What Inning is It? Debate Over Stimulus Cuts Inches On
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs quipped yesterday that Congress' stimulus debate was in the "bottom of the fifth" inning. So it's looking like a long seventh-inning stretch this evening as Senate centrists continue hashing out a package of cuts to the $900-billion-plus package.
Democratic leaders understandably would prefer the focus to be on what's in the package rather than what's in line for cuts. But to use another familiar metaphor, Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have grabbed the wheel of the economic recovery plan with their still-evolving proposal to trim as much as $100 billion from education, mass transit, and other areas. Talking to reporters in the ornate Senate reception room this evening, Collins described the group of centrist senators as pretty far from an agreement.
"I don't know that we can get it done tonight," Collins said, referencing her desire for "a different approach" that involves "tak[ing] a fresh look, as if we were drafting a bill from scratch [and asking] what would we put in it."
One suspects the Senate Appropriations Committee -- which actually did draft the bill from scratch -- might take issue with that approach. But Collins is one of only a handful of Republicans whose stimulus votes are realistically gettable for Democrats, and she said she's not prepared to vote for the bill as it stands.
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who has participated in the Nelson-Collins stimulus talks, took a pragmatic view. "If this package isn't improved here, but assurances were given before conference [with the House of Representatives] is completed that additional changes would be made, that's another possibility."
At least one of Conrad's colleagues, Sen. Jon Tester (D-M), said he's open to leaving some stimulus decisions open until a conference with the House -- which would have to occur next week in order to meet the Obama administration's Presidents Day deadline.
One thing to watch for in the final centrist deal, according to Nelson: a possible restoration of the $25 billion in extra transportation funding that fell two votes short of being added to the stimulus earlier this week.
But while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) vows to keep the Senate working non-stop until the weekend, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pushes right back, the chances of a breakthrough tonight are dimming. As always, however, we'll be watching and keeping you posted.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Tomorrow's jobs numbers are going to be BRUTAL. If the Senate doesn't pass a stimulus bill tomorrow, they all should be fired.
February 5, 2009 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is why you never ever ever (never ever Tyler? never ever, bro!!) put out a timeline on a piece of legislation.
February 5, 2009 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I disagree. If you don't put a deadline on it, it could be 6 months from now before they pass a stimulus bill and the economy would be in worse shape.
February 5, 2009 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reid is threatening to end the bi-partisan charade and pass the $925B bill with 61-62 votes. Schumer is saying that three months from now nobody will remember how it was passed as the money would be kicking in and jobs would be being created.
February 5, 2009 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good. If it works, we get the credit. If it doesn't we get the blame. That's as it should be. There's never any bipartisanship in failure anyway.
February 5, 2009 7:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can someone explain why the Senate Democratic leadership is holding itself to a filibuster-proof --as opposed to simple-- majority on this?
Do they really believe the Republicans will commit political suicide by launching a filibuster on a jobs and economic rescue package when the voting public is being smothered in pink slips?
And, if so, why doesn't Reid challenge Republicans to filibuster, and make them go through with it until they soil themselves on the Senate floor.
If we shine the national spotlight on their opposition to helping millions of Americans at a time of need, they will be forced to relent.
February 5, 2009 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because the GOP are filibustering on everything and have been since the beginning of the 110th Congress. You can't move to final vote on anything without 60 or more votes.
February 5, 2009 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
They haven't fillibustered on anything because the Democrats surrender before they do. Let them fillibuster. Let them look like obstructionists while the news reports tens of thousands of layoffs every day.
February 5, 2009 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
That begs my original question: why do Reid & Co. think Republicans will filibuster an emergency jobs bill and financial rescue, --a uniquely important action-- as Americans are losing jobs by the minute?
Why do they think any Republicans insane enough to do so could actually sustain a filibuster in the face of public scrutiny?
February 5, 2009 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a very good question. By not forcing an actual filibuster, or even the threat of a filibuster, the Democrats are moving the goalposts against themselves. They don't have to find 60 senators who support the stimulus package, they have to find 60 senators who DON'T support a filibuster. And public opinion would swing violently against the GOP if they were threatening one.
