"Stimulus"...I don't think that word means what you think it means...
I've sort of bastardized the quote from the title, but let's go with it.The following is a listing of line items in the "stimulus" bill as provided by Senator Coburn's office. Michelle Malkin is all over this, but I know you won't click on the link. The snarky comments are mine.
* $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zeroemissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Dept. of Energy defunded last year because the project was inefficient. Gee, yeah, let's throw money at something "inefficient." That sounds like a fantastic use of taxpayer money, sure to "stimulate" something.
* A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film. They've GOT to be kidding. How about a tax break if they'll stop making movies that cast America and Americans as the villains?
* $650 million for the digital television (DTV) converter box coupon program. NO! This money would be simply saved by eliminating the mandate to digital programming. Someday when the economy is in better shape we can revisit it. In the meantime, feeding and housing people is more important than Jeopardy and Wheel.
* $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship). We shouldn't really need this. If Al Gore's Global Warming is real, the ice will melt all on its own in no time, drowning us all in our beds. Now, if you're willing to admit that Global Warming is a scam and a lie perpetrated on the unsuspecting...then we can talk.
* $448 million for constructing the Dept. of Homeland Security headquarters. Not necessary! Obama has made the world safe again, just by virtue of standing in the sun. Just ask the Obamabots! For example, NPR is now claiming that al Qaeda has been decimated! All it took was a black man with no experience and a change of sheets at 1400 Pennsylvania Ave.! We can eliminate the entire department and start petting the unicorns now!
* $248 million for furniture at the new Dept. of HomelandSecurity headquarters. If we don't need the building, we don't need the furniture. My guess is they weren't gonna be shopping at IKEA anyway.
* $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees. I have a better idea. To save the planet in light of Al Gore's Global Warming, they shall all be equipped with brand new Schwinns! We'll spend a fraction of the cost and do an even better job for the planet. Furthermore, the upkeep on the bicycles will be much cheaper, add to the longevity of the lives of Federal Workers, and set a really good example for the rest of us rubes to learn from.
* $400 million for the CDC to screen and prevent STD’s. How does this stimulate the economy?
* $1.4 billion for a rural waste disposal programs. Screw that!
* $125 million for the Washington, D.C. sewer system. This seems pricey. Is this really necessary?
* $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities. Umm..., no. This item can wait or hold out for some other benefactor than the American Taxpayer.
* $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected costoverrun of $3 billion. Hmm. Constitutional requirement, but perchance we could do it cheaper?
* $75 million for “smoking cessation activities” NO NO NO NO NO! This is NOT "stimulus."
* $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges. You are kidding, right?
* $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI. NO! We are not expanding the Federal Payroll FOREVER and calling it "stimulus."
* $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction. Surely the tribes can do this for themselves with all of that casino money...
* $500 million for flood reduction projects on theMississippi River. This also does little to stimulate the economy.
* $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas. WTF?
* $6 billion to turn federal buildings into “green” buildings. If it is going to cost $6 billion, you can fahgeddaboutit. It's all a hoax anyway.
* $500 million for state and local fire stations. I can be reasonable. I'm gonna let this one go.
* $650 million for wildland fire management on Forest Service lands. NO! Not STIMULUS!
* $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities Somebody please explain to me how this stimulates the economy on a national level.
* $1.2 billion for “youth activities,” including youth summer job programs. Yeah, no. We've got all kinds of problems with adults finding jobs. Youth summer jobs are not a big concern.
* $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service WTH? This is really just a wish list, isn't it?!?
* $412 million for CDC buildings and property NO!
* $500 million for building and repairing NIH facilities inBethesda, MD Jumpin' Jehosephat! NO!
* $160 million for “paid volunteers” at the Corporation forNational and Community Service. It seems to me that "paid volunteer" is an oxymoron, particularly for a Community Service organization. Of course, since our President's a prior "community organizer", I may get grief on this one.
* $5.5 million for “energy efficiency initiatives” at the VA“National Cemetery Administration” Dude! We have more important fish to fry!
* $850 million for Amtrak. Okay - this just pisses me off. Amtrak is a horrible waste of taxpayer money. Privatize the puppy! Make it pay for itself and spare the taxpayers!
* $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint. It is hazardous, so don't use it in schools, homes, office buildings. There, I just saved us $100 million.
* $75M to construct a new “security training” facility for State Dept Security officers when they can be trained atexisting facilitiesof other agencies. Unbelieveable!
* $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems Riiiiiight.
* $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations. Dude! If our forces need transportation, I want it to be something with horsepower so they can either run down the bad guys or get away faster. Electric cars are not going to get it done.
* IDEA, Part B State Grants: Formula grants to assist the States in meeting the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
* IDEA Infants and Families: Formula grants to the States to assist them in making early intervention services available to children with disabilities aged birth through 2 and their families.
* State Medicaid Bailout: $87.7 billion Through 3 different mechanisms, the bill would provide additional federal funds to state Medicaid programs over the next 3 years. This is nearly $70 billion morethan the governors asked President Obama for in December, and should be a loan to be repaid by the states.
Bad Policy
* Eliminates fees on loans from the Small Business Administration, thus pushing private capital toward unproductive businesses and away from productive businesses.
* Increases the definition of “youth” for certain summer job programs from age 21 to age 24.
* $160 million to the Job Corps program at the Dept. ofLabor, but not for job programs - rather, to construct, alter or repair buildings.
* Requires a government study on the impact of minimum wage laws on the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
* $79 billion State Fiscal Stabilization (slush) Fund to bailout the States by providing billions of dollars for“education” costs of any kind.
* $47.843 billion is appropriated for a variety of energy programs that are primarily focused on renewable energydevelopment and energy conservation/efficiency. Not one dollar is appropriated to make fossil fuels more affordable in the near future. More than $6 billion of these funds go to environmental clean ups.
* Increases eligibility for “weatherization” assistance to households 200 percent above the poverty level.
* The “Making Work Pay” credit of $500 to every individual making less than $75,000 (or $1000 to couples making $150,000 or less) would pay people whether they are productive or not - akin to welfare.
* The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - foodstamps) would temporarily suspend the 3-month limit for non-working adults to receive SNAP benefits, thus giving incentives not to find a job.
* Installs government as the creator of broadband deployment regardless of whether the specific local/regional market can sustain it.
* Funds new “green jobs” job-training program without eliminating inefficient job-training programs or consolidating duplicative job-training programs.
* $890 million to the Social Security Administration without any provisions to reduce improper payments, or any plan to increase solvency of the trust fund.
* Nothing requires the products that are purchased with these funds be here in America. Lithium ion batteries, for instance, are primarily made in Asia.
