Editorial CE #1

The Senate Balks
Why President Obama should heed calls for a more focused stimulus package

This week's editorial basically just discusses Barack Obama's decision to pass the $900 billion stimulus package. Obama was challenging all of the critics of the stimulus package, accusing them of peddling "the same failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis" and warning that, without immediate action, "Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse." Obama is justified in signaling that the plan should not be tilted in favor of tax cuts and that the GOP should not waste valuable time trying to achieve that. As the package emerged from the House, it suffered from a confusion of objectives. Obama praised it as "not merely a prescription for short-term spending" but a "strategy for long-term economic growth in areas like renewable energy and health care and education." As credible experts have pointed out, much of this "long-term" spending either won't stimulate the economy now, is of questionable merit, or both. All other policy priorities should pass through the normal budget process, which involves hearings, debate and competition with other programs. Senator Susan Collins of Maine is one of the moderate Republicans whose support the president must win if he is to garner the 60 Senate votes needed to pass a stimulus package. She and Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska are working on a plan that would carry a lower nominal price tag than the current bill, perhaps $200 billion lower, but which would focus on aid to states, "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects, food stamp increases and other items calculated to boost business and consumer spending quickly. She would also keep Obama's priorities, including a $500-per-worker tax rebate. Overall, I'm not sure what to think about this editorial because I'm not well informed about the stimulus package, but I think that if that is the best solution right now, it is something Obama should follow through with.