting, the pace of the ball is now going to increase.” Also on today’s program, Whitehouse said he remains hopeful that the Senate will take up a health care reform bill before the August recess. He touted a Congressional Budget Office report issued last week on the latest draft from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that estimated the plan would cost roughly $611 billion over 10 years. But Whitehouse, who serves on the HELP committee, acknowledged that the final price tag could exceed $1 trillion when additional elements are included by the Senate Finance Committee. “I really don’t have a handle on that cause the finance committee hasn’t produced a bill yet and hasn’t produced numbers yet, so it’s certainly possible” the final cost will top $1 trillion, Whitehouse said. Done right, health care reform saves money in the long run, he said: “There’s a lot to work with if we can start to squeeze some of the waste, some of the duplication, some of the error, some of the unnecessary conflict out of this incredibly over-expensive system that we have to carry right now.” Watch the full interview with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse HERE. (You can also find out about the dachshund who wanted his say during a conference call between senators and reporters last week.) Also today, we chatted with The New York Times’ Mark Leibovich, the author of the cover story in the latest New York Times Magazine. Leibovich unpacks the mysteries surrounding Gov. Sarah Palin’s surprise announcement (hint: he’s as mystified as the rest of us), and predicts that senator-elect Al Franken, D-Minn., is going to try his best not to be funny after he’s sworn in tomorrow. Click HERE to see the full interview with Mark Leibovich.

User Comments

Great Idea.
The first one has worked so well. Not!
Less than 5 percent of the first
787 billion dollars have been spent.
Whitehouse wants to waste more of our
money? This has to STOP!
We have to throw these bums out next
November before we become a nation
of Paupers.

Posted by: reaganfan | July 6, 2009, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

Look, I believe the first stimulus was needed and I believe Obama is doing all the right things…However, for Democrats to begin talk of a second stimulus at this point in time is plain stupid and will cause a backlash. The majority of the first stimulus money hasn’t even been spent yet..Democrats need to cool their jets and stop overplaying their hand…That is exactly why they were voted out before and will be why they are voted out again if they do not cool this type talk..I believe it just nervousness that things are not moving as quickly as they hoped…they need to have patience otherwise it would have been better doing nothing as Republicans advocated…

Posted by: indy_voter | July 6, 2009, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm

Actually stimuli throughout the last couple of decades has lead to these giant asset bubbles. We don’t need any more stimuli. The correction must take place in order to avoid catastrophic failures later on.

Posted by: Huh | July 6, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm

NO, NO, NO
They can’t even get this money out. I work at a non-profit that with a just $100K of the workforce money I could rehire 2 people….but they have NO IDEA how they are going to spend tht 200Million.
So I lay off 4 employees and NO ONE CARES..
This has to stop, how about a tax holiday for those of us working, I might do buy something, but otherwise I will save what I can because I am scared these guys are going to just screw up the country more and more.
NO MORE STIMULUS

Posted by: Sue | July 6, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm

Perhaps if the stimulus package they passed earlier didn’t have so many earmarks, a second wouldn’t be needed.
This level of mismanagement of taxpayer dollars should be a criminal offense.

Posted by: MadTaxpayer | July 6, 2009, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm

Posted by: gus amaral | July 6, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm

MadTaxpayer – Ironically earmarks are traceable and relatively transparent compared with the other 99% of government spending, but I get your point.

Posted by: Huh | July 6, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm

unless it is to give $10k plus to each family in the form of a debit card that would require spending, and lower corporate taxes, and give incentive for companies to hire, then don’t bother.

Posted by: jschmidt | July 6, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm

Gus Amaral = Looking For Handout Welfare Nanny Stater
How is your share of GM going, Gus? How do like all the TAX CHEATS, LOBBYISTS, EARMARKS, “FIVE DAYS TO READ ALL NEW LEGISLATION”
Just wait ’till next year’s tax bill comes to your “green” house, Gussy :)

Posted by: Sam Adams | July 6, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm

These clowns don’t have a clue how to create a job. They have never run a business. The Dow started dropping the day that it looked like Obama would win because they knew his policies would be antibusiness. It’s time to quit drinking the rainbow stew and get back to meat and potatoes!

Posted by: Jeff | July 6, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm

If we have a “second stimulus” unemployement will go to 25% or more. Our leaders seem to want to control every aspect in our lives. For the first time in my life I am afraid of the future. Do the sheeple of the press think they are above having their money taken away by these people?

Posted by: wheresmymoney | July 6, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm

They are so money hungry they could care less what we think or how we will survive as long as they can keep living the GOOD LIFE ON OUR MONEY——THEY NEED TO BE BOOTED OUT AND FAST!!!!!!!!

Posted by: countrygirl_74 | July 6, 2009, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm

I think they need to wait and see. They need to get the green stuff going especially wind and solar. They should focus on helping agriculture especially the small farmers. Not the large agribusinesses. As far as the money is concerned cheney said it best. ronny raygun taught us that “deficits don’t matter”. I highly doubt the democrats will ever listen to what republicans have to say about being physically responsible. LOL

Posted by: rightbehind | July 6, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm

The merging of government and business control levers is FASCISM. Can’t wait for another 1000page bill to get rammed through congress, with no one allowed to read it, under threat of martial law.

Posted by: anandarew | July 6, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm

What was the unemployment when Bush left without the stimulus and what is now with the stimulus. Just keep placing more restrictions on business and manufacturing.

Posted by: jamescbuilder | July 6, 2009, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm

NOT A CHANCE… FOOL US ONCE… FOOL US TWICE… DONT THINK SO.BETWEEN BUSH, OBAMA AND KERRY I WOULD NEVER HIRE SOMEONE FROM AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL AGAIN. IT DOESNT TAKE A NOBEL PRIZE TO FIGURE OUT THE SO CALLED ELITES KNEW LESS THAN JOE THE PLUMBER.

Posted by: catman | July 6, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm

Octo-Prez is clueless and it shows. Everyone made $$$ when W was Prez, now Octo-Prez is dismanteling the middle class.

Posted by: realtor | July 6, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm

consumers account for 2/3rds of all economic activity. give the second stimulus to the taxpayers, say 20,000
per family, that will get the economy going and bring banks in line

Posted by: jim | July 6, 2009, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm

WOW is all can say after reading this story!

Posted by: Mike | July 6, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm

One has to laugh at the Democrats. They were told by economists and Republicans that their corrupt AIG Bonus Guarantee/Special Interest Payback bill wasn’t going to create any jobs, but they were all in such a rush to pass the corrupt pork that they didn’t care what happened to the working people of our country. They could have passed tax cuts for working people and small business so people could be hired right away, but giving tens of billions to their buddies was just too tempting to pass up! Now as predicted we are at 9.5% unemployment and we will soon be at all time record levels, at least since the Great Depression. Who is going to hire anybody when Congress and Obama are plunging us into the most massive debt in history, and following up with tax increases on Engergy and Health Care that will devastate small business and working people. They promised us no more than 8% unemployment and their corruption will probably double that or worse. Let’s hope the economy can survive the Chicago Way until 2010!

Posted by: valwayne | July 6, 2009, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm

Jeff | Jul 6, 2009 3:45:24 PM – well Jeff, I’m not sure about your portfolio, but mine has been recovering since Obama came into office.
You say, “get back to meat and potatoes”? The policies of the past 8 years created a measly 5 Million new jobs (at least here in the United States). The era of Supply Side Economics may have been “pro-business”, but it didn’t build Family Wage jobs.

Posted by: idahogirl | July 6, 2009, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm

Unless you give it directly to the people, and pass SINGLE PAYER, we will not get out of this mess.
Obama is a novice.

Posted by: tropicgirl | July 6, 2009, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm

“A second stimulus will absolutely get support from most Americans. Unlike the GOP, they are actually effected by the Bush recession and understand the necessity of short-term government expenditures to help plug the gaping holes in the economy.
Matt,
Support?…based on what? There is ZERO evidence that this administration understands what it is doing right now.
Hasn’t that extra $13 a week or whatever the figure may have been for an individual made its way into the economy and made an impact?
Remember how we were told by this group that by giving it out that way, people would actually spend it.
Most of us are NOT going out buying items that we absolutely do not need. punching out another $600/$1200/even $2500 check to people is not going to put people back to work. In my case, its would simply go into the bank into the account we are using to pay for college for kids. I am not going out to but a new TV or a new car or something else I can’t currently afford.
Despite the liberal BS being spewed everywhere, That is the position most American’s who currently are working are in. If a situation arises where a vehicle is needed or needs to be replaced, people are looking at used cars, NOT new ones. If the family TV croaks, it is highly unlikely that the family is going out to grab a big $2500 HDTV. Regular everyday people cannot just spend for tthe sake of spending like this adminstration is doing! WE actually have limits to how far in debt we can go. This president has told us we to live within our means, So exactly what do you think most people are REALLY going to do with a stimulus check NOW? Hell, people put Bush’s check in the bank when Unemployment was 4.8%, does anyone with any real common sense out there beleive the majority of people will just go SPEND anything they get now with an unemployment reate that is currently about double that of Feb 2008 and expected to get higher????
IF…IF…Congress actualy decides to back this wild idea, then my input would be to take it from the current “Stimulator” funds. We do NOT need to have this administration racking up yet another plan !

Posted by: Mike_C | July 6, 2009, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm

I would like to thank the voters of RI for electing this moron to the U.S. Seante. It is obvious that he has plenty of company.

Posted by: FindTheMorons | July 6, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

They just need to get the lobbyists and members of congress who are looting all the new programs to spend our taxpayer cash more quickly–like Inouhe, Waters, and Conyers. Before these pols get their “shovels ready” for more free cash, they need to stop lining their pockets with the old cash and just spend it, gansta-style!

Posted by: HT | July 6, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Government stimulus failed in the 30′s, 60′s, 70′s, and in 2008 and 2009. Bush pumped in $160B in 2Q 08 and $350B in 4Q 2008 the result nothing. So far in the 2009 Obama has pumped in over $1.2T and so far nothing. How much do we have to waste before we learn the lesson—government is the problem not the solution. Next we are going to squander a minimum of $1T per year to destroy the finest medical system in the world and God knows how much on “Cap and Tax” to fight a problem that only exists in the imagination of Al Gore and the UN. Wake Up America the left will not stop until they reach their goal of the last 90 years—the complete destruction of the USA—Obama is noting more than Lenin with modern communications gear.

