Where can I read a decent unbiased summary of the economic stimulus bills in congress?

[ultimatebob]

Where can I find a decent unbiased summary of what's in the economic stimulus bills that are in congress right now? Every time I do a search online, all of find is a bunch of political pundits taking about how great or awful it is. I'd like to be able to read the details myself, so I can make up my own mind.

 

[StageLeft]

google: "wiki 2009 stimulus"

 

[Insomniator]

You can't find the details because they are ridiculous and the gov does not want that to be easily accessable.

Plenty of articles will say generally x amount towards infrastructure or x amount towards education blah blah.

I saw on the news today before work, 8 billion for rennovating gov buildings, 400 million for improving climate monitoring systems, few hundred million for volcano monitoring systmes? get the f outta here

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
google: "wiki 2009 stimulus"

That search didn't seem to bring up much, but it did give me the idea of checking Wikipedia for it. Thanks!

Here's the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...investment_Act_of_2009

Honestly, it doesn't look THAT bad, although some of the ideas like 31 billion dollars for "to modernize federal and other public infrastructure with investments that lead to long term energy cost savings" sound fishy to me.

I can see it now... some guy is going to get a multi-million dollar grant for installing those "Tornado" fuel saver gizmos on all of NYC's cop cars of something equally silly.

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Where can I find a decent unbiased summary of what's in the economic stimulus bills that are in congress right now? Every time I do a search online, all of find is a bunch of political pundits taking about how great or awful it is. I'd like to be able to read the details myself, so I can make up my own mind.

Just tell me what you want to hear, and i'll write one for you.

 

[Elias824]

you could just read the actual bill, although I think its something along the lines of 200 pages.

 

[KentState]

Originally posted by: Elias824
you could just read the actual bill, although I think its something along the lines of 200 pages.

I'm thinking upwards of 600+ pages.

 

[piasabird]

There is only about 11% of that bill that has anything to do with stimulus for the economy. It is basically an increase of the budget for pork barrell projects.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
-snip-
I'd like to be able to read the details myself, so I can make up my own mind.

Be wary of summaries. People have a way of mis-characterizing proposed expenditures. E.g., there's a ton of money allocated to states perportedly for medicare/medicaid, but this money has no 'strings' and will just augment the states' budget. What will they actually use it for? Who the heck knows. I've seen some summaries that lump this under healthcare (presumably because it's labled "Medicare"). IIRC, The Congressional (House) Commitee lists it under 'Jobs Creation'. Go figure.

LINK - This site will give you a link to the actual bill (647 pages long).

I don't know if you'll find an "unbiased" source. Maybe just read a variety of summaries and draw your own conclusion. Given the length of the bill it may take some time to get a decent summary.

Firstly, I'm very disappointed in the bill as I understand it because it clearly has a lot more than 'stimulus' in it (e.g., state bail-out money & welfare type stuff). So, it's the typical piece of polluted BS we see all the time out of Congress. I thought Obama pledged a 'clean' stimulus bill, no 'pork'.

Additionally, I've seen in many reports that only about 25% of the money will even be disbursed in the current foiscal year. So much of it is 'backloaded' I don't see how we're going to get the help we need. I see no reason to have an 'emergency' bill that has most of the money spent in later years. Surely they could handle that later stuff at another time when they have a chance to really think about what they are doing instead of this 'hurry up crap' (like the TARP).

I also hear from many sources that actual infrastructure (roads and bridges) composes less than 10% of the bill. WTH?

Then I hear dribs and drabs of pork-like items buried throughout teh bill - things like money for ACORN, FL yacht companies etc. If this stuff can legitimately be considered "stimulus" I should think it wouldn't be necessary now - Congress has been doing similar stimulus bills (i.e., pork) for the last 8 years.

Fern

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Elias824
you could just read the actual bill, although I think its something along the lines of 200 pages.

Read it? That's a pretty tall order. Hell, the congresscritters voting on the things don't even read them. Why would the average citizen?

 

[Moonbeam]

Find a one handed economist.

 

[OCGuy]

Id say AT P&N is pretty fair and balanced. :laugh: