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Ohio Gov Objects To Timidity Of Stimulus Bill

While the "Senate moderates" gutted the stimulus in the stimulus package while embracing Republican tax cut pork, in the country there is severe economic pain. The Governor of Ohio Ted Strickland expresses his frustration with the "Senate moderates":

Gov. Ted Strickland says the $827 billion stimulus package the Senate is expected to approve today would be "hugely harmful" to Ohio. Because the revamped measure reduces money for states, it now threatens Ohio with a tuition increase for 40 percent of public-college students, the loss of thousands of state- and local-government jobs, closure of two "medium-sized" prisons, and 50,000 fewer people receiving mental-health services, the governor said yesterday.

While embracing GOP tax cut pork, the "Senate moderates" are blocking real stimulus where it is needed. It is disgraceful

Speaking for me only

< WSJ's False Reporting On The Stimulus | Wednesday Open Thread >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Politico reports (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:45:15 AM EST
    that Pelosi is pissed too.

    So can Waxman, Obey, and Rangel stand firm in conference?

    It's not about Waxman, Obey (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by dk on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:01:27 AM EST
    and Rangel staying firm, in my opinion.  It's about whether Pelosi decides to stand up for a rational stimulus plan even if it means publicly opposing President Obama, who has sided with the centrists.  What are the chances of that happening?

    Parent
    You're really becoming a broken record on this (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:06:25 AM EST
    There is every indication that the administration wants aid for the states.

    Parent
    I'm not the only broken record. (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by dk on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:15:53 AM EST
    What is every indication?  Obama's public pronouncements?  Perhaps you have forgotten about this:

    Before Emanuel arrived, Collins said, Democrats were advocating $63 billion in cuts. "Then Rahm got involved, and a much better proposal came forward," she said.

    I suppose we have a choice.  Choice one:  Obama was fine with cutting state and local aid, even encouraging it behind the scenes, as recently as late last week, but had some kind of "come to Jesus" moment over the weekend and is a new man.  Or, Choice two:  Obama has the same ideas as last week, and is putting up a public front of wanting state aid even as he worked behind the scenes to scuttle it so that he can have it both ways.  I'm not a big believer in "come to Jesus" moments, myself.  

    Parent

    Sounds like its getting better (none / 0) (#21)
    by magster on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:13:35 AM EST
    Bad link (none / 0) (#22)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:15:43 AM EST
    If this fails, it's the # 2 story now on main page (none / 0) (#26)
    by magster on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:21:54 AM EST
    That's Good (none / 0) (#61)
    by squeaky on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 12:11:02 PM EST
    Sense.

    Parent
    Come on Nancy! (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:05:49 AM EST
    Give me a reason to buy that book!  You need to acknowledge that anger cuz we are starting to worry about whether or not you are flesh and bone like the rest of us watching them burn the country down.

    Parent
    IMO, Nancy is the (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by dk on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:22:02 AM EST
    best hope we have for the next two years.  It's a long shot, obviously, given that she has been a disappointment in promoting her agenda since she has become speaker.  But she's really the only one in the position to stand up to Obama's centrism.  I hope she gets fed up enough that she starts fighting back.

    Parent
    I'm relieved that she's pissed about this (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:26:57 AM EST
    Thank God someone is who has some leverage!

    Parent
    Remember those photos of her (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:34:05 AM EST
    looking starry-eyed standing next to candidate Obama? But, yes, I do hope she does her job.

    Parent
    Thanks be (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by Fabian on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:47:36 AM EST
    that Strickland stayed in Ohio and did not join the Obama administration.

    You go, gov!

    I prefer him being on the front lines (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:07:12 AM EST
    doing what can be done to get things done and not joining team kumbaya too.

    Parent
    There's Still Time (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by CDN Ctzn on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:53:13 AM EST
    for our President to grow a pair, veto the bill, remove the Tax Cuts and come out with a plan that can work.
    Oh, Wh.., I just woke up. Was I typing in my sleep again? What was I dreaming about?

    Was the president in your dream (5.00 / 6) (#8)
    by ruffian on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:57:11 AM EST
    wearing a pantsuit?