Posted by: Mark Sullivan | July 6, 2009, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm

“I would like to thank the voters of RI for electing this moron to the U.S. Seante. It is obvious that he has plenty of company. ”
LOL…are you kidding….no state has it over Massachusetts!
I mean one single state giving the American people – Barney Frank, Ted Kennedy & John Kerry

Posted by: Mike_C | July 6, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm

Stimulus will never work as long as you have stronger forces going the other way. They don’t label it as such, but health care reform is a giant tax hike. To pay for a trillion plus in “reform” will require taxes, whether in foregone deductions or by mandating coverage. Either is a tax. Same with the abysmal crap & trade. A tax hike, again in the trillion range, along vast new controls. Both of these tax hikes, along with the already promised tax hike on “the rich”, produces a lot of negative stimulus. No one is going to be keen on adding jobs to their payrolls if they are going to be forced into adding union benefits, mandatory health care, and stripped of assets or income. The left likes to say that Bush’s tax cuts cost 1.8 trillion. That is a favorite point by the village idiot, Krugman. When you let people keep their own money, it is hardly a cost. It isn’t your money. Get over it. We are now at the point where the majority does not contribute anything at all in income tax, yet feels it is their right to say how much “the rich” should pay. And the stimulus was nothing more than pure pork to be doled out over time. Very little worthwhile spending and lots of waste. Everyone is waiting and conserving cash as they don’t know what new idiocy will be enacted. California is the poster child for the left, and it is reduced to handing out worthless IOU’s due to out of control spending. We have seen them try to balance the budget here by targeting “the rich”. Didn’t work for California and it won’t work for the Messiah. The NY Times and others are already calling for either a VAT or national sales tax to pay for all of his spending. More tax hikes, more drag on production and growth. Nothing at all has been done to encourage growth or production.

Posted by: James in LA | July 6, 2009, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm

“reverse the incredible debt left by the previous administration.”
Reverse the debt by doubling it?
What planet are you from?

Posted by: ster | July 6, 2009, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm

What people forget to realize (all of the time) is that government CANNOT stimulate the economy.
They spend money, right? Where does it come from? One of three things:
1. Taxes 2. Borrow 3. Print it
Taxes – That takes money from someplace and just moves it. Net gain? ZERO.
Borrow – Companies need to borrow also to hire and expand. If govt borrows, that’s less money available for the businesses. Means, some jobs created at the expense of others. Net gain? ZERO.
Print it – Causes inflation, which lowers everyone’s standard of living. May cause more jobs, but inflation eats away any gains overall. Net gain? ZERO.
Why does no reporter ever mention any of these things?

Posted by: ster | July 6, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm

I think the primary fallacy many Americans are under is that Obama wants to improve the nation’s economy. As proved by his actions which everyone knows will not work he is actually insuring his true objective—to make as many People as miserable as possible so that they stick the government needle into their arm.

Posted by: Mark Sullivan | July 6, 2009, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm

The stimulus bill was first and formost to insure a 2010 victory for the democrats in the next elections. It is proving to be a cruel tactic that is
fading fast. Now in desperation they want a second one to make every body smile, in return for a lock on the next elections. If this dosen’t work ACORN
will put on a full court press to flip them, in the same grand style and the 08 elections. Will the same tactics work?

Posted by: ZK | July 6, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm

We’re screwed!

Posted by: LongT | July 6, 2009, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm

Trickle Down Economics sure screwed up the Economy!

Posted by: Joe | July 6, 2009, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm

Why isn’t this called a Third stimulus? By my count we’ve had one last year that was ineffective, and a bigger one this year that has been ineffective. Wouldn’t this be a third? And like seemingly every person who responded to this story, I think this is a bad idea.

Posted by: Brian | July 6, 2009, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm

How is spending more taxpayer money supposed to get the country out of debt again? Why is there like 10% unemployment already? Why arent companies hiring. It doesnt take a Harvard grad to see it would be wasteful but thats what democrats to tax and spend and tax and spend…

Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 6, 2009, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm

You say, “get back to meat and potatoes”? The policies of the past 8 years created a measly 5 Million new jobs (at least here in the United States). The era of Supply Side Economics may have been “pro-business”, but it didn’t build Family Wage jobs.
Nice Blanket statement….BUT…..
true… based on Labor Bureau stats, from 1/01 to 12/08 the US had a net gain of 4.6 million jobs.
Now, that includes the loss of over half a million jobs even before 9/11.. 2001….as well as the post 9/11 effects over well over another million jobs lost before things turned around.
Even as late as 2007, for the year there was a net gain of of over 800,000 jobs for the year.
Now, for Obama 1/09 to 6/09…a loss of 2.6 million jobs! He needs to CREATE 2.6 million jobs JUST to get back to where he started! Please note – I said CREATE not this phantom phrase that Obama’s administration loves…the CREATE/SAVED job. The so-called saved job is a fallacy that cannot be verified on any reasonable scale. The mdeia should by now be calling out the administration every time they used the phrase “saved job” in any context!
Posted by: idahogirl

Posted by: Mike_C | July 6, 2009, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm

rightbehind: its ‘fiscally responsible’ not physically responsible you dope. Its people like you that voted for Obama and thats why we are all going broke and unemployed you ignoramus. Solar power has been around for 40 years and wind power for like 200 years and you think its going to catch on now and save the country?

Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 6, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm

Taking measures to enforce our immigration laws would create 10M jobs for Americans pretty darn quick. I say take some of the $700M so called stimulus money and hire 100K ICE agents.

Posted by: Mark Sullivan | July 6, 2009, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm

before the liberal watchdoggies go wild…my mistake…i didnt grab the 2008 totals in my spreadsheet when I calculated Bushs grand total for the 8 years….
4.6 – the 1.8 lost in 2008 = 2.6 total for the eight years.

Posted by: Mike_C | July 6, 2009, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm

Take a look at Chicago or Detroit’s economy- thats the future we are in for under Obama and co.

Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 6, 2009, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm

Posted by: jamescbuilder | Jul 6, 2009 4:19:50 PM – No, the question is how many jobs were created during the Bush administration? Answer: a measly 5 Million. And that’s after 8 years of tax cuts, outsourcing, and deregulation run wild.
Compare this with 20 Million new jobs built during the Clinton era. So now the solution for building new jobs is to return to Supply Side Economics?

Posted by: Center One | July 6, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm

The problem with the so-called stimulus from the beginning–and the reason it received no GOP support–is that it was a designed as a political payoff without any real emphasis on allocating most of it where it counts–on big infrastructure projects that truly can have an impact.
Any government stimulus must always aim for two primary goals: creating real and sustainable jobs and getting money in the hands of people quickly enough and in sums large enough to induce them to spend.
The latter can be accomplished through tax cuts, with cuts properly aimed at businesses to provide them with an incentive to delay or avoid layoffs, and at individuals to get them to go out and spend.
The stimulus package passed by our supposed representatives does neither of these things and will be a relative failure, certainly by the standards set by the Administration, unless of course you’re stupid enough to believe the fuzzy math they will use to tell you that while 3.5 million jobs weren’t created at least that many were “saved.” Yeah, right!

Posted by: Peter | July 6, 2009, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm

is how many jobs were created during the Bush administration? Answer: a measly 5 Million. And that’s after 8 years of tax cuts, outsourcing, and deregulation run wild.
Compare this with 20 Million new jobs built during the Clinton era. So now the solution for building new jobs is to return to Supply Side Economics?
Clinton reaped the success of the IT boom and many of those jobs were lost when the bubble burst after he left office.
Do not blame all of the crisis on Bush. A lot of this crisis could actually be attributed to over-regulation by Democrats like Barney Frank advocating that sub-prime mortgages be handed out.
So quickly that history is forgotten.

Posted by: Brett | July 6, 2009, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm

This is funny. Listen to those who say Palin hasn’t the experience. Look at this dope Obama. He is a leftist whose background in not transparent, and is an absolute fraud.

Posted by: JD | July 6, 2009, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm

If you want stimulus, you must cut taxes, give investment tax credits, and enact small business friendly measures. Since the little messiah is more interested in extending the power of the state than he is in the economy, we can expect none of the above. Let’s not waste a good crisis.

Posted by: Cbuck | July 6, 2009, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm

how about another speach from OBLAHBLAH. incredible to say the least…he would have completely fleeced us if more jobs were created. he is pushing all of this through so fast so we couldnt see that this wont work. make us eat pork and give away the country to china and india. this man is NO LEADER. HE HAS FED OF THE GOVT HIS ENTIRE LIFE>>>THATS ALL HE KNOWS.

Posted by: catman | July 6, 2009, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm

@ Gus Amaral
I’d love to hear you explain how one can “reverse the incredible debt left by the previous administration”, by creating additional debt that dwarfs the spending of both terms of the prior administration.
Creation of additional debt is nothing more than passing the buck to the next generation. It’s shameful, no matter WHAT party it comes from.

Posted by: Yashmak | July 6, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm

NO NO NO Enough with the spending. Let’s cut some spending, starting with what we pay these clowns in Washington. Cut their wages, lengthen their work weeks, take away all of their perks, term limits, any scandals and your gone. Convicted of any crime and “twice the time” , just like speeding in a construction zone.
Where has all the money gone already? We sure aren’t seeing any bridges being built or roads under construction due to Fed. dollars in my state. Enough is enough !!!!

Posted by: Willie12345 | July 6, 2009, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm

ANY STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT IS NOT AIMED AT HELPING AMERICAN BUSINESSES IS LIKE BLOWING FRTS IN THE WIND. AND I DON”T MEAN BAILING THEM OUT WHICH I AM OPPOSED TO. I WAS OPPOSED TO THE BUSH STIMULUS PACKAGE AND EVEN MORE SO, THE OBAMA PACKAGES AS BEING A TOTAL WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND ACTUALLY A DETRIMENT TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY. I’M MOVING MY BUTT BACK TO TEXAS WHERE AT LEAST THERE IS TALK ABOUT SECESSION FROM THIS NIGHTMARE

Posted by: Jimbo | July 6, 2009, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm

Keep pouring that gasoline the fire Democrats, because the pitchforks are being sharpened already.
The only solution if they continue down this dismal road is a complete house cleaning of the anyone who votes YES. Plus a suspension of the voting rights of voters who supported this disaster of a President and Congress until the trillion dollars of pork is entirely repaid in full.
If I remember correctly it was passed entirely by the Democrats with solid opposition from the Republicans with the except of the traitor 5 RINOs despite the threats from Obama and his media co-horts.
In an action of gross malfeasance which should disbar these Congressmen from their post, this debacle was passed by over 450 Democrats without actually READING THE BILL. The bill was not even printed before it was voted on and passed? And they have continued this illegal action of passing laws which have NOT been written or with final wording.
What sane nation is going to continue to all these “representatives” to enact laws which are not even finished and then after passage go in and complete the law measures? INSANITY!!!

Posted by: LogicalSC | July 6, 2009, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm

If those idiots try to soak us one more time, think they may have more than a tea party on their hands. Candidly, do not think any of them have any idea what they are doing!! They are making a shambles of our long term economy!! Other countries are meeting this week to discuss coming off the DOLLAR as a standard.
As a grandson mentioned to me over the weekend (and was an ardent Obama supporter), “Grand Dad, this country is growing a new republican every second!”
They should open their books as to what has not been let in contracts, and rather than creating more CZARS, they need to turn work projects over to governors.
This is what we get for electing a novice, with a bunch of crooks in congress — BOTH PARTIES I MIGHT ADD!!

Posted by: PappyHappy | July 6, 2009, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm

Got to buy the next election before it’s too late. Simple formula, bad news…lose votes.

Posted by: Independent60 | July 6, 2009, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm

What does he want? Another chance to vote for a bill he hasn’t read? Does this moron want unemployment to go to 15%? Another Obama stimulus and this country’s toast.

Posted by: drjohn | July 6, 2009, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm

Poorly educated populace which can not comprehend the difference between Billion and Trillion.
Huge population living well beyond their means for years.
Clueless home buyers jumping into Real Estate craze, thus perpetuating a situation where the gap between the home’s worth and the actual price paid became huge.
People financed and re-financed homes without reading / understanding mortgage contracts.
Arrogant fools in the Congress passing poorly crafted Bailout/Stimulus bills with not a single member reading them.
Greedy Corporates taking advantage of incompetent people as well as politicians.
Throwing money at the problem and HOPING it works was the only strategy the Best and Brightest in Washington DC know well.
If the first stimulus doesn’t work, lets come up with second stimulus.
The only strategy behind the second stimulus! Bigger HOPE, of course.
I guess HOPE is eternal!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: harry | July 6, 2009, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm

$611 billion is a grossly underestimated cost for the proposed healtcare bill. Simple math show it to be closer to $2.3 trillion for the first year, and $23 trillion for 10 years. Multiply the per-capita cost ($7000 per year) times the population.

Posted by: Rod | July 6, 2009, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm

As to why the stimulus has not worked, Senator Whitehouse might ponder a few considerations:
Never a country spent its way out of a recession.
Excessive federal spending, that is, spending that outstrips revenues, usually necessitates monitization (dilution) of the currency. Monitization causes inflation.
Inflation reduces purchasing power, which exacerbates unemployment, which reduces net purchasing power, and so on.
Senator Whitehouse would do better to back policy that encourages private business, especially small business. Small business employs 70 percent of American workers. You can’t punish small business, as the Obama administration has been doing, and expect the economy to do well. Cap and trade is an example of policy that will suck the blood out of the economy. Senator Whitehouse has not seen anything yet.

Posted by: Rod | July 6, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm

No more stimulus until all of the first one has been spent!!!!!

Posted by: ian | July 6, 2009, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm

Just hold your horses, Senator. So far only $50 billion of that $800 billion irresponible bill has been spent. Are you going to admit that the remaining $750 billion is just pork and not stimulus?
You, sir, are not fit to be a part of our country’s money management.
We need to ask our state legislatures to repeal the 16th Amendment to the Constituton and eliminate the Federal governments source of money, the Federal income tax. Only then will our government learn to live within its means and start to work for the people instead of their own personal interests.
Write your state senators and lets repeal the source of the Fed’s funding.

Posted by: Wally | July 6, 2009, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm

Youre crazy the Federal Government is not going to do away with income tax or any other kind of tax! Its their income! Its their bread and butter! They dont care about YOU or ME!! They run the military they would gladly send you and your kids to war and die! These are the people you want in charge of the healthcare and economy?!? YOU created this problem all of you who voted for tax and spend democrat Obama YOU YOU YOU and YOU!!! Say what you want about GW Bush when he was President there wasnt nearly 10% unemployment. People had corporate jobs and there was a need for more manpower regardless of whether it was outsourced consultants etc. Companies were hiring. Obama has the countries corporations in such a panic that he is going to cap and trade them that they JUST WONT HIRE ANYMORE and are looking to cut every possible corner and save every nickel! Wait til people get laid off more than usual on Christmas etc. Companies as dont sell much products after Christmas! Finding a job out there is very very tough! Its only getting worse! Even if Obama was impeached tomorrow I doubt Joe Biden will change the democrats policy! You let them bring in Hillary, Barney Frank, Geithner, Bernanke etc!!! The drastic policy changes we need wont be possible for another 3 years! Socialist Obama hope to make serfs and peasants of us all by then! Its all part of his plan to make us dependent of the government so the dems have every excuse to tax everything in the name of the poor- but really it just lines their pockets to make them the uber-elite rich and make the whole middle class poorer!

Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 7, 2009, 12:50 am 12:50 am

For crying out loud!! Give us good paying jobs! Where are the JOBS!

Posted by: Machi | July 7, 2009, 12:52 am 12:52 am

I think a few more hundred billion divided evenly between taxpayers would be nice…….might work too

Posted by: dk | July 7, 2009, 1:38 am 1:38 am

Machi………the jobs are in China and India right where corporate america wants them!!!

Posted by: dk | July 7, 2009, 1:40 am 1:40 am

All Obama has done is to propose tax increases on the upper middle class and now is letting that “trickle down” to everyone else. This is the worst thing anyone could do as incoming President in the biggest recession in many years.
All this man has shown us has been that he is very good at spending money this country does not have. I voted for him, and now am terribly regretful and ashamed. I was fooled by his slick talk. But he is a con man – totally political with his own agenda more important than the American people.

