02/07 Morning Report

Once again, painting the Republicans as the bad guys, yesterday’s NY TIMES headline read ”G.O.P. Senators Block Democrats’ Stimulus Plan”. The slanted article spent most of it’s time focusing on how the Democrats are trying to help more people. But it did mention a few important, little known truths…

To pressure Republicans from cold-weather states into voting for the plan, he (Harry Reid, Nevada) added $1 billion in home heating subsidies for low-income families and enlisted the aid of various lobbying groups.

Enlisting lobbying groups is a key phrase. It leads to more later, such as…

Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. said earlier Wednesday that he was bothered that special-interest groups were lining up for handouts in an economic stimulus bill and urged senators to keep it focused on simple tax rebates.

“I am increasingly concerned that in the Senate, the bazaar is open, the special interests are coming to the trough, and that when I’m reading about and hearing about things like tax rebates for coal companies, the benefits for oil-well drilling and things like this, I’m concerned that it’s going to get bogged down,” Mr. Paulson said.

It’s so nice to see the true Democrat colors. I bet the environmentalists are enjoying this. Now, I am all for increasing the benefit for those that need it—disabled veterans and social security recipients that were excluded from the House stimulus package. So does Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Last week, Reid and some other Democrats are calling that their “fallback option.”

But on Monday he said he would allow votes only on the full Senate package and the original House plan with no changes.

“They are going to vote on this package,” he said. “The American people are watching.”

Indeed we are, Sen. Reid. We are watching to see how much the Democrats will pander to special interest groups…considering how much you have accused the Republicans of doing it.

(…I doubt the MSM will change their tunes…after all, it’s the Republican stymieing the Democrats…not the Democrats being stupid…right?...)