I still think it's going to pass, though, even if, like TARP, it has to go through a few times. The panic about the "end of the honeymoon," etc., reminds me of the many times during the election when people fretted over Obama's political skills. This is the same party he defeated; and he's in a much better position now.
February 5, 2009 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Congress has to realize that the real timeline is to get it done before it is too late to save our plummeting recovery.
Perhaps Gibbs is right to use a baseball analogy. Obama build a big lead and the Republicans were able to cut into that lead significantly yesterday but their rally fell short. Obama scored a couple more today. It feels like we are in the top of the eighth with the Republicans at bat in the Senate but no runners are on and there is already one out and the batter is behind 0-2.
In other words, it is looking like it'll pass the Senate before the weekend and then it goes to Conference and the floor for the Republicans to have one last chance at obstruction.
My question is who on the Dems can close this thing out? It is looking like it'll need to be Obama himself.
February 5, 2009 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to a HuffPo article today, the Obama Administration did call in their campaign closer to get to work selling the stimulus - Michelle Obama.
February 5, 2009 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
What are the chances this thing won't end up becoming a Frankenstein monster?
February 5, 2009 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Analyst Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation has just released an estimate that the stimulus bill on the Senate floor would provide construction jobs to roughly 300,000 illegal aliens. (UNLESS E-VERIFY ADDED)
While hundreds of thousands of American construction workers are unemployed, businesses across America continue to employ illegal aliens and will be allowed to use Stimulus money to hire hundreds of thousands more illegal alien
The Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, ACLU, La Raza are lobbying the Senate to ensure that businesses can use Stimulus money to hire illegal aliens. many more anti-sovereignty groups are out to derail the E-Verify program.
IT is a fact that America settles roughly 3 million legal immigrants annually, seems to have been forgotten by the national press.
Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
To find your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/
To find the Representative: http://www.house.gov/
February 5, 2009 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, you've obviously confused this site with townhall.com. But hey, its cool. The Heritage Foundation has just loads of cred and Know-Nothingism is our absolute fave rave here!
February 5, 2009 7:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You lost me at Heritage Foundation.
February 5, 2009 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, everybody! Lou Dobbs is here!! Hi, Lou!
February 5, 2009 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
...and the Weekly World News just released that bat boy is on the loose and up to no good with the economy.
(scroll)
February 5, 2009 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is supposedly the list of the Republicrats who are trying to take the stimulus out of the stimulus. All the usual suspects.
Evan Bayh (IN)
Michael Bennett (CO)
Kent Conrad (ND)
Mary Landrieu (LA)
Joe Lieberman (CT)
Clarie McCaskill (MO)
Ben Nelson (NE)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Mark Warner (VA)
Jim Webb (VA)
Mark Udall (CO)
February 5, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Have been witness to news and events in the passing in the last two or three weeks- I guess- more like most other folks in the country.
And from what I'm picking up Obama looks like a joke- with Daschle fiasco and his leadership looks rather failed and undermined with the stimulus bill.
Again, haven't paid as much attention as I normally used to, but for someone with a man-on-the-street vantage point- I'm sensing a perception of failed leadership on the stimulus bill.
Time to give a break to unity cherade and get the bill he wants- the vote will be acutely partisan anyways. No mater if he complies with everything the repugs want, he ain't gonna convince them.
February 5, 2009 8:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Haven't been witness to much of the news or events in the last couple of weeks- correction
February 5, 2009 8:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
The bill needs to pass and all that will be history. Obama will be the guy who, in a time of crisis, got through the largest economic stimulus package in history within his first 30 days in office.
February 5, 2009 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly, no one will remember this unity crap. His presidency will be measured by the stimulus bill and its eventual success.
I haven't followed minute by minute developments, but from what I've seen in the last couple of weeks Obama seemed to have given a lot of ground. Initially it seemed like "the unity" strategy was employed to put repugs under pressure but now it seems rather naive to allow them all the allowances.
Daschle was a major blow as well, ofcourse the executive pay cap looks like a charade and it didn't make sense to watch him defend employing a lobbyist.