Posted by: Jon F | July 7, 2009, 2:23 am 2:23 am

Posted by: The_Mick | July 7, 2009, 3:03 am 3:03 am

This is the top bankers in the world getting vastly richer. Never in my wildest dreams when I was born in Feb 1977 did I ever think I’d see the US government issuing multi-hundred dollar checks to nearly every adult American citizen in the country.
And yet now they’ve authorized the Fed Reserve (crooks of the highest caliber) to print **not just a small amount to boost the economy** but 800+BILLION!
And yet it hasn’t caused runaway inflation, like it SHOULD. The reason? The Federal Reserve has the *real* money. The public only operates on the *notion* that they have money, but they don’t actually have money, they have, printed right across the top of every US dollar: “FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE”
The stock market is a sham, it allows property values to be artificially inflated/deflated based on their output and what they offer. So when everyone thinks something’s worth a lot, it’s value goes up; but then everyone gets excited and they drive up the value, until something catches their attention or some kind of disaster strikes and then the value plummets, but it’s still an artificial value.
It was always a joke, growing up: “$5 USD=$7.50 Canadian” but now it’s more like “$5 USD=$2.50 Canadian”

Posted by: Phil E. Drifter | July 7, 2009, 3:50 am 3:50 am

Man, I sure hope the Democrats won’t be involved in this one after the mess they made of the first one. I guess all the Obamavoters can use that extra 13 dollars though.

Posted by: haskell | July 7, 2009, 4:32 am 4:32 am

THIS IS INSANE WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR THIS IT IS TIME TO START IMPEACHING CONGRESS DO THEY THINK ALL AMERICANS ARE STUPID, WHERE THE HECK IS THE MONEY COMING FROM MY 7 YEAR OLD KNOWS MORE THAN THESE GUYS ALL YOU ARE DOING IS MAKING GOVERNMENT RICHER US LESS FREE AND WE ARE FED UP AND THE MEDIA NEEDS TO QUIT LYING TO US AND TAKING UP FOR OBAMA WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE DO YOU THINK WE BELIEVE THE LIES YOU ARE REPORTING OBAMA IS FULL OF IT AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY IAM NOT PROUD TO SAY I AM A DEM, BUT I AM PROUD TO SAY I AM AN AMERICAN WAKE UP MEDIA BEFORE YOU HELP DESTROY AMERICA, I WANT MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS FREE NOT ON WELFARE,STOP THE SPENDING

Posted by: BARB | July 7, 2009, 6:17 am 6:17 am

Yeah…TRAP II good keep it coming..

Posted by: Freedom. | July 7, 2009, 7:03 am 7:03 am

TEA – taxed enough already—What part of that do you legislators NOT UNDERSTAND ?????????????? Wake up you stupid stupid idiots. We do not want more government help and higher taxes and burdens on our children. Many of you need to be voted out ASAP- you are NOT representing us and our wishes.

Posted by: jimbo | July 7, 2009, 7:09 am 7:09 am

No amount of Government stimulus will grow our economy. This administration and this Congress have so demonized business, that it will be years before America recovers economically. Private enterprise is the engine that drives America, or, in the words of another past President, “the business of America is business.” It is what we do. The more we grow Government, and the more Government interferes with business, the higher our unemployment rate will go. We are stuck in this horrid spiral until Government begins to support it’s business sector, especially the small business sector.

Posted by: Ron Adolph | July 7, 2009, 7:11 am 7:11 am

A second stimulus should be ONLY direct employment by the federal government.

Posted by: Chris | July 7, 2009, 7:27 am 7:27 am

Wow, what an idea! Seeing as Porkulus I worked so brilliantly why not take the nation into a real plunge by creating and passing Porkulus II? I think these guys are bent on economic suicide.

Posted by: TxBoB | July 7, 2009, 7:40 am 7:40 am

Why no coverage of the 50,000 plus protesters on july 4? ARE U LISTENING??? Or just spewing obamas talking points? The media is DEAD….
AMERICA IS REJECTING THIS ADMINISTRATIONS POLICIES…START TO FINISH !!!
Start reporting the TRUTH !!!

Posted by: mary | July 7, 2009, 8:15 am 8:15 am

The State governments are avoiding much responsibility: many are like Rhode Island and using bailout money to balance the budget instead of creating jobs. For example, if the bailout provides x amount of dollars for education building construction, the State/Local governments reduce their spending by x dollars to match it.
—————————————
So the obvious question is…WHERE IS JOE BIDEN on this issue? He was SUPPOSED TO make sure this money went speficially for the uses it was supposedly designed for. Opps, Joe asleep at the wheel and EXAGGERATING his his own existance again!

Posted by: Mike_C | July 7, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am

The Democrats in Congress are staring down the barrel of the 2010 elections and are shaking in their boots. This joke of a stimulus package isn’t moving the needle, which nobody with an ounce of common sense expected it to.
They’ve all hung their hats on stimulus funding and are now looking to dig an even deeper hole in a desperate attempt to save their seats in 2010. Good luck, you’re going to need it!!!

Posted by: Frankie | July 7, 2009, 9:17 am 9:17 am

If you llok at the states run by Democrats you can see that Republican policies are much better. Democrat policies killed Detroit and are killing California. The fact is Bush was in office when the Democrat policies were dertoying our economy. How long have the Democrats controlled congress? Obama is a Marxist and anyone that trusts these politicians to run their healthcare is a complete MORON. You are a complete idiot if you trust the Govt. to run your healthcare.

Posted by: Paul | July 7, 2009, 9:30 am 9:30 am

Paul, Right on target with your comment about the gov’t running healthcare.
Obama had all his “experts” on the economy and they “mis-read” it and RUSHed to do something rather than nothing.
Now they working that exact same MO with healthcare!
What excuses are they lining up on that one ?

