House Speaker Pelosi Announces Second Stimulus Package
Looks like another stimulus check may soon be on its way to American households. According to Reuters today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with several economists Tuesday and announced afterwards:
We will be proceeding with another stimulus package.
Reuters’ Andrew Taylor wrote:
Pelosi said that recently issued tax rebate payments of $600 to individuals and $1,200 for married couples have helped the economy but that more is necessary to offset the drag of higher gasoline prices and other costs…
The Democratic effort is still in its formative stages, but most of the proposals mentioned by Democrats were rejected by Bush during negotiations that produced the earlier stimulus measure. A new package probably won’t be acted on before Congress returns in September from its annual summer vacation.
According to Taylor, this second stimulus package could consist of additional tax rebates, heating and air conditioning subsidies for the poor, infrastructure projects, higher food stamp payments, and aid to the states.
Speaking of seconds, back on April 29 I talked about humor columnist Dave Barry, who published the following in the Miami Herald on April 13 in response to the first stimulus package:
…this year, filing taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:
Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.
Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn’t that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.
Source:
“Democrats plan second economic stimulus bill”
Andrew Taylor
Associated Press, July 15, 2008
July 16th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
This is typical government stupidity. It costs millions of dollars to print up and mail out all those checks.
Why not just re-jig the income tax law so that people would have to pay that much less (resulting in smaller payments for people who owe and bigger refunds for people who don’t). Is this too simple for people to see, or am I being a simpleton and missing something here?
July 17th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Thanks for the comment and question Days.
“Why not just re-jig the income tax law so that people would have to pay that much less (resulting in smaller payments for people who owe and bigger refunds for people who don’t).”
Hello? Didn’t you read what Dave Barry said. China, Days, we need to stimulate the economy of China…
Just kidding. In all seriousness, yours is a very, very good question. As a matter of fact, if you punch in “tax rebate checks why not just lower taxes” you’ll see the same question asked by others across the Interent/blogosphere.
Anyone want to respond to this?
July 24th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Show me the money!
July 24th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Right on Casino! Folks, I think the occasion calls for a replay of “She Wants My… Stimulus Package” (Warning: Somewhat Obscene)
YouTube Video Link
July 24th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
haha, I love it. Lets give the Food Stamp People MORE FREAKING STAMPS! I work in a grocery store, and we have more people come in with stamps than don’t. and they are buying the $4.99 a lbs Lobster, and the Spair Ribs, The Rib eye steaks. meanwhile the people working the store, working 48 hours a week in the beginning of the month because we don’t get hours at the end of the month. We can barely afford to eat and “Make too much money” Which is the same as “We aren’t lazy fat asