The big, bad federal government led by President Barack Obama has struck again in Livingston County.
The latest victims are the taxpayers in the Hartland Consolidated School District. The dreaded 2009 federal recovery act is going to save taxpayers of that district $12.9 million in interest costs on a recent bond issue by allowing the district to borrow the money at tax-exempt rates.
According to the Livingston Press and Argus, the interest rate on the bonds will drop from 4.53 percent to 2.61 percent, thus saving taxpayers millions of dollars in interest.
I expect a Tea Party protest any day. How dare the federal government help a local school district save money on interest. Positively un-American.
Showing posts with label Stimulus Package. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stimulus Package. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Doing Taxes? Your Refund Probably Bigger--Because of Obama
As the deadline for filing federal income taxes approaches, you'll probably be hearing a lot from the teabaggers about the terrible burden of increased taxes under President Obama.
Don't believe it, because it's a lie like everything else they scream.
Thanks to the recovery act passed a year ago (and opposed by Rep. Mike Rogers) 95 percent of Americans got a tax cut. Yes, a tax cut.
The recovery act contained a cut in federal income taxes that will amount to as much as $800 a year for a married couple. That's a real cut, and you probably have been receiving it throughout the year as your withholding rate was cut. And if you bought a home you probably took advantage of either the first time home buyers tax credit of up to $8,000 or the long-term home owner's credit of $6,500.
But there are more. There also is a a tax credit of up to $2,500 for college expenses for you or your child. Did you make energy improvements to your home -- 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, is available in a tax credit.
If you bought a new vehicle, the sales tax and other fees are tax deductible, for a vehicle costing up to $49,500.
If you received unemployment benefits, the first $2,400 were exempt from taxes last year, thanks to the recovery act.
And a $1,000 per child tax credit was made available for more families.
The savings can up to thousands pretty quickly. If you want to see how the recovery act applies to you, visit this Obama site.
And remember, these are tax cuts that Mike Rogers opposed.
Don't believe it, because it's a lie like everything else they scream.
Thanks to the recovery act passed a year ago (and opposed by Rep. Mike Rogers) 95 percent of Americans got a tax cut. Yes, a tax cut.
The recovery act contained a cut in federal income taxes that will amount to as much as $800 a year for a married couple. That's a real cut, and you probably have been receiving it throughout the year as your withholding rate was cut. And if you bought a home you probably took advantage of either the first time home buyers tax credit of up to $8,000 or the long-term home owner's credit of $6,500.
But there are more. There also is a a tax credit of up to $2,500 for college expenses for you or your child. Did you make energy improvements to your home -- 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, is available in a tax credit.
If you bought a new vehicle, the sales tax and other fees are tax deductible, for a vehicle costing up to $49,500.
If you received unemployment benefits, the first $2,400 were exempt from taxes last year, thanks to the recovery act.
And a $1,000 per child tax credit was made available for more families.
The savings can up to thousands pretty quickly. If you want to see how the recovery act applies to you, visit this Obama site.
And remember, these are tax cuts that Mike Rogers opposed.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
More of that Nasty Stimulus Money Coming to Livingston County
Our local lawmaker voted against it -- twice.
But the Livingston County Commission has its hands out for some of that stimulus money that Rep. Mike Rogers tried to stop.
WHMI reported March 11 that the county commission passed a resolution authorizing the county to issue up to $40 million in bonds for municipal, commercial, and industrial projects. The federal government will pay up to 45 percent of the interest on the bonds. About $15 million will be set aside for municipal projects including road and sewer work, while the balance will be preserved for private sector projects.
Why are the Republicans on the Livingston County Commission voting to take stimulus funds if their party opposes the stimulus package? Isn't that just a little dishonest?
Of course, Rogers himself has been more than a little hypocritical on the subject himself. After voting against the stimulus package twice, he signed a letter to Ed Montgomery, director of Recovery of Auto Workers and Communities, saying that stimulus bill provisions expanding employment insurance, health care, training, weatherization, and education were "important first steps for individuals and their families."
A first step that Mike Rogers didn't want them to have.
Just like he didn't want Livingston County to have the $40 million in bonds our local Republican leaders are snatching up.
But the Livingston County Commission has its hands out for some of that stimulus money that Rep. Mike Rogers tried to stop.
WHMI reported March 11 that the county commission passed a resolution authorizing the county to issue up to $40 million in bonds for municipal, commercial, and industrial projects. The federal government will pay up to 45 percent of the interest on the bonds. About $15 million will be set aside for municipal projects including road and sewer work, while the balance will be preserved for private sector projects.
Why are the Republicans on the Livingston County Commission voting to take stimulus funds if their party opposes the stimulus package? Isn't that just a little dishonest?
Of course, Rogers himself has been more than a little hypocritical on the subject himself. After voting against the stimulus package twice, he signed a letter to Ed Montgomery, director of Recovery of Auto Workers and Communities, saying that stimulus bill provisions expanding employment insurance, health care, training, weatherization, and education were "important first steps for individuals and their families."
A first step that Mike Rogers didn't want them to have.
Just like he didn't want Livingston County to have the $40 million in bonds our local Republican leaders are snatching up.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Cash for Clunkers Doing What It Was Supposed To
There's been a lot of Republican griping about the Cash for Clunkers program. The complaints are downright ridiculous -- that the cost of used cars was going to be driven up, for example. As if getting rid of 700,000 cars in a nation that sells from 10 million to 15 million cars every year would make much difference. Or that used car parts would increase in cost, as if junk yards were not full of decades of car parts. Or that people who bought them can't afford the new car payments. As if credit weren't so tight now that even good risks have trouble qualifying.
The Detroit Free Press for Saturday (August 29, 2009) has a brief round-up of the impacts of the program.
One of the complaints has been that the program only moved up sales that were going to occur later. But of my three relatives who bought cars, none was planning to until the cash for clunkers came along. Someday they were going to have to buy a new car for a child or for themselves, but they weren't thinking, "Oh, we'll do it in November or next spring." But when cash for clunkers came along, they acted, and put money into the economy.
One relative told me the sales person said he had been in the car business for 15 years and in his best month he had earned $10,000. But in the last month, he had earned $49,000. He'll probably spend a chunk of that money at local restaurants and businesses.
And that's what we need right now. Not more Republican griping.
