The Runaway Pork Train Continues

The Democrats continue demanding that this massive load of pork, redistribution of wealth and a not so stealthy overhaul of medical care be passed immediately. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi is looking to get this massive pork offal passed as quickly as possible so that she can jet off to Rome, Italy. What's more important? Pelosi's travel plans or close study of the largest spending plan in the history of the nation? Pelosi's travel plans of course.

This is a 1,000+ page monstrosity and I doubt any member of Congress has actually read all of it. Many members in the House may never get the chance to read this mess before they are asked to vote on it because Pelosi has gone back on her pledge to get them a clean copy of the bill on which they are to vote.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) notes that many wont get a chance to read the bill. Even if they're provided copies, I doubt many have read all of the summations of this bill given that they are so substantial in and of themselves let alone the budget projections that show what a mess this bill makes of the economy going forward and the true cost to the nation. It isn't merely the $789 billion right now, but the $2.3 trillion or more that future generations of Americans will be paying off (if at all).

It's hysterical to hear about how the Obama Administration blames President Bush for leaving him with a trillion dollar deficit, and yet Obama is about to triple it in one fell swoop with this stimulus package, even as the Democrats ponder a follow on stimulus package that would be nearly as costly. The CBO doesn't take kindly to any of this either, and has a handy dandy graphic to highlight what this does to 2009 alone. How is any of this fiscally responsible.

It isn't.

That's why so many people are starting to balk at the package. Sen. Harry Reid doesn't know if he's got the 60 votes needed to close debate and bring the measure to a floor vote. Now that Sen. Judd Gregg is back in consideration after bailing on the Commerce Secretary nomination over the porkfest and census data grab by the White House, the numbers are even tighter.

UPDATE:
Will the stimulus stimulate the economy? Nope.

The compromise economic stimulus plan agreed to by negotiators from the House of Representatives and the Senate is short on incentives to get consumers spending again and long on social goals that won't stimulate economic activity, according to a range of respected economists.

"I think (doing) nothing would have been better," said Ed Yardeni, an investment analyst who's usually an optimist, in an interview with McClatchy. He argued that the plan fails to provide the right incentives to spur spending.

"It's unfocused. That is my problem. It is a lot of money for a lot of nickel-and- dime programs. I would have rather had a lot of money for (promoting purchase of) housing and autos . . . . Most of this plan is really, I think, aimed at stabilizing the situation and helping people get through the recession, rather than getting us out of the recession. They are actually providing less short-term stimulus by cutting back, from what I understand, some of the tax credits."

It's also curious to watch Democrats cheer the tax cuts that might provide $500-600 to many Americans when they pooh-poohed the same when President Bush offered additional rebates in that amount last year. In fact, Michelle Obama lambasted the Bush tax break, claiming that the $600 would buy only a pair of earrings. The Anchoress has more, but what is also important is that the federal government is going to provide tax breaks at a time when the states are looking to raise taxes to cover their costs.

Consider that New York City has already stated that they're not going to give the expected property tax rebates. That's roughly $400 per homeowner. In New Jersey, Gov. Corzine has contemplated something similar, and the property tax relief in New Jersey would have exceeded the amount provided by the Obama tax cut. In other words, taxpayers in many parts of the country will never see the benefit of the tax cuts because localities are busy raising taxes or cutting rebates that siphon off still more taxpayer dollars. It's a shell game, and no one can keep track of where all the money is going.

UPDATE:
The House has voted to pass this porkfest 246-183. All GOPers and seven Democrats voted against (one Democrat voted "Present"). It was bipartisan opposition to this mess.