Obama bans earmarks from economic package

What's all the fuss about.  There is no more pork, we changed the name to tofu.  That sounds much healthier but it's just a different way for congress  to  f  u.

Bush acts like a Democrat, maybe we will get lucky and Obama will continue to sound like a Republican (no pork) is the sound I refer to.

His plan is 60% pork already. That's why he doesn't want Congress to add any. It is highly unlikely the Murtha's and Byrd's of the world will buy into his idea but they may get shut down by others.

By the way, the biggest spenders left in Congress are Democrats - not Republicans. It is the Republican's that want to try to control the pork. While they lost their way in the last 4 yeas, the Democrats have always been the Kings and Queens of pork and always will be. That's how most of them keep getting re-elected.

"IN YOUR DREAMS" No pork,earmarks or whatever you call it. They'll come up with a politically correct word to explain the pork. Congress is just not like that. They are not that honest. We'll see if the money goes where it's really needed. Probably just like the 9/11 anti terror funds went. To podunk, nowhere to the two man police department.

Although this covers more than just the "Pork" I think everyone has their own ideas about how to improve our country.

Here are just a few things. You are welcome to add your own ideas.

TO: President Elect

Though we the people are crippled by an impotent and corrupt body of politicians we expect that in return for said bailout funds (our tax dollars) all CEO’s of rescued companies be terminated from their positions on the grounds of Criminal Reckless Management (defined as a company that is too big to fail but requires government assistance). Upon termination any and all financial benefits originally offered are nullified based on “failure to operate at a minimum level of success”.  These corporate officers will also face criminal trails.

We the people expect that if any President’s public satisfaction rating falls below 40% for 3 consecutive quarters they are subject to impeachment.

We the people expect that term limits of 8 years for any and all House and Senate political positions.

We the people expect that all “Pork” legislation is voted on a case by case basis and not connected to any other legislation, with no exception. Yes, that means our elected representatives will have to work more than 4 months of the year.

All pay increases for elected representatives will be based on the yearly national average increases. No Increases during periods of recession.

We the people expect that as our elected officials are afforded the highest level of public trust and responsibility they are also held to the highest level of morality. Ask the Romans if corruption is something to worry about.

Any public official found guilty of any crimes related to their position should face double the maximum penalty.

  We DO NOT live in a democratic society. Not once has a governor or senator ever asked for a consensus (state vote) on any relative legislation (other than smoking bans). Did anyone ask me if I felt the US should go into Iraq ? What about the Patriot Act? I don’t recall anyone asking me about that one either.

If I can dial a 1-800 number to vote on my favorite Idol contestant I’m sure the technology is available to make that an easy process.

Why was President Bush still in office while his public rating is the lowest of any President, and had been for close to 2 years?!!! 

Why do we reward mediocrity and accept much less than that? “Sorry, we can’t deal with that issue right now…. We’re taking our winter break”

 Sincerely,

A Hopeful American.

No Pork!!!  I'll have to find a new handle.

But I'll bet everyone that it will be full of Pork.  They don't know any other way to do things.  Maybe they'll just refer to it as filet mignon since it's such a massive spending bill full of supposedly prime projects.

we need to banish earmarks permenantly! the major problems are rich people tring

to get cuts off the money & then wonder why they are loosing everything because they

are stealing our poor peoples money.they don't understand/are too greedy for the

concept of money circulation, which makes a great economy!

Obama said he will ban ALL Earmarks. Not just ones form the stimulus bill.

No more pork barrel projects tagged on to bills  with out Congressional oversight and approval by vote.

It's like saying, I agree, but what do i get for my vote. 

It is unethical.

ENOUGH!

One politicians project is another pork.  Public works programs in the strictest sense is pork, lets see where the roads are built, lets see if its spread around evenly or where the people from the ruling party represent. That will tell the story.

I feel so much better now!

There will be 3.2 Million new jobs by the 1st Quarter of 2011 according to "The Choosen Ones" Plan.

And my wife and I will be getting $1,000.00. I'm not sure what I'm going to buy, a car, a new 60" Plasma, a new computer, how a bout that $5,000.00 vacation we've been thinking about or better yet, how about something the typical democrat would spend his grand on, Lottery and booze.

Aren't Stimulus Packages wonderful?

When is my grand coming? I gots my numbers all picked out - I knows their the winners.

Folks this Stimulus Pacakage is a Slap in the face of every American.

The first one didn't work, nor will this one.

And to wait until 2011 for jobs. I thought this crisis needed some immediate attention, not a plan producing results not to be seen for two years. You have got to be F%$%&*^ kidding me.