The Detroit Free Press for Saturday (August 29, 2009) has a brief round-up of the impacts of the program.
One of the complaints has been that the program only moved up sales that were going to occur later. But of my three relatives who bought cars, none was planning to until the cash for clunkers came along. Someday they were going to have to buy a new car for a child or for themselves, but they weren't thinking, "Oh, we'll do it in November or next spring." But when cash for clunkers came along, they acted, and put money into the economy.
One relative told me the sales person said he had been in the car business for 15 years and in his best month he had earned $10,000. But in the last month, he had earned $49,000. He'll probably spend a chunk of that money at local restaurants and businesses.
And that's what we need right now. Not more Republican griping.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Chickens Coming Home to Roost?
So Livingston County law enforcement is disappointed that no agency in the county received any federal stimulus money aimed at keeping police offiers from being laid off.
Under the stimulus rules, the money went first to those areas with the highest crime rates and biggest budget problems. Thankfully, that's not Livingston County.
But the complaints about not getting any stimulus funds are interesting, given that the Republican Party that runs this county opposed the stimulus. Now they want some of the money to bail them out of their budget problems.
Maybe they could complain to Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. I'm sure the Obama administration would listen seriously to him, given all the support he has given Obama priorities such as the stimulus.
Had he been a supporter, he might have argued to have the rules written in a way that would address needs in counties like Livingston. But he fought it and now Livingston County is paying the price.
Under the stimulus rules, the money went first to those areas with the highest crime rates and biggest budget problems. Thankfully, that's not Livingston County.
But the complaints about not getting any stimulus funds are interesting, given that the Republican Party that runs this county opposed the stimulus. Now they want some of the money to bail them out of their budget problems.
Maybe they could complain to Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. I'm sure the Obama administration would listen seriously to him, given all the support he has given Obama priorities such as the stimulus.
Had he been a supporter, he might have argued to have the rules written in a way that would address needs in counties like Livingston. But he fought it and now Livingston County is paying the price.
Monday, April 27, 2009
About that Money for Flu Epidemics
Now that the swine flu appears to have reached Livingston County, I wonder if Republicans are still proud as peacocks that one of theirs knocked out funding for pandemics from the stimulus bill.
After all, any self-respecting independent American ought to be able to fight a flu pandemic single-handedly.
After all, any self-respecting independent American ought to be able to fight a flu pandemic single-handedly.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Granholm Trumps Rogers on Stimulus Spending
So when one of the cities in your district receives $4.8 million for new streets, sewers, and water lines from a bill that you voted against, how should you react?
If you're Republican Mike Rogers, you say, "Streets, sewers, water lines? That's not what you need. You need tax cuts!"
That's more or less what Michigan's 8th District congressman did earlier this week when Gov. Jennifer Granholm came to Howell to tell its city officials that they were one of the first cities in Michigan to qualify for money from President Barack Obama's stimulus package.
In her appearance Tuesday, as covered by the Livingston Press and Argus, Granholm said funds were being distributed through existing channels to make sure the money goes to projects that local communities have identified as their priorities and to de-politicize the process. Remember, this is Livingston County, that bastion of red surrounded by a sea of blue, getting money that not one single Michigan Republican lawmaker voted for. That's pretty non-political.
Rogers, in his statement after the president's budget message, paid lip service to wanting to put people back to work, but then called for doing it by spending less to help cities like Howell, saying, "We can do that if we stop spending like it doesn't matter how far we run up the national debt and if we reward rather than punish small businesses for creating the jobs that are so crucial to our future economic health."
"Rewarding" small businesses is GOP code for tax cuts.
But Rogers doesn't explain how cutting taxes for small businesses will help the city of Howell fix its streets, install sewers and replace old water lines. Tax cuts don't do those things.
But as city officials know, the $4.8 million in stimulus money means that the city of Howell will have to borrow that much less money to carry out its $24 million improvement plan. So instead of having to increase property taxes 2 mills to get the job done, it may have to levy only an additional mill.
That's tax relief, but Mike Rogers can't take one iota of credit for it.
If you're Republican Mike Rogers, you say, "Streets, sewers, water lines? That's not what you need. You need tax cuts!"
That's more or less what Michigan's 8th District congressman did earlier this week when Gov. Jennifer Granholm came to Howell to tell its city officials that they were one of the first cities in Michigan to qualify for money from President Barack Obama's stimulus package.
In her appearance Tuesday, as covered by the Livingston Press and Argus, Granholm said funds were being distributed through existing channels to make sure the money goes to projects that local communities have identified as their priorities and to de-politicize the process. Remember, this is Livingston County, that bastion of red surrounded by a sea of blue, getting money that not one single Michigan Republican lawmaker voted for. That's pretty non-political.
Rogers, in his statement after the president's budget message, paid lip service to wanting to put people back to work, but then called for doing it by spending less to help cities like Howell, saying, "We can do that if we stop spending like it doesn't matter how far we run up the national debt and if we reward rather than punish small businesses for creating the jobs that are so crucial to our future economic health."
"Rewarding" small businesses is GOP code for tax cuts.
But Rogers doesn't explain how cutting taxes for small businesses will help the city of Howell fix its streets, install sewers and replace old water lines. Tax cuts don't do those things.
But as city officials know, the $4.8 million in stimulus money means that the city of Howell will have to borrow that much less money to carry out its $24 million improvement plan. So instead of having to increase property taxes 2 mills to get the job done, it may have to levy only an additional mill.
That's tax relief, but Mike Rogers can't take one iota of credit for it.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Pragmatic Projects Dominate Livingston List
Whittling the hundreds of millions of dollars of projects submitted for Michigan's share of stimulus funds down to the money available looks like it is going to be a tall order.
The Livingston Press and Argus came up with an estimate of $231,697,739 for Livingston County projects. By my count, it is more like $321,735,065 because I counted projects by state agencies that are intended to benefit Livingston County -- Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as well as some by private agencies such as hospitals and wireless internet providers. Even that higher tally leaves out the multiple projects of South Lyon Community Schools, which covers part of Livingston County but is also in Oakland County.
Livingston County policymakers stuck mostly to the pragmatic, which means pothole fixing and energy conservation work. We can use plenty of both. Our roads are in terrible shape, as we all know. And energy conservation projects have a big payback for local units of government such as schools.