Anyway, he had a definite D- on his report card last week or two.
Time to pass the bill democrats and take full responsibility. I've never seen a minority party in the congress or the senate develop this much teeth since Bill Clinton.
February 5, 2009 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's the problem? It's a Republican depression. Can the bipartisanship and pin it on them good while there is still time. It's a REPUBLICAN DEPRESSION! Name it! And don't stop naming it. Bipartisanship? When they start begging you to stop blaming them for the REPUBLICAN DEPRESSION, it's time to talk. Until then, clobber 'em. They earned it.
February 5, 2009 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tax cuts never should have been put in the bill. It should have been spending only and it should have been called the Creating American Jobs bill. You try and please Republicans, and all they'll do is beat you over the head with it.
February 5, 2009 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe unions are running ads to reelect Harry Reid. What an asshat?
February 5, 2009 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/05/stimulus/index.html
"Two Democratic senators said the bipartisan group has found general agreement to cut about $100 billion from the nearly $900 billion plan."
Could you tell me why these quisling creeps are trying to take a $100 billion out of a bill that is designed to stimulate the economy? Many economists say it's far too small as it is. What's wrong with these blithering idiots? The whole point is to spend money? Get it? They ought to shipped to Guantanomo, the Benedict Arnolds.
Are there any two Americans more dangerous than Evan Bayh and Joe Lieberman?
February 5, 2009 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
May be Evan Bayh is starting to understand one way to get attention and seat in the Obama cabinet is to become a rival and oppose the president.
Joe Libermann is just being himself
February 5, 2009 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did you see Obama's speech tonight at the Democratic House retreat?
He was on fire!
I miss the campaign days so much.
Fire up and ready to go!!!
February 5, 2009 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope, reports on Rachel's show that he doesn't have the votes because of the Blue Dogs trying to take $100B out of the bill. They are JOINING the Republicans to call the bill wasteful.
February 5, 2009 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone needs to watch it:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/5/20241/54713/853/693760
it is a whole new ball game now.
Obama is fired up and ready to go.
the new job numbers are going to suck tomorrow
the blue dogs will get in line
and the moderate Republicans in the Senate will happily vote in favor to try and save their seats
February 6, 2009 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
maritza,
due respect, even if u ask obama insiders in all honesty will admit they f'ed up.
obama should haver never given concessions like tax cuts in the beginning when no one asked. He looks too weak right now, and therefore the speech looks mindless.
Stimulus has to pass on his own terms to regain control.
February 5, 2009 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breaking news. Reid caves. The Benedict Arnolds run the show. Republicans rule enabled by the quislings. Heck, by tomorrow the bill will probably be down to brother can you spare a dime.
February 5, 2009 9:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tomorrow's unemployment numbers are going to be DISMAL.
They better pass a bill tomorrow.
February 5, 2009 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who is holding up this bill? Is it the left? Is it the netroots? Is it the base? Oh, no! It's the Blue Dogs again. But you wait, someone is going to find some way to blame the liberals for this. Liberals wanted to stimulate the economy. For shame, liberals!
February 5, 2009 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, of course they will. This IS TPM, isn't it?
February 6, 2009 9:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good for Ed Rendell. He gets it. I cannot believe the blithering idiots who want to CUT the bill. The bill is already too small. The governors are desperate.
February 5, 2009 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is the one that called Reid and told him to not vote tonight. He wants the congress to see the dismal job numbers tommorow, near 700k, and DARE THEM to vote against the bill.
February 5, 2009 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pres. Obama makes remarks at the House Democrats’ retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Strong words!!
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-15159
February 6, 2009 1:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, he hit a home run! Specifically:
""Understand, the scale and the scope of this plan is right."
"First of all, I found this deficit when I showed up (long standing ovation from members)... I found this national debt doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me when I stepped into the Oval Office."
"Come on, we are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin. We can't embrace a losing formula that says only tax cuts will work for every challenge we face."
"I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV, if you're heading toward a cliff, you've got to change direction."
February 6, 2009 6:59 AM | Reply | Permalink