Posted by: Mike_C | July 7, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am

Republicans won’t have to worry about finding a candidate for 2012. We won’t even have a country left by then. Good heavens…what are these idiots thinking anyway??????

Posted by: jaline | July 7, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am

Wall Street Bailout = Bush, McCain, & Obama
Art students
9/11 snow job
Chicken hawks
Moving company
Propaganda media
DNC stealth neocons
Anti-semitism accusers
The chosen the superior
2-3% of the US population
Extortion blackmail bribery
By deception ye shall wage war
AIPAC’s Israel-first dual-nationals
For profit NotFederal NoReserve scam
Words are plentiful deeds are precious!

Posted by: nader paul kucinich gravel | July 7, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am

Ah, here go the chattering masses again. If we’re talking about the impact of a stimulus on the economy, one would think some degree of economic literacy is in order. Economics while not as hard a science as chemistry or physics is recognized as a scientific/technical discipline. You need expertise. This discussion reminds me of the ongoing debate on global warming where every Joe has an opinion but really what counts is what the scientists are saying, not what you or I think. I have some economists with solid credentials saying we need more stimulus because the earlier one this year was too small for the size of the problem so it appears they’re right and we need to do it again. The Republicans? I think they’re still stuck with supply-side and trickle-down theories that characterized the Reagan and GWB eras. They don’t have any good track record to speak of.

Posted by: Jose C | July 7, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am

Idiots! Stimulus only works if you give tax breaks along with it. You can’t give a stimulus package then raise taxes because then the stimulus doesn’t work.

Posted by: Alex | July 7, 2009, 11:41 am 11:41 am

Let me see if I understand.
In 2004 and 2006, the 2-400 million dollar deficit was horrible, awful, and intolerable.
Now a 1.75 trillion dollar deficit is insufficient, and maybe we should go ahead and double that too.
Interesting how 400 is too high, and 1,750 is too low… where exactly is “just right” in this one?
I’m not sure you can use imaginary numbers in a budget.

Posted by: Gekkobear | July 7, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm

I just interviewed at a federal government agency that doles out free cash to fund research. They got two billion worth of stimulus cash dumped on them and they said it was impossible to give that much money away so fast. They don’t know what to do with it all. Good job, Obama!

Posted by: Tantor | July 7, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm

See, the Fed hasn’t printed nearly enough money yet to bankrupt the country, so we just need to come up with another excuse to print more. These idiots in Congress either have no clue as to Economics 101, or they’re deliberately trying to bankrupt this country. Personally, I think it’s the latter, and voting the idiots out of office is too good for them. They should be tried for treason.

Posted by: nunya | July 7, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm

Son of Porkulus was seen coming way back in February. It IS not intended to solve any problems. That is not the present administrations intent. It is meant to break the system so that it can be rebuilt as our present leadership deems necessary.
When our elected officials sign legislation they have not even read, we’re in a bad situation!

Posted by: BulgarWheat | July 7, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm

I guess this is the Obama Administration’s tacit admission that their Stimulate/Payback Democrat Political Activists Bill of 2009 – colloquially known as “the stimulus” – is an abject failure. An epic, total failure.
Hey! Let’s do it again! Maybe we’ll save or create 3 million jobs this time instead of saving or creating 2 million!
And let’s let them run your health care, auto companies, the banking industry, tax the air you breathe to “save the Earth,” etc. Feel the CHANGE!
Worst. President. And. Congress. Ever.

Posted by: Good Lt. | July 7, 2009, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm

“If we’re talking about the impact of a stimulus on the economy, one would think some degree of economic literacy is in order.”
Jose,
Even a layman can see that this thing is not having an impact that we were told it would have.
By the way, since now the excuse is that only a portion of the great Stimulaor has been pushedout, it really should not be very hard at all to come up with some REAL numbers telling all of America how many jobs it has created!
Lets see your “scientific”, and “economic literate” crew – What was it they were saying…..
Peter Orszag in mid May…
WASHINGTON – The worst seems to be over, President Obama’s budget director said yesterday. But he also warned against taking signs of economic recovery as a reason to celebrate or delay changes in healthcare policy.
Budget director Peter Orszag says it’s important to keep working toward changes in healthcare policy.
CHALLENGES STILL AHEAD
Peter Orszag said the nation’s economy appears to have bottomed out, even as the White House prepared to revise its budget projections to reflect higher-than-expected unemployment. He said an improving economy and changes to how the United States provides healthcare would help narrow federal deficits.
Science??????…HAAAAAAAA
Lets see…Larry Summers was a big proponent of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act when he was Sec of the Treasury under Clinton!
Science then?….or Science Now?
Let check the latest of the wacko-eco boys…Paul Krugman….
“I would not be surprised if the official end of the U.S. recession ends up being, in retrospect, dated sometime this summer,” he said June 8 during a lecture in London.
Now we also here he had the perfect CYA going too, “I think what people don’t get is the difference between the end of a recession in a technical sense and actual recovery, which matters to people.”
But now, Krugman says we NEED another stimulus, but does the ‘scientist’ tell us how much more annd EXACTLY where and how it would need to be applied?
hmmm…. strange how those “scientific” details are missing!
Some economists dismiss Krugman’s calls for more government spending to stimulate the economy.
“His views about the impact of government spending on the economy are very different than those held by the majority of economists who are currently doing research on this topic,” said UCLA economic professor Lee Ohanian, who argues the focus should be on reforming the banking system.
Krugman also has his opinions on the healthcare plan, yet this “scientist” can’t explain or show us where the costs are in the system that need to be addressed.