But it would be a shame if all the stimulus money went to just those two sectors of the economy. After all, the New Deal wasn't just the Civilian Conservation Corps, as valuable as that was. It also included the arts -- beautiful murals painted in post offices, incredibly haunting photos of people suffering through the Great Depression, some of the music of Woody Guthrie, and the WPA interviews with former slaves that are one of the most valuable archives in existence for understanding slavery. People in lines of work other than construction need jobs in this economic downturn, too.
And taxpayers need to get lasting value from the projects -- like those CCC parks projects and WPA sidewalks that are still in use. The projects also should benefit all segments of society -- children and the elderly, not just downtown businesses. They should not duplicate efforts or facilities, and they should help move the nation forward into the 21st century.
That said, there isn't much to pick from among Livingston County's proposals that go beyond the literal shovel-ready type projects.
The Livingston County Road Commission listed 15 projects, all small-potatoes type resurfacing. The list does not seem to be particularly well balanced -- six of the 15are in Cohoctah Township.
Municipalities listed a number of street and road projects, too, as did the Michigan Department of Transportation. Rep. Cindy Denby even had the nerve to ask for $5.1 million for work on the intersection of Interstate 96 and M-59, even though her party opposes this bill because it's only "spending."
Short-sighted as usual, the Livingston County Commission failed to request funds for the Ann Arbor-Howell commuter rail line known as WALLY, but others did. The city of Howell seeks funds for building five stations for the project (listed at $3.75 million under Washtenaw County's request) and MDOT seeks $7.1 million for other aspects of the project.
Schools put energy conservation projects -- more efficient boilers, better windows, etc. -- on their lists, but other types of "green" projects were lacking. Putnam Township is seeking $20,800 for a recycling project, but Recycle Livingston, which is in dire financial shape, requested nothing.
Recreation-oriented projects were few and far between. Some tennis courts in Howell and some work on the Lakelands Trail are a few examples. The Department of Natural Resources picked up the slack for the local lack of initiative with campground, playground, and other improvements in area recreation areas. Unfortunately, this also included funds for improvements around the controversial Island Lake shooting range.
A few other projects fall into the recreation/arts category -- the Howell Historic Society seeks an unspecified amount for renovaton of the old depot downtown, the Livingston Arts Council asks for $10.8 million to finish restoration of the Howell Opera House, and Michigan Information Exchange wants an unspecified amount for a museum-type expo near I-96 and U.S. 23.
Some projects seem unnecessary. Cheryl Stockwell Academy wants $20 million to build a new high school, when Howell has one going unused. We don't need to duplicate facilities. And as far as drainage for a new shopping center which was on the list -- do we really need more retail facilities right now when existing businesses lack customers? The millions for the Howell airport benefits too few people to justify the $3.45 million requested. And surveillance cameras for downtown Brighton conflict with democratic values of a free society.
Not a lot of original thought went into these projects. They appear to be things that were already in the planning stages rather than dreamed up merely to get federal money. They reflect communities that are having trouble maintaining what they have and that reduces the likelihood of wasteful projects.
But that tendency to color only inside the lines results in some big gaps. I didn't find any projects aimed at a project for the elderly, even though services for them have been cut locally. Libraries must have everything they need because projects for them are lacking, too.
Some of these projects may already have been selected for funding. Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Thursday (Feb. 19, 2009) that some $853 million in road projects have been selected. And the regional planning agency of which Livingston County is a part, SEMCOG, will set priorities for some of the funding.
Most of these projects won't be funded, at least by the stimulus package. Their completion will come only after years spent on the priority list of entities with budgets that can't keep up.
The Livingston Press and Argus came up with an estimate of $231,697,739 for Livingston County projects. By my count, it is more like $321,735,065 because I counted projects by state agencies that are intended to benefit Livingston County -- Michigan Department of Corrections, Michigan Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as well as some by private agencies such as hospitals and wireless internet providers. Even that higher tally leaves out the multiple projects of South Lyon Community Schools, which covers part of Livingston County but is also in Oakland County.
Livingston County policymakers stuck mostly to the pragmatic, which means pothole fixing and energy conservation work. We can use plenty of both. Our roads are in terrible shape, as we all know. And energy conservation projects have a big payback for local units of government such as schools.
But it would be a shame if all the stimulus money went to just those two sectors of the economy. After all, the New Deal wasn't just the Civilian Conservation Corps, as valuable as that was. It also included the arts -- beautiful murals painted in post offices, incredibly haunting photos of people suffering through the Great Depression, some of the music of Woody Guthrie, and the WPA interviews with former slaves that are one of the most valuable archives in existence for understanding slavery. People in lines of work other than construction need jobs in this economic downturn, too.
And taxpayers need to get lasting value from the projects -- like those CCC parks projects and WPA sidewalks that are still in use. The projects also should benefit all segments of society -- children and the elderly, not just downtown businesses. They should not duplicate efforts or facilities, and they should help move the nation forward into the 21st century.
That said, there isn't much to pick from among Livingston County's proposals that go beyond the literal shovel-ready type projects.
The Livingston County Road Commission listed 15 projects, all small-potatoes type resurfacing. The list does not seem to be particularly well balanced -- six of the 15are in Cohoctah Township.
Municipalities listed a number of street and road projects, too, as did the Michigan Department of Transportation. Rep. Cindy Denby even had the nerve to ask for $5.1 million for work on the intersection of Interstate 96 and M-59, even though her party opposes this bill because it's only "spending."
Short-sighted as usual, the Livingston County Commission failed to request funds for the Ann Arbor-Howell commuter rail line known as WALLY, but others did. The city of Howell seeks funds for building five stations for the project (listed at $3.75 million under Washtenaw County's request) and MDOT seeks $7.1 million for other aspects of the project.
Schools put energy conservation projects -- more efficient boilers, better windows, etc. -- on their lists, but other types of "green" projects were lacking. Putnam Township is seeking $20,800 for a recycling project, but Recycle Livingston, which is in dire financial shape, requested nothing.
Recreation-oriented projects were few and far between. Some tennis courts in Howell and some work on the Lakelands Trail are a few examples. The Department of Natural Resources picked up the slack for the local lack of initiative with campground, playground, and other improvements in area recreation areas. Unfortunately, this also included funds for improvements around the controversial Island Lake shooting range.
