Economic Stimulus
It amazes me how the United States Government can make simple things so complicated… and that it always seems that laws to benefit the greater good cannot be passed without benefiting special interests.
I say this is a very simple thing to handle.
The House and Senate need to approve an appropriation bill which allocates a given amount of money to an economic stimulus effort. With that they can define the types of spending (broadly) that are acceptable. Further, they can designate that government entities (federal, state, local, etc) can submit a request to a panel composed of four Representatives (two Republican, two Democrat), two Senators (one Republican, one Democrat), and the Vice President to review and approve.
Further, they could specify that each and very request must be for a single project; well specified with goals and measurable objectives. That each and every proposal submitted must be acted on within ninety days, and that all actions and meeting of the committee must be open to the public (and news media, complete with cameras and microphones).
Congress could allocate more funding to the program as needed, or elect to stop funding it at any point in the future (but couldn’t pull back funds once granted).
Additional there should be a requirement on any entity that receives funds that they will abide by the letter of Federal law in allocating work which is wholly or partially paid for by the funds, and that any failure to use the funds as specified will require repayment with interest.
Look here, in a few hundred words I’ve outlined a framework that is totally transparent, highly adaptable, and fully accountable…
The whole problem is that we’ve changed nothing in Washington. While I believe that Barrack Obama wants to change the way government governs, most of the individuals in Washington only wish to benefit themselves.
We gave Barrack Obama an overwhelming charter to change America for the better, and if each and everyone of us doesn’t stand up now and tell our Representatives and Senators that they are either part of the solution, or they are part of the problem and will be dealt with severely.
One thing is for sure, things will change — we will either choose to make the changes, or the changes will be the result of social and economic upheaval. But if we’re going to have the choice, it has to be soon.
Related posts:
- Economic Recovery The Fed is telling us that we’re on the road to recovery… that economic activity improved across all 12 regions tracked, and have reminded us...
- Spending chill… Obama may propose a discretionary spending freeze for three years. Hopefully he’ll fully define what discretionary means; I remember the budget surplus (you know, “extra”...
- I’m mad as hell… and not going to take it any longer is the phrase we’ve heard from the silver screen when it comes to the breakdown of our...
- US Health Care Reform Today US President Barrack Obama is supposed to deliver a revised plan to overhaul US Health care… but yesterday Warren Buffet hit the nail on...
- Patriot Act I’ve made it clear a number of times that I believe the USA Patriot Act should have never been passed, and that it should have...
- Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell It appears that the United States will reconsider the “Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell” policy that prevents gay and lesbians from openly serving in the...
- Trust In Government Hits Near-Historic Low A Pew Poll released yesterday shows “Americans’ trust in government and its institutions has plummeted to a near-historic low…” Americans’ trust in government and its...
- Barack Obama, The 44th President of the United States of America I didn’t start out in the last election as an Obama fan, and I guess I’m still not a “fan” — I do have a...
- The Nightmare Continues… With the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continuing to drain tax coffers, the first quarter 2010 reported a substantial increase in home owners...
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Thus far the collapse of the US housing market and [near] failure of Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac have cost US tax payers $145B… and...