Posted by: Mike_C | July 7, 2009, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm

Why stop at just one more stimulus? Let’s have one every week.
Every week, let’s hold a lotto for the senators. The winner get’s to go on a 1 trillion dollar pet project spending spree!
It will be great! Not only will the economy be booming (using democrat logic) but we can make it into a reality TV show!
We can call it “Pimp my State”.

Posted by: justin | July 7, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

These guys on the Hill are nuts!!! The sky was supposed to fall in unless the first stimulus was rammed through. Well, we got it, and things have gotten any better. Does anyone with half a brain have any confidence in the President, his staff or Congress to fix this? I sure don’t.

Posted by: Derek F | July 7, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm

MY COMMENT [I AM 60 YEARS OLD] LAID OFF THIS PAST DEC.WHO WILL HIRE A 60 YEAR OLD??? MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN UNEMPLOYED SINCE OCT.2008 HE IS 63 WHO WILL HIRE A 63 YEAR OLD??? HE HAS HAD TO SIGN UP FOR EARLY RETIREMENT JUST TO PAY THE MORTGAGE WHICH IS ALOT CHEAPER THAN RENT AROUND HERE.!!WITH ME UNEMPLOYMENT JUST ABOUT OUT!! AND A LITTLE TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE!! BUT WHO CARES THE PRESIDENT??I DOUBT IT !! THE BANKS!! I DOUBT IT !! THE MORTGAGE COMPANY !! IDOUBT IT !!STUCK IN BETWEEN!!!!!

Posted by: BARBARA | July 7, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm

This is not NEW news. everyone, including the White House, surmised the stimulus package passed would not be enough to reverse the incredible debt left by the previous administration.
months ago. Perhaps you GOP screamers
all forgot– the aversion to passing the stimulus package? Posted by: gus amaral | Jul 6, 2009 3:25:37 PM
___________________________________
“Everyone”? Give me a break!
This bill was promoted all along as a jobs bill to create 3.5 million jobs and lots of shovel-ready projects? The timeline was never discussed by liberals or the liberal press. NEVER!
The only ones screaming about how most of the money wouldn’t be spent were conservatives!

Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 7, 2009, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

Yeehaw! Spend and spend some more! Yippy!

Posted by: LongT | July 7, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm

what kind of peole in america beleive this garbage anymore? perhaps they are all in marin county or in la at the funeral. i dont know anyone that beleives this administration anymore. ohio, a major swing state has obama below 50% approval. where in the world do 58% of the country approve of this inexperienced overeducated community organizer?

Posted by: catman | July 7, 2009, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm

Dem Senator: Second Stimulus ‘Probably Needed’ — because the first one worked soooooo well. Nothing democrats have done fixed anything, only made it worse.
Listen to your constituents!! Nothing you promised worked! Liars – all of them, including that liar in chief!

Posted by: Makayla | July 7, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm

All I can say is he is 100% wrong and spending more money is NOT needed.

Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 8, 2009, 12:47 am 12:47 am

Posted by Barb: “START IMPEACHING CONGRESS DO THEY THINK ALL AMERICANS ARE STUPID,…”
_______________________________________
Well Barb, I’m sorry to have to inform you of this but, YES, American voters are stupid. After the fiasco that has become our Congress we reelected 94% of the morons who destroyed the country. I think that’s proof positive that the American people are really, really stupid!!!

Posted by: dk | July 8, 2009, 2:20 am 2:20 am

Bottom line: The Stimulas plan isn’t stimulating.
Didn’t Biden & Company get the memo? Guess what, this economy was in real trouble and needed a plan to get people back to work.
Guess what? The only sure fire way to do that is to give incentives to business to hire people. Instead this President decided this was a perfect opportunity to forward the Democratic agenda – remember, they are now letting us know that they misread the depth of the problem or, as Biden argued, their data sources were incorrect – and if the economy got restored in the meantime, then, well, “cool.”
As tired as y’all are of hearing this the fact is, tax cuts actually stimulate the economy.
Folks the fact is the Emperor has no clothes.

Posted by: Lone Star Rules | July 8, 2009, 7:36 am 7:36 am

I am so glad that the focus on the unemployment bill is seen as a victory from my Senator here in Rhode Island. How sad it is that he has failed the larger amount of unemployed who have exhuasted their benifits and hasnt had income for 5 months. No comment from the Senator on that. He admits no job creation in rhode Island but yet feel ok with ignoring the longest unemployed of RI who are going homeless. Loosing everything they have worked so hard for and have nothing left but the streets. Its horrible to claim an emergency for some and not for all. Its a shame that the government had 99 weeks for job creation and help small business’s and still nothing. Watch the tent cities go up in Rhode Island and know that they are the hard working people who paid their taxes in Rhode Island. Keep sending the message that sorry but welfare is the only option you have but sorry those programs are full from the people who have made that their lifestyle. Thanks for making the 99ers doomed to homelessness. Where is this governments sense of emergency? Its time to hold ALL government accountable for their failure to address the issues.

Posted by: rhonda | August 2, 2010, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm

Are they stupid the first didn’t work we need a tier v. They sent all this money over to Afghanistan hell we need the money here for the american people who are unemployed with no fault of themseleves. Time to clean house at election time with anyone who doesn’t support a tier v do not vote for that candidate.

Posted by: Debbie DeJarnette | August 2, 2010, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm

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Dem Senator: Second Stimulus ‘Probably Needed’

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