A few other projects fall into the recreation/arts category -- the Howell Historic Society seeks an unspecified amount for renovaton of the old depot downtown, the Livingston Arts Council asks for $10.8 million to finish restoration of the Howell Opera House, and Michigan Information Exchange wants an unspecified amount for a museum-type expo near I-96 and U.S. 23.
Some projects seem unnecessary. Cheryl Stockwell Academy wants $20 million to build a new high school, when Howell has one going unused. We don't need to duplicate facilities. And as far as drainage for a new shopping center which was on the list -- do we really need more retail facilities right now when existing businesses lack customers? The millions for the Howell airport benefits too few people to justify the $3.45 million requested. And surveillance cameras for downtown Brighton conflict with democratic values of a free society.
Not a lot of original thought went into these projects. They appear to be things that were already in the planning stages rather than dreamed up merely to get federal money. They reflect communities that are having trouble maintaining what they have and that reduces the likelihood of wasteful projects.
But that tendency to color only inside the lines results in some big gaps. I didn't find any projects aimed at a project for the elderly, even though services for them have been cut locally. Libraries must have everything they need because projects for them are lacking, too.
Some of these projects may already have been selected for funding. Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Thursday (Feb. 19, 2009) that some $853 million in road projects have been selected. And the regional planning agency of which Livingston County is a part, SEMCOG, will set priorities for some of the funding.
Most of these projects won't be funded, at least by the stimulus package. Their completion will come only after years spent on the priority list of entities with budgets that can't keep up.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Big Wish List in Livingston County for Stimulus Package
I haven't seen such a Christmas wish list since my daughter was 5.
Check out the list of requests for Michigan's share of the Obama stimulus package (via the link first put up by Michigan Liberal.)
Livingston County, which of course is solely represented by Republicans in the state Legislature and by Mike Rogers in the U.S. House, has requests for hundreds of projects even though its Republican representatives wouldn't stoop to voting for the measure because it was just "spending."
So now the Republicans on our township boards, county commission, and county road commission will get busy spending the money that they didn't want.
Start with the $1.5 million request for a new "broadband network" from the Livingston County Commission. Sounds suspiciously like that new dispatching system they've been trying to find the money for.
And the airport has got its eyes on some pretty big prizes, too -- three projects totaling $3.45 million for runway expansion, sewers and a new terminal building. Seems like an awful lot of money for the small number of people who use that facility compared to the thousands who use our roads.
While the county commission seems to be looking at this as their own personal pot of money to spend on their priorities, other agencies in the county are more down-to-earth.
The road commission has some 50 projects, mostly crushing asphalt on roads and putting down a new overlay. Local schools have dozens of energy-efficiency upgrade projects, the kinds of things that need to be done and will save taxpayers money but schools don't have the up-front money to invest in saving money.
What's eye-opening is how many times these projects are described as "deferred maintenance."
The city of Brighton has some strange priorities -- surveillance cameras for downtown. Big Brother is watching you shop?
One intriguing project is a center proposed by The MIX (Michigan Information Exchange) in an old industrial building at I-96 and U.S. 23 that would highlight Michigan resources.
It'll be spring before these projects can start, but when you drive down a newly re-surfaced road, remember one thing -- Mike Rogers didn't want you to have this.
Check out the list of requests for Michigan's share of the Obama stimulus package (via the link first put up by Michigan Liberal.)
Livingston County, which of course is solely represented by Republicans in the state Legislature and by Mike Rogers in the U.S. House, has requests for hundreds of projects even though its Republican representatives wouldn't stoop to voting for the measure because it was just "spending."
So now the Republicans on our township boards, county commission, and county road commission will get busy spending the money that they didn't want.
Start with the $1.5 million request for a new "broadband network" from the Livingston County Commission. Sounds suspiciously like that new dispatching system they've been trying to find the money for.
And the airport has got its eyes on some pretty big prizes, too -- three projects totaling $3.45 million for runway expansion, sewers and a new terminal building. Seems like an awful lot of money for the small number of people who use that facility compared to the thousands who use our roads.
While the county commission seems to be looking at this as their own personal pot of money to spend on their priorities, other agencies in the county are more down-to-earth.
The road commission has some 50 projects, mostly crushing asphalt on roads and putting down a new overlay. Local schools have dozens of energy-efficiency upgrade projects, the kinds of things that need to be done and will save taxpayers money but schools don't have the up-front money to invest in saving money.
What's eye-opening is how many times these projects are described as "deferred maintenance."
The city of Brighton has some strange priorities -- surveillance cameras for downtown. Big Brother is watching you shop?
One intriguing project is a center proposed by The MIX (Michigan Information Exchange) in an old industrial building at I-96 and U.S. 23 that would highlight Michigan resources.
It'll be spring before these projects can start, but when you drive down a newly re-surfaced road, remember one thing -- Mike Rogers didn't want you to have this.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
How Candice Miller Looked Foolish on Stimulus Bill
Michigan Rep. Candice Miller was one of those Republican obstructionists who got up on the floor of the U.S. House to rail against what a bad deal the stimulus package is for Michigan.
But because she didn't have her facts straight -- really, because she didn't have a clue what she was talking about -- she is ending up as the butt of a big joke pulled off by the Obama administration.
As Politico.com tells the story, negotiators for Obama inserted money into the bill for a massive upgrade to high-speed rail systems. Republicans, desperate to trivialize the stimulus package, seized on the item and decided it was intended to pay for a railroad between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Without a shred of factual information on which to base their conclusion, Republicans began accusing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of including the money for his home state's project.
Miller was one who not only bit on that story, but fell for it hook, line, and sinker. From politico.com:
"Here is Rep. Candice S. Miller (R-Mich.) explaining her vote against the bill Friday despite the benefits to her home state: 'Michigan is a state of about 10 million people, and we are the hardest hit, as I said, by this economy. And yet we are expected to get approximately $7 billion from this bill. And apparently the Senate majority leader has earmarked $8 billion for a rail system from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? You have got to be kidding. You have got to be kidding.'"
No Candy, Republicans weren't kidding. They were just plain wrong.
Turns out it wasn't Reid at all, but Rahm Emmanuel who wanted the money for Obama's signature issue -- creating high speed rail links between American cities.