    Parent
    No I think I'm the one in a nightmare (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by DWCG on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 12:23:45 PM EST
    I went to sleep on the night of January 20, 2009 thinking we had a Democratic President and Congress.  But I can't wake from this nightmare where the Republicans somehow took over.  It's weird, because they look like Obama and the rest of the Congressional Democrats, but they're pushing for tax cuts, and gutting food stamps and needed aid to states, education, and mass transit.

    Someone wake me please!

    Parent

    But shouldn't the context be (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by dk on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:53:37 AM EST
    that Obama's original proposal was already bad, and that the senate moderates (with Rahm's blessing) made it worse?

    It just seems to me that forgetting this context could lead to some revisionist history, no?

    State governments are major employers (5.00 / 6) (#5)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:54:34 AM EST
    and often more so than even major corporations.  So on that count alone, I don't see the sense in bailing out for-profits but looking the other way as the largest employers in state after state -- the states themselves -- are forced to do massive layoffs.  In my state, much like Ohio, we were told last week to plan budget cuts of 10 percent, and our budgets already have been so stripped in recent years that about all that is left is layoffs.

    We are struggling to find other means, but laying off even 5 percent of the employees in the largest employer in my state, the state, will mean even more cuts in service to the public, of course -- and at a time when public need for services is  increasing.  


    CA is threatening (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:57:51 AM EST
    to lay off 10,000 state employees and Gov. ordered 2 days a month furlough w/o pay for the remaining employees.  One of the employees receiving a lay off notice is my former secretary, who is a conscientious single mother raising a son who is in middle school.  

    Parent
    Exactly, if they're not unionized (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:06:26 AM EST
    with protection from or at least collective ability to protest and negotiate.  In my state, though, the clerical and custodial staff have that protection -- and the only state employees denied collective bargaining by law are the teachers at state campuses.  (Even their TAs aka grad students have a union, but the teachers cannot have one -- not one with any teeth, i.e., collective bargaining ability.  This is unusual, though, and in states such as California, campus teachers are unionized.)

    I've been following the California (and other) furloughs.  Interesting to see the court uphold Arnold's right to order this but the resistance by many state agencies.  Quite a showdown there, and significant as a potential pathway for other governors to follow, if he keeps winning his way.

    That said, I'm stunned to read about the benefits that California gives its state employees, and I mean gives -- with little or often no contribution by them.  No wonder the need for budget cuts.

    Parent

    Plus, the Gropinator wants to add a 9% tax to vet (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by jawbone on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:22:08 AM EST
    bills.  A low cost vet said people are already driving hours and waiting to get appts at their office, bcz they don't want to lose their pets and can't afford regular vet rates. Plus, they are being asked to euthanize pets or find homes for them by people who can't afford even the lower rates.

    Grrrrrrr. Snarl. Hissss. Spit.

    Parent

    Oh, for God's sake (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:36:58 AM EST
    That's flat-out sick.  I bet it only applies to small animals, though, right?  Can't imagine ranchers being able to survive with something like that.


    Parent
    I know (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:48:20 AM EST
    I'm beginning to think that the Arnold isn't a dog person or a cat person or even a rat person.

    Parent
    Maybe just a plain old (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Mike Pridmore on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:47:28 AM EST
    rat?

    Parent
    The secretaries are unionized. (none / 0) (#42)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:36:57 AM EST
    Most CA state employees are, except supervisors and executive types.  But, state employees can't strike and many don't currently have a contract to enforce.

    P.S.  UC employees are a special bunch as UC system is constitutional and the rest of education system and employees aren't.  Non UC-employees definitely contribute to their retirement and medical plans and co-pays.  

    Parent

    Ah, thanks for the details (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:44:43 AM EST
    that help to understand what is happening there.  The size of California and its state government -- and its university system -- mean that what happens there can have huge impact elsewhere.

    I surely do hope that help is on the way somehow for the conscientious single mom.  Been there, been scared by such scenarios myself.  For one thing, for the sake of the kids and for themselves, she and other single parents I know here, men as well as women, really need the reinstatement in the stimulus bill not only of aid to the states but also of the extension of Medicaid to the unemployed.  Seeing that all that is left is more funds for COBRA does not reassure me.  From experience with it in my family, COBRA sucks.