Americans need to learn to show a little more respect for their leaders. It's time to stop the name calling and give President elect Stymie and Vice President elect Petey our total support.

the best way to stimulate the economy would be get rid of the IRS. but the arrogant politicians running the country don't trust us to spend our own money the way we see fit!

Entire   FED BUDGET shold be frozen...no increases on anything...... 

Then every single  govt department/agency should be audited and examined to see if they are performing the job they were created to do. If they are not then they should be closed.

This would be the first logical step.

The folks on welfare will be estatic!

Beer and cigarette money is on the way!

Maybe if this bill is posted to the internet this can usher in a gov't closer to a democracy. Congress voting themselves raises while everyone else is cutting back illustrates our "representatives" aren't our representatives any more. Perhaps if they face job elimination government can become more like "of, by and for the people".

As for the package, tax cuts plus gov't spending. Where is the money coming from? China?

Now, if we can eliminate every dollar of foreign aid.

"His proposal includes tax cuts of up to $300 billion"

Are these actually tax cuts?   Does any go to those who pay NO taxes?

Anthony,

     I am all for helping out my fellow neighbor.  That is, the neighbor that actually deserves it.  What I am not for is giving a check to someone who did not even pay in taxes this past year as this stimulus package is going to do.  Yes, I called it a stimulus package and I hope to God it actually works.  However, if you paid nothing in taxes then you get exactly what you paid in...nothing.  Which I believe is, oh what did that other poster call it, welfare. 

PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU ARE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD!!! *head of household, **an American citizen with a bank account and a social security number, ***home owner. From this package, you will receive a $250,000 deposit into the bank account of your choice. Wow, now that is a stimulis check!! Now the Mortgage Co. gets some or all of their money back for paying off the house, banks and credit cards get their money back-paying off cars, boats, misc., etc., small contractors/homes flurish on small home repairs, new builds, etc., and when you purchase your new AMERICAN vehicle, you do not pay tax!! Foreign cars-30% tax accross the board!!!!  Now that is a stimulis check that should of happened before and really should happen now!

I guess the question is very simple.  When was the last Bill Passed without any PORK?

TRILLION dollar deficits for years to come. Are you people listening. TRILLION dollar deficits for years to come. Look at history and, you will see no civilization has stayed afloat on huge deficit spending year to year. And if you think that the politicians will ever get it right, you are living in fantasy land. Wait till the baby boomers want to retire in mass and, the social security system is needing to take back the money it lent the federal government instead of pumping the money into the federal government.  Do you hear the sound of America going down the drain.

It sounds like a goog plan to me, I too think the World is over as we know it, but for myself and everybody else's sake, I very much hope I am wrong.  I will be the first to admit it if and when I can.

On the subject of earmarks... Why not give each Senator and Representative their own piece of the overall budget.  Something like $5mil per Rep., and $25 mil per Senator.  Feel free to revise the numbers as you see fit.  They get to spend it any way they want as long as representatives spend the money within their district, and senators spend it within their state.  But once the till is dry, that's it for the year, term, whatever.  They all get this in lieu of earmarks. 

I suppose some sort of oversight committee would probably have to be created to rubber stamp the projects, but just put the whole thing on the internet.  Here's how much congressman so and so got, and here's how it was spent.  If they want to pad their political cronies pockets, fine, but I can guarantee their opponent in the next election is going to tell the world how irresponsible the money was spent.  On the other hand, if they want to invest in local schools and other infrastructure projects great!

I'm pretty sure that "pork" spending is not all bad, and in fact delivers much needed funding to many good projects around the country.  This is part of the reason we send representatives to Washington in the first place.  To look out for the interests of their constituents.  Doing away with pork projects completely might streamline the legislative process, but it might also hurt otherwise worthy projects.  And if earmarks are a way of "buying" votes for important legislation, then let the congressmen trade their budgets.  Vote for  my bill and I'll put another $1mil into your allocation account.

So what does it mean... "1,000 tax cut if one of the couple is working?"

As I understand it, most of the tax cuts are going to businesses who hire more people.   So, let me understand this:  if they hire more people, then they make more money right? (more production, more output, more income....).... then they pay in less taxes, so of the "more income" they get to keep more... am I missing something here?   Doesn't this sound more like another bailout for business and less for people.   What about retired people trying to keep up?   If one of them isn't working, does that mean they don't get a tax cut?   Still we haven't actually seen the proposal, so I suppose this isn't quite fair yet.. but things to look for!... bpp

Obama bans earmarks from economic package

I hope it`s true and it happens. This one change alone would be worth the 20,000 a night (Virtual Palace) hotel bill.

800 billion dollars, divided by 3.2 million jobs equals 250,000 dollars per job! Nice salary!