And that says a lot about the quality of Republican arguments against the stimulus bill.
But because she didn't have her facts straight -- really, because she didn't have a clue what she was talking about -- she is ending up as the butt of a big joke pulled off by the Obama administration.
As Politico.com tells the story, negotiators for Obama inserted money into the bill for a massive upgrade to high-speed rail systems. Republicans, desperate to trivialize the stimulus package, seized on the item and decided it was intended to pay for a railroad between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Without a shred of factual information on which to base their conclusion, Republicans began accusing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of including the money for his home state's project.
Miller was one who not only bit on that story, but fell for it hook, line, and sinker. From politico.com:
"Here is Rep. Candice S. Miller (R-Mich.) explaining her vote against the bill Friday despite the benefits to her home state: 'Michigan is a state of about 10 million people, and we are the hardest hit, as I said, by this economy. And yet we are expected to get approximately $7 billion from this bill. And apparently the Senate majority leader has earmarked $8 billion for a rail system from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? You have got to be kidding. You have got to be kidding.'"
No Candy, Republicans weren't kidding. They were just plain wrong.
Turns out it wasn't Reid at all, but Rahm Emmanuel who wanted the money for Obama's signature issue -- creating high speed rail links between American cities.
And that says a lot about the quality of Republican arguments against the stimulus bill.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Michigan's 8th District Job Haul from Stimulus Bill Tops the State
Michigan's 8th Congressional District, which includes Livingston County, will see more jobs created by the Obama stimulus measure than any other of the state's 15 congressional districts.
That's the conclusion of an analysis of the stimulus measure released Tuesday (February 17, 2009) by the Obama White House.
No other congressional district in Michigan has more projected jobs than the 8th District, although the 15th Congressional District also is listed as potentially seeing 8,000 jobs created. The other districts have job projections ranging from 6,900 to 7,900.
Now, given that Rep. Mike Rogers joined all the other Republicans in opposing the bill from the git-go and thus had no influence on it at all, it's kind of hard to complain that the measure is full of pork barrel spending for members of Congress. I mean, if Democrats were going to jam the bill full of pork, why would they put so much of it in the 8th District, rather than, say, the 7th District (just 7,400 jobs) or the 9th District (7,300 jobs) where there are new Democratic members of Congress?
Sort of pulls the rug out from under that Republican argument, doesn't it?
That's the conclusion of an analysis of the stimulus measure released Tuesday (February 17, 2009) by the Obama White House.
No other congressional district in Michigan has more projected jobs than the 8th District, although the 15th Congressional District also is listed as potentially seeing 8,000 jobs created. The other districts have job projections ranging from 6,900 to 7,900.
Now, given that Rep. Mike Rogers joined all the other Republicans in opposing the bill from the git-go and thus had no influence on it at all, it's kind of hard to complain that the measure is full of pork barrel spending for members of Congress. I mean, if Democrats were going to jam the bill full of pork, why would they put so much of it in the 8th District, rather than, say, the 7th District (just 7,400 jobs) or the 9th District (7,300 jobs) where there are new Democratic members of Congress?
Sort of pulls the rug out from under that Republican argument, doesn't it?
Monday, February 16, 2009
With Rogers, 8th District Had Zip Influence on Stimulus
Livingston County roads are in dire shape. The county can't hide that any more by pretending everything is hunky-dory under one-party Republican rule. We know that Livingston County ranks 16th among Michigan's 83 counties in terms of percentage of roads in poor shape, according to an analysis by Drive Michigan. And we know we are falling farther and farther behind each year in terms of maintenance.
The stimulus package that President Obama will sign into law includes funds for infrstructure improvements, but not as much as some people had hoped.
Knowing the needs of his home county, wouldn't it have been nice if the representative of Michigan's 8th congressional district had been in there pitching for more infrastructure funding?
Imagine what might have happened had Mike Rogers stepped forward and said, "Mr. President, I'll vote for this package if you will add more spending for infrastructure because that's what my constituents need and because it will put people to work."
But by lining up in unanimous opposition, Republicans (including Mike Rogers) made sure they would have zero input on what went into that bill.
Way to look out for the needs of the people back home, Mike.
The stimulus package that President Obama will sign into law includes funds for infrstructure improvements, but not as much as some people had hoped.
Knowing the needs of his home county, wouldn't it have been nice if the representative of Michigan's 8th congressional district had been in there pitching for more infrastructure funding?
Imagine what might have happened had Mike Rogers stepped forward and said, "Mr. President, I'll vote for this package if you will add more spending for infrastructure because that's what my constituents need and because it will put people to work."
But by lining up in unanimous opposition, Republicans (including Mike Rogers) made sure they would have zero input on what went into that bill.
Way to look out for the needs of the people back home, Mike.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Lies, Lies, and Damned Lies -- Mike Rogers' Stimulus E-Mail
There's an old joke that there are three kinds of lies -- lies, damned lies, and statistics.
In Livingston County, the joke's punch line might be modified to "lies, damned lies, and a Mike Rogers' email."
Our congressional representative's email explaining his No vote on the just-passed stimulus bill, received Friday (February 13, 2009), starts off with the whopper that the stimulus package includes "$30 million to save a mouse habitat in San Francisco." "San Francisco" is code for "Nancy Pelosi," which is intended to stir up the women-hating innards of the conservative GOP-base.
Unfortunately, as this piece on Daily Kos shows, there is no San Francisco mouse habitat money. It's just one of the lies that Republicans have been peddling across the country to try to stir up outrage against the stimulus.
But the really big whopper is Rogers' claim that he backs a plan that will deliver more jobs. And that plan would be -- tax cuts! In his email Rogers insists that "the alternative stimulus bill I voted for will create 6.2 million jobs nationally."
Except he offers absolutely no data to back that up, not the name of even one economist who believes tax cuts outperform government spending when it comes to creating jobs.
It is simply not true. Government spending delivers more immediate economic activity than does a cut in taxes -- as much as $1.73 compared to about $1.03 for tax cuts.
Furthermore, Rogers' email shows that he fundamentally misunderstands the type of economic crisis we are in right now. He says his plan will help Michigan families "save money."
Right now, we don't really want people to save money, as contradictory as that may sound. We need people to spend money, to buy things, so that businesses will feel motivated to hire back some of the people they have laid off. In a recession, falling demand is the problem, not a low savings rate.