    Parent

    Hard to see how COBRA helps; (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:08:10 AM EST
    quite expensive.

    Parent
    And set up and administered (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:16:14 AM EST
    for the employer to continue to have enormous power over the employee -- and for denial of benefits by the bureaucrats.  So we turned to other insurance for the family member and actually found, as you say, that it was much cheaper than the federal COBRA.  Just a tip to pass on to any unemployed

    Parent
    I hope more governors speak up (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by ruffian on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:55:55 AM EST
    I hope Charlie Crist here in FL expresses a preference for the House bill. Possible that he did and I missed it.

    Does the governor of Maine approve of what his or her Senators have done?

    Shouldn't CA get some consideration (none / 0) (#57)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:08:52 AM EST
    after Maria Shriver joined the endorsement party w/Caroline Kennedy?

    Parent
    I know that there isn't anything left to do (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:11:54 AM EST
    but fight this out but it's tough because each day really counts right now.  As far as the Senate Repukes threatening to fillibuster, I say let them show us they have those glands to so blantantly screw the American people in broad daylight.  If they are going to burn my country down they ought to have to burn their party down to the ground with it by God!

    Well, that's a way to achieve (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:21:50 AM EST
    real post-partisanship: destroy the parties.  (It drives me a bit crazy that what Obama and others mouth about as post-partisanship really turns out to be bipartisanship.:-)

    Parent
    "Whatever Obama Wants" (none / 0) (#48)
    by jbindc on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:45:28 AM EST
    Link

    With Senate approval in hand, Barack Obama's economic recovery program moved quickly Tuesday into late night negotiations in the Capitol with the president stepping forward to put his stamp on the package and defuse intra-party wrangling that might delay final passage.

    Scaling the package back to the $790 billion to $800 billion range, with the goal of still generating 3.5 million jobs, is part of the discussions. To facilitate this, the administration appears open to reducing Obama's signature "Making Work Pay" tax break to $400 for individuals and $800 for couples--down from $500 and $1000 respectively.

    House and Senate clerks worked through the night to craft a package within the new format which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- Nev.) can take back to Republican moderates in the Senate Wednesday. This would set the stage for a formal meeting of House-Senate conferees announced for 3 p.m. Wednesday, which could then ratify any agreement reached and send it back to both houses for a final vote.

    "Basically it is whatever Obama wants," said one House staffer. In the face of the continued market turmoil and troubled economy, action seems a first priority for the administration



    Parent
    There has to be (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by SOS on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:22:14 AM EST
    something that can lift the spirits of people in this country.

    Or is that over too?

     

    Good question (5.00 / 4) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:24:31 AM EST
    My spirits are very low today.

    Parent
    I looked up (none / 0) (#38)
    by lentinel on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:29:56 AM EST
    briefly, hopefully, into the countenance of Obama.

    Then I looked down.

    Parent

    Under the bridge (5.00 / 3) (#36)
    by lentinel on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:28:08 AM EST
    It did cross my mind today that we might have been better off with Clinton at the helm.

    Blog post from 1993 Clinton economic recovery (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by magster on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:36:28 AM EST
    Yes, indeed. (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by oldpro on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:59:25 AM EST
    Kerrey, Nelson...backstabbers to the end.

    Parent
    That's hilarious (none / 0) (#52)
    by eric on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:52:29 AM EST
    I blogged about this situation similarly in 1977.

    Parent
    Dr. Prez Obama (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:06:11 AM EST
    The Republicans are not interested in your successs.

    They want you to fail, as a president, and if possible, as a person as well.

    They want to ensure that your presidency drives your party into the dirt for as long as possible.  They don't care if our country goes with it.

    They are Lucy. They have a football.  They intend to move it.

    This whole unity schtick thing is as perilous for you as it is for our entire country.

    Sincerely,
    A. Concerned Citizen.

    apparently, (none / 0) (#7)
    by cpinva on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:56:09 AM EST
    Speaking for me only

    you speak for pres. obama as well, since he approved these cuts.

    The reverse you mean (none / 0) (#19)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:11:10 AM EST
    Same here in TN. 15% across the board (none / 0) (#10)
    by Teresa on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 09:59:55 AM EST
    cuts with a huge tuition increase to go along with it. At least that's what they are saying. How do you cut every state agency 15%? That has to include a lot of people.

