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The “Stimulus” Deal & Obama’s promise of transparency

Posted by GayPatriotWest at 5:00 pm - February 11, 2009.
Filed under: 111th Congress,Big Government Follies,Obama Watch

Now that House and Senate negotiators nave reached a deal reconciling “their two versions” of the so-called “stimulus,” will they, in accord with President Obama’s commitment to transparency, give the public time to review the multi-hundred billion dollar package before putting it before their respective houses for a vote?

Given the magnitude of the package and the number of programs it includes, it seems only fair that since it is the people’s money (and that of their children and grandchildren), that we at least get the chance to read it and consider its merits.  So we can have time to share our thoughts with our elected representatives, Congress should delay the vote allowing members to return to their jurisdictions to hear what their constituents have to say.

This is an unprecedented sum for one bill.  While CNN may say it’s “less than” $800 billion, it’s still more than $700 billion cost of the bailout.  Congress had two separate votes on that.

UPDATE:  How’s this for transparency:

Less than 48 hours elapsed between the time the text of the compromise became available for public examination late Saturday evening and yesterday’s 61-37 vote for passage. At that rate, the Senate effectively was spending about $300 million every minute while considering the compromise, and allowing taxpayers a scandalously brief opportunity to discover how the senators were doing it.

UP-UPDATE: John Hinderaker is not confident the House will follow through on its promise of transparency:

Yesterday, the House voted unanimously to make the final text of the bill available on the internet for 48 hours before a vote is taken on it, so that the American people can have some idea what is being voted on. It doesn’t appear, though, that this will be done.

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10 Comments

  1. Speaking of transparency, Dave – check out this wonderful piece from Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) who broadcast in front of Madame Pelosi’s closed door:

    http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2009/20090211135318.aspx

    Gee, didn’t The Snob and his minions promise us “open, transparent” government that didn’t work “behind closed doors?”

    Hypocrisy, thy name is liberalism.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

    Comment by Peter Hughes — February 11, 2009 @ 5:09 pm - February 11, 2009

  2. #1 – Sorry, I was thinking “Dan” and typing “Dave” which serves me right for doing two things at once.

    Mea culpa.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

    Comment by Peter Hughes — February 11, 2009 @ 5:11 pm - February 11, 2009

  3. As I recall, Obama promised all the transparency in the world, which he would bring about AFTER the bill was passed. Yes, he’ll have a web site where we can all track where the money’s being spent. It will be updated, uh, daily.

    I can’t wait.

    Comment by Polly — February 11, 2009 @ 5:41 pm - February 11, 2009

  4. I think I’m coming down with Pelosi derangement syndrome.

    Comment by Patriot Goddess — February 11, 2009 @ 5:55 pm - February 11, 2009

  5. [...] The “Stimulus” Deal & Obama’s promise of transparency [...]

    Pingback by GayPatriot » The Least Senators Collins, Specter & Snowe Can DoFor Their Party (& Their Country) — February 11, 2009 @ 6:33 pm - February 11, 2009

  6. And the cutting off your nose to spite your face award goes to… Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama: Capping Executive Pay Will Cost $11 Billion in lost tax revenue.

    Well done, socialists. Well done.

    Comment by V the K — February 11, 2009 @ 6:59 pm - February 11, 2009

  7. #6: Another excellent point, V the K. It reminds me of when Bush was first elected and immediately passed the prescription drug bill. The liberals were speechless, they actually stopped shrieking for 5 seconds. And of course, then they went right back to shrieking again when they realized it would help evil pharmaceutical companies sell more pills and bring in more “obscene profits.”

    Comment by Sean A — February 12, 2009 @ 5:35 pm - February 12, 2009

  8. Obama promised the public, legislation would sit on his desk 5 days to allowed public scrutiny before it gets his signature. Liar. Is there a website chronicling his lies so far?

    Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 12, 2009 @ 9:10 pm - February 12, 2009

  9. http://www.allamericanblogger.com/president-obamas-promises/
    Liar

    Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 12, 2009 @ 9:13 pm - February 12, 2009

  10. Gene, looks like The Snob – just like his stupid VP – can’t read the Constitution, especially the part that states a bill can become a law after it sits on the president’s desk for 10 days without any action taken – a procedural move otherwise known as “pigeonholing.”

    And no, that is not a sexual term for bird-brains, although I can imagine it would apply to some posters out there (hi, bob).

    If The Snob left a bill on his desk for 5 days for public scrutiny – especially during the last week of a regular session of Congress – it would probably be passed before he could even read it. And then what would happen?

    Sigh…sometimes I weep for our children’s future.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

    Comment by Peter Hughes — February 13, 2009 @ 11:18 am - February 13, 2009

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