But in times like these, people who have jobs generally are worried about the future so they save money instead of spending it. That's why a stimulus plan of mostly tax cuts would fail. There is no guarantee people would spend the money. Much of it would be saved or used to pay down credit card or other debt.
And there is no guarantee that those who did spend it would spend it in the U.S. They might take a trip outside the country, for example, which is why all that money spent in Iraq did nothing to stimulate our economy (save for a few companies like Blackwater.)
Government has to be the spender of last resort in this climate.
And tax cuts would be of little benefit to people who don't have jobs.
Rogers, who thinks he should be the next governor of Michigan, doesn't undestand this. Or he does and is lying about it.
In Livingston County, the joke's punch line might be modified to "lies, damned lies, and a Mike Rogers' email."
Our congressional representative's email explaining his No vote on the just-passed stimulus bill, received Friday (February 13, 2009), starts off with the whopper that the stimulus package includes "$30 million to save a mouse habitat in San Francisco." "San Francisco" is code for "Nancy Pelosi," which is intended to stir up the women-hating innards of the conservative GOP-base.
Unfortunately, as this piece on Daily Kos shows, there is no San Francisco mouse habitat money. It's just one of the lies that Republicans have been peddling across the country to try to stir up outrage against the stimulus.
But the really big whopper is Rogers' claim that he backs a plan that will deliver more jobs. And that plan would be -- tax cuts! In his email Rogers insists that "the alternative stimulus bill I voted for will create 6.2 million jobs nationally."
Except he offers absolutely no data to back that up, not the name of even one economist who believes tax cuts outperform government spending when it comes to creating jobs.
It is simply not true. Government spending delivers more immediate economic activity than does a cut in taxes -- as much as $1.73 compared to about $1.03 for tax cuts.
Furthermore, Rogers' email shows that he fundamentally misunderstands the type of economic crisis we are in right now. He says his plan will help Michigan families "save money."
Right now, we don't really want people to save money, as contradictory as that may sound. We need people to spend money, to buy things, so that businesses will feel motivated to hire back some of the people they have laid off. In a recession, falling demand is the problem, not a low savings rate.
But in times like these, people who have jobs generally are worried about the future so they save money instead of spending it. That's why a stimulus plan of mostly tax cuts would fail. There is no guarantee people would spend the money. Much of it would be saved or used to pay down credit card or other debt.
And there is no guarantee that those who did spend it would spend it in the U.S. They might take a trip outside the country, for example, which is why all that money spent in Iraq did nothing to stimulate our economy (save for a few companies like Blackwater.)
Government has to be the spender of last resort in this climate.
And tax cuts would be of little benefit to people who don't have jobs.
Rogers, who thinks he should be the next governor of Michigan, doesn't undestand this. Or he does and is lying about it.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
In GOP Eyes, These Jobs Don't Count
Are you a police officer, a firefighter, or a public school teacher?
Did you know you don't have a "real job"?
Are you a librarian, a park ranger, a counselor for a public mental health agency?
Your job isn't "real," either.
A researcher seeking the cure for cancer or heart disease at the University of Michigan Hospitals and Clinics? A surgical nurse or a doctor who deliveries babies at the same facility?
Also not "real."
Do you take care of our wounded warriors at one of our Veterans' Administration hospitals? Deliver mail, plow roads in even the worst blizzard, drive a school bus with our precious children on board?
Still unreal.
A judge, parole officer, prison guard?
Not a job.
President of the University of Michigan? Get a real job.
An astronaut? A soldier? Just government work.
According to the new head of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, none of these occupations is a real job. They are just "work" because they are government jobs.
In an interview on Sunday (Feb. 8, 2009) arguing against President Obama's stimulus package, Steele proclaimed that only private sector jobs are "real jobs" and that government jobs are not "real" because they come to an end. Like jobs in the private sector don't come to an end -- at the rate of 600,000 a month in January, thanks to eight years of Republican policies.
You can read about the full interview and watch it here.
All of which brings up the question, why did Steele run for Maryland lieutenant governor a few years ago if government work is so unworthy?
Did you know you don't have a "real job"?
Are you a librarian, a park ranger, a counselor for a public mental health agency?
Your job isn't "real," either.
A researcher seeking the cure for cancer or heart disease at the University of Michigan Hospitals and Clinics? A surgical nurse or a doctor who deliveries babies at the same facility?
Also not "real."
Do you take care of our wounded warriors at one of our Veterans' Administration hospitals? Deliver mail, plow roads in even the worst blizzard, drive a school bus with our precious children on board?
Still unreal.
A judge, parole officer, prison guard?
Not a job.
President of the University of Michigan? Get a real job.
An astronaut? A soldier? Just government work.
According to the new head of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, none of these occupations is a real job. They are just "work" because they are government jobs.
In an interview on Sunday (Feb. 8, 2009) arguing against President Obama's stimulus package, Steele proclaimed that only private sector jobs are "real jobs" and that government jobs are not "real" because they come to an end. Like jobs in the private sector don't come to an end -- at the rate of 600,000 a month in January, thanks to eight years of Republican policies.
You can read about the full interview and watch it here.
All of which brings up the question, why did Steele run for Maryland lieutenant governor a few years ago if government work is so unworthy?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
When Mike Rogers Calls, Hang Up!
Don't be fooled by a call from Rep. Mike Rogers inviting you to stay on the line to enter into a conference call with Rogers. There is no conference call.
What you will hear is a recorded call with a lot of blathering between Mike and possibly a staffer defending Mike's "no" vote on the stimulus bill on Wednesday, January 28. There is no opportunity to talk with the congressman and, perhaps, ask him some pointed questions. Maybe, for instance, how did it feel today, Mike, when President Obama signed the Lily Ledbetter bill into law? Does it still bother you to think that some women will be suing for equal pay?
I've heard better bull sessions in the company lunch room than the conversation between Mike and Mr. Unknown. Too bad there wasn't a Ms. Unknown. That would have been a tiny bit more convincing that an actual discussion was taking place.
Poor Mike! He's really worried about his job (even if he doesn't care about anyone else's). Given the economic situation in Michigan, he's between a rock and a hard place. If he doesn't do what the Republican leadership tells him to do, he loses their support. If he doesn't vote for the stimulus package, equal pay, and health care for poor children, he loses his constituents' support. He's running out of political tricks so he's down to setting up phony conference calls.