    Closing 2 prisons.... (none / 0) (#12)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:04:21 AM EST
    at least it is not all bad news...where arguments for liberty have failed, economics may suceed.

    Now if we could focus all the cuts on the prison industrial complex and the military industrial complex...maybe we can get some lemonade out of these lemons.

    It can simply mean outsourcing (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:08:56 AM EST
    as in my state, though -- where prisoners from areas bordering on Canada were sent to Southern prisons and even put on chain gangs there.  Closing prisons does not mean releasing the convicted, and may mean they lose contact with families and more.  So it can be a short-term "solution" working against all that is supposed to work to reduce recidivism, right?

    Parent
    Sadly you're right... (none / 0) (#63)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 12:25:56 PM EST
    I forget sometimes that releasing non-violent offenders is not an option...my bad.

    Parent
    I actually agree that the cuts (none / 0) (#13)
    by Slado on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:05:49 AM EST
    aren't worth it.  Not because tax custs don't work but because these aren't really tax cuts.

    The whole stimulus is flawed and it won't work.  Pciking on some "tax cuts" is just an attempt by BTD and otheres to justify the whole failed stimulus.

    easy to say it won't work (none / 0) (#30)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:22:17 AM EST
    because too many large banks are insolvent.  In 2007 Martin Wolf talked about the impending liquidity crisis and it rang true.  Bush did nothing to address it and crippled our economy.  The democrats did nothing last September when 850 bn would have had a dramatic effect on slowing down layoffs in order to pass it when O was in office (hedging their political bets).

    Now it is too little too late and the liquidity crisis which has long been global is nearing 6 trillion dollars to reach "stability".  

    Quite simply, we waited too long.  The hedging by the democrats has caused irreparable suffering of millions of Americans and they are now using the obstinance of the right to their political gain.  The problem with that political play is we are too deep now and a 2 trillion dollar infusion today would last about 9 months as we simply do not have a growth industry to carry us as we had in the 90's.  

    More than 2 million people faced foreclosure in 2008, my guess is we will have 3.5 million this year.  My vote is to let the banks fail and spend 450 bn on helping Americans who lost their jobs because the banks over-leveraged securities causing the financial crisis.  I say this as one who has 22% of his portfolio in financial sector and of course will lose it.

    If we let them fail we have a depression for a year.  If we bail them out we have a prolonged recession.  I think we lose more in the prolonged recession because we will continually address the same problems of foreclosure and bankruptcy for 5 years instead of 1-2.  

    Parent

    One of the realities (none / 0) (#24)
    by Mike Pridmore on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:18:58 AM EST
    of politics is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  If the governors get together and collectively do exactly what Strickland is doing opinion polls will probably swing in favor of the House version and some excuse will be found for Obama and the "bipartisan" ("Bipartisanship" In Politics, As a Rule, Takes Idiotic Shallow Asinine Nonsense, Shameless Hubris Inappropriately Proffered) centrists to put the funding for the states back in.

    You know what gets to me? (5.00 / 4) (#31)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:23:52 AM EST
    That America has become so dog eat dog and we have swallowed that indoctrination of being SOOO competitive for so long that many Americans do not understand why we must help each other right now or we all sink.  I'm not talking about helping CEO's either, I was never much for bailing out Wallstreet outside of what needed to be done to prevent total crash.....and then they still took us for a ride.  We have to bail each other out though and 50% of us aren't considering this to be a good idea because in America we all must pull ourselves up by the bootstraps that don't exist anymore and haven't existed for quite some time.

    Parent
    I would go even further. (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by Mike Pridmore on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:28:46 AM EST
    The global community needs to work together.  For example, the Chinese, although they have money to loan, are struggling to bring themselves into the twenty-first century in many ways.  We could help them with that.  And probably should.

    Parent
    I'm on the record for agreeing with you (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:51:42 AM EST
    that the globe is in this together and I don't mind us lending a hand where it's needed.  Sad thing is that European countries are way ahead of us on doing their own stimulation.  Once again, America being first world - not so much.

    Parent
    I think people are helping each other... (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:37:27 AM EST
    I've got an unemployed friend on my couch right now...people are helping each other everywhere.