Time for Mike to get a job on K Street with his cronies.
What you will hear is a recorded call with a lot of blathering between Mike and possibly a staffer defending Mike's "no" vote on the stimulus bill on Wednesday, January 28. There is no opportunity to talk with the congressman and, perhaps, ask him some pointed questions. Maybe, for instance, how did it feel today, Mike, when President Obama signed the Lily Ledbetter bill into law? Does it still bother you to think that some women will be suing for equal pay?
I've heard better bull sessions in the company lunch room than the conversation between Mike and Mr. Unknown. Too bad there wasn't a Ms. Unknown. That would have been a tiny bit more convincing that an actual discussion was taking place.
Poor Mike! He's really worried about his job (even if he doesn't care about anyone else's). Given the economic situation in Michigan, he's between a rock and a hard place. If he doesn't do what the Republican leadership tells him to do, he loses their support. If he doesn't vote for the stimulus package, equal pay, and health care for poor children, he loses his constituents' support. He's running out of political tricks so he's down to setting up phony conference calls.
Time for Mike to get a job on K Street with his cronies.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Details Emerge for Economic Stimulus Package
Democrats in the U.S. House have released a draft of the economic stimulus package designed to get our economy moving again.
Several aspects of the package would immediately benefit Michigan and Livingston County>. Money to increase the federal share of the Medicaid program would help out the state budget. Money for road and bridge construction would help Livingston County's backlog of road projects. Funds to repair schools, increase food stamp payments, and on and on.
There are even funds for mass transit, which Livingston County might have benefited from had our county commission moved ahead with the commuter line to Ann Arbor, known as WALLY.
I'm wondering how Mike Rogers will figure out a way to vote against this.
Several aspects of the package would immediately benefit Michigan and Livingston County>. Money to increase the federal share of the Medicaid program would help out the state budget. Money for road and bridge construction would help Livingston County's backlog of road projects. Funds to repair schools, increase food stamp payments, and on and on.
There are even funds for mass transit, which Livingston County might have benefited from had our county commission moved ahead with the commuter line to Ann Arbor, known as WALLY.
I'm wondering how Mike Rogers will figure out a way to vote against this.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tightening Livingston Road Budget Points Up Need for Stimulus Package
Things are about to get a lot worse for those of us who travel the roads of Livingston County -- which is just about everybody who lives here.
Our county's road budget -- already grossly inadequate -- will shrink next year by a third -- to $15.1 million, according to the Livingston Press and Argus.
The Livingston County Road Commission projects that federal funds will plunge from $5.4 million to $1.1 million next year. State funds are dwindling as the gas tax brings in less revenue due to more efficient vehicles and fewer miles being driven.
A federal stimulus package, which President-elect Barack Obama is asking for, is the only hope for keeping Livingston County from falling further and further behind. Our county already ranks 16th among Michigan's 83 counties in the miles of roads that are in poor condition.
If you think the current road budget is inadequate, make it a point to visit the Livingston County Road Commission's public hearing on its 2009 budget on Thursday (Dec. 11, 2008) to ask them to request that Livingston County's needs be addressed in the federal stimulus package. The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. at the road commission's office, 3535 Grand Oaks Drive, Genoa Township.
We need to let our leaders in Washington and Lansing know that Livingston County has serious needs. Unfortunately, Republican Mike Rogers is out of the loop on the writing of the legislation since he is in the minority. The same with our state Reps. Cindy Denby and Bill Rogers.
This will take a bipartisan effort. Local Democrats are willing to help.
Our county's road budget -- already grossly inadequate -- will shrink next year by a third -- to $15.1 million, according to the Livingston Press and Argus.
The Livingston County Road Commission projects that federal funds will plunge from $5.4 million to $1.1 million next year. State funds are dwindling as the gas tax brings in less revenue due to more efficient vehicles and fewer miles being driven.
A federal stimulus package, which President-elect Barack Obama is asking for, is the only hope for keeping Livingston County from falling further and further behind. Our county already ranks 16th among Michigan's 83 counties in the miles of roads that are in poor condition.
If you think the current road budget is inadequate, make it a point to visit the Livingston County Road Commission's public hearing on its 2009 budget on Thursday (Dec. 11, 2008) to ask them to request that Livingston County's needs be addressed in the federal stimulus package. The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. at the road commission's office, 3535 Grand Oaks Drive, Genoa Township.
We need to let our leaders in Washington and Lansing know that Livingston County has serious needs. Unfortunately, Republican Mike Rogers is out of the loop on the writing of the legislation since he is in the minority. The same with our state Reps. Cindy Denby and Bill Rogers.
This will take a bipartisan effort. Local Democrats are willing to help.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Livingston County Needs a Stimulus Package
I stumbled across a report the order day that literally stunned me. It was called "The Worst Roads in Michigan." Oh, I thought, that'll be all about Detroit and Flint.
Boy, was I shocked to see where Livingston County was on the list -- 16th out of Michigan's 83 counties in miles of roads rated as "poor."
We are a commuter county. We depend on roads to get to our jobs in other counties, but we have some of the worst roads in the state.
A report issued earlier this fall shows that Livingston County ranks 16th among Michigan’s 83 counties in the number of miles of roads that are in poor condition. According to the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation’s report issued in October, Livingston County has 416 lane miles of roads that are rated as “poor.” That means 33 percent of our roads that are part of the federal aid system are “poor.” Livingston County’s percentage of poor roads is 50 percent higher than Wayne County’s 22 percent. And we are nearly double the percentage of poor roads compared to the city of Detroit’s 17 percent.
When you look at individual townships, the situation is even more appalling. In five of Livingston County’s 16 townships, nearly half or more of the federal aid system miles are in “poor” condition. And in Iosco Township, the figure is 96 percent. Some particular roads that carry large numbers of cars are in urgent need, such as Pettys Road in Hamburg Township. It’s clear that too much of our county is stuck in traffic jams, if not literally stuck in the mud.
This is simply unacceptable for a county that expects to see its population grow 80 percent by the year 2030.
Things aren't likely to get much better any time soon. According to a report from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Livingston and the six other counties in Southeast Michigan have $70 billion in road maintenance and construction needs between now and 2030 and will have only $40 billion to pay for them. In other words, southeast Michigan counties on average will only have enough funding to meet 57 percent of our needs. This funding shortfall is partly due to the fact that Michigan has been among the bottom 10 states in the nation in per capita state and local road funding for more than 40 years. But it is also due to the fact that we are a donor state to the federal government. We receive back only 91 cents out of every dollar we spend in federal gas taxes.
This situation is a looming crisis for our commuter county. We need leadership to deal with it, and we need it now.
After receiving a suggestion (tip of the hat to Tom), I urged members of the Livingston County Commission, our township boards, and the Livingston County Road Commission to ask U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers to seek funding for Livingston County infrastructure needs in the stimulus package that the new Congress will begin working on when it convenes on January 3. Congressional leaders hope to have this package on President-elect Obama’s desk on the day he takes office, January 20. Therefore, speed is of the essence.
We should ask for funds to meet at least the following transportation needs:
--Funds to rehabilitate or reconstruct at least 50 miles of our “poor” roads. On average, it costs $300,000 per lane mile to rehabilitate a road and $950,000 per lane mile to reconstruct a road. Funds to rehabilitate or reconstruct 50 miles would take care of about one fourth of Livingston County’s unmet needs for the next 22 years.
--Funds to complete the study of the WALLY commuter rail line between Howell and Ann Arbor in order to relieve congestion on U.S. 23 and to avoid spending millions of dollars on widening the highway.
--Funds towards the design and construction of platforms and stations for WALLY.
We have other pressing infrastructure needs, too. We should also ask for:
--Funds for deferred maintenance of public schools.
--Funds for purchase of new buses for our local school districts.
The stimulus package is the ideal vehicle for addressing this looming crisis. The goal of the stimulus package is to put some 2.5 million people to work and to put them to work right now. And there is no better way to do that than with road construction. Every $1 of spending will create $1.50 of economic activity. That’s the jolt our businesses need. People need to be working in order to have money in their pockets to spend."
“Furthermore, The New York Times has reported that some $15 billion of the stimulus package will be for 'green' projects and certainly the WALLY commuter train would fall into that category. We should seek funding to get that project moving. And certainly many of the school projects would fall into the category of improving energy efficiency.
“These are not 'bridge to nowhere' projects. These are projects that are needed to keep our county’s infrastructure from crumbling even more.”
This is something that Democrats and Republicans can unite on. We need to stimulate our economy and we need to fix our roads. Let's work together to marry the two.
Boy, was I shocked to see where Livingston County was on the list -- 16th out of Michigan's 83 counties in miles of roads rated as "poor."
We are a commuter county. We depend on roads to get to our jobs in other counties, but we have some of the worst roads in the state.
A report issued earlier this fall shows that Livingston County ranks 16th among Michigan’s 83 counties in the number of miles of roads that are in poor condition. According to the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation’s report issued in October, Livingston County has 416 lane miles of roads that are rated as “poor.” That means 33 percent of our roads that are part of the federal aid system are “poor.” Livingston County’s percentage of poor roads is 50 percent higher than Wayne County’s 22 percent. And we are nearly double the percentage of poor roads compared to the city of Detroit’s 17 percent.
When you look at individual townships, the situation is even more appalling. In five of Livingston County’s 16 townships, nearly half or more of the federal aid system miles are in “poor” condition. And in Iosco Township, the figure is 96 percent. Some particular roads that carry large numbers of cars are in urgent need, such as Pettys Road in Hamburg Township. It’s clear that too much of our county is stuck in traffic jams, if not literally stuck in the mud.
This is simply unacceptable for a county that expects to see its population grow 80 percent by the year 2030.
Things aren't likely to get much better any time soon. According to a report from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Livingston and the six other counties in Southeast Michigan have $70 billion in road maintenance and construction needs between now and 2030 and will have only $40 billion to pay for them. In other words, southeast Michigan counties on average will only have enough funding to meet 57 percent of our needs. This funding shortfall is partly due to the fact that Michigan has been among the bottom 10 states in the nation in per capita state and local road funding for more than 40 years. But it is also due to the fact that we are a donor state to the federal government. We receive back only 91 cents out of every dollar we spend in federal gas taxes.
This situation is a looming crisis for our commuter county. We need leadership to deal with it, and we need it now.
After receiving a suggestion (tip of the hat to Tom), I urged members of the Livingston County Commission, our township boards, and the Livingston County Road Commission to ask U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers to seek funding for Livingston County infrastructure needs in the stimulus package that the new Congress will begin working on when it convenes on January 3. Congressional leaders hope to have this package on President-elect Obama’s desk on the day he takes office, January 20. Therefore, speed is of the essence.
We should ask for funds to meet at least the following transportation needs:
--Funds to rehabilitate or reconstruct at least 50 miles of our “poor” roads. On average, it costs $300,000 per lane mile to rehabilitate a road and $950,000 per lane mile to reconstruct a road. Funds to rehabilitate or reconstruct 50 miles would take care of about one fourth of Livingston County’s unmet needs for the next 22 years.
--Funds to complete the study of the WALLY commuter rail line between Howell and Ann Arbor in order to relieve congestion on U.S. 23 and to avoid spending millions of dollars on widening the highway.
--Funds towards the design and construction of platforms and stations for WALLY.
We have other pressing infrastructure needs, too. We should also ask for:
--Funds for deferred maintenance of public schools.
--Funds for purchase of new buses for our local school districts.
The stimulus package is the ideal vehicle for addressing this looming crisis. The goal of the stimulus package is to put some 2.5 million people to work and to put them to work right now. And there is no better way to do that than with road construction. Every $1 of spending will create $1.50 of economic activity. That’s the jolt our businesses need. People need to be working in order to have money in their pockets to spend."
“Furthermore, The New York Times has reported that some $15 billion of the stimulus package will be for 'green' projects and certainly the WALLY commuter train would fall into that category. We should seek funding to get that project moving. And certainly many of the school projects would fall into the category of improving energy efficiency.
“These are not 'bridge to nowhere' projects. These are projects that are needed to keep our county’s infrastructure from crumbling even more.”
This is something that Democrats and Republicans can unite on. We need to stimulate our economy and we need to fix our roads. Let's work together to marry the two.
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