    What it is is nobody has any faith in the feds to be the administrator of the help anymore because they've been crookin' us for so long...and that loss of faith is justified, imo.  I'm lookin' within my community and circle of friends for help when I need, and to give help when needed...lookin' to Washington is for looters and pikers.

    Parent

    kdog (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:46:07 AM EST
    Since when are you the norm :)?

    Parent
    Amen MT. I am like Michelle Obama now. (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Teresa on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:40:59 AM EST
    Remember when she sort of stuck her foot in her mouth and said something about "for the first time I am proud of my country"? I am not proud of my country and I don't care who hears me say it.

    We are a selfish, self-centered heartless bunch of people right now. It makes me so damn mad to see people suffer when it doesn't have to be this way. I am ashamed of so many of our citizens. I am starting to be disgusted with all politicians and I used to have respect for people who chose to serve. None of them are fighting for us.

    Parent

    Yeh, reading this, I was wishing (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:26:51 AM EST
    that my gov would do what Strickland is doing, speaking truth to power up the food chain -- since mine also is a Democrat, and mine actually delivered his state to Obama in a crucial, turning-point primary a year ago this week.  

    Interesting, though, is that much talk about my gov going to DC or getting some other plum prize has turned out to mean nothing for him -- or for us.  I have to wonder if a lot of these govs are getting frozen out from the usual paybacks of politics, like a lot of non-govs like Dean who seem to have been disappeared.

    Parent

    Aha, Wisconsin's gov speaks (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:00:10 AM EST
    and signs that the govs are organizing on this -- as we await word next week in his budget rollout as to the full impact.  Would have been nice to know we have that $600 mil in the House bill, although only a small fraction of the state shortfall:

    Madison - Workers who provide essential services in Wisconsin could lose their jobs if the federal economic stimulus package approved by the Senate doesn't include $25 billion for states to help pay their bills, Gov. Jim Doyle said Tuesday.

    Doyle and many of his fellow governors are sounding alarms about the need for the funds for education and general-purpose state aid, which weren't in the version of the bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday. . . .

    For Wisconsin, the difference between the two bills is about $600 million, Doyle said.

    "It doesn't make much sense to be working to put operating engineers and laborers to work on the roads, which is a very, very good thing and we really want that to happen, when on the other end you're laying off health care workers and teachers," Doyle told reporters. . . .

    Doyle said he and other governors have been appealing to senators who are sympathetic to restoring some of that support so states don't have to make deeper cuts to health care, police and fire protection, and education.

    Facing a deficit of $5.7 billion through mid-2011, Wisconsin is one of 43 states with a budget shortfall this year, as the economic crisis led to a steep drop in state revenue. . . .



    Parent
    Collins, Snowe and Specter have the 3 votes Obama (none / 0) (#33)
    by jawbone on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:25:50 AM EST
    needs. Collins says she will accept something lower than the Senate version; Snowe says the conference bill must "conform" to the Gang of Screw the People percentages (gotta have that 44% of tax cuts vs. the House version with 34%); I don't know what Specter is demanding.

    So squeaky wheels vs The Gang of Screw the People. Easy for me to choose; Obama...?

    We can afford (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by CST on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 11:24:16 AM EST
    To lose 1 of the 3.  If the bill passes with 60 votes insstead of 61, that's just fine.

    I seriously doubt Specter is gonna filibuster this bill.  He is too vulnerable in his home state.  Especially if Gov. Rendell gets involved.

    Parent

    Interesting interactive tree charts comparing Hse (none / 0) (#46)
    by jawbone on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:42:55 AM EST
    and Senate bills as they stand now. From ProPublica and WNYC.

    Parent
    It's good to see the person (none / 0) (#39)
    by NJDem on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 10:33:37 AM EST
    the president specifically said would be his liaison to the Congress is busy helping to get an effective stimulus bill through  /snark

    I think this is embarrassing... (don't get me wrong, it's a great and worthy cause, but the timing is ridiculous...)

    I predict if any governor will come forward after this it's Rendell.  

    This type of complaint (none / 0) (#64)
    by weltec2 on Thu Feb 12, 2009 at 01:58:32 AM EST
    just makes the Republican heart go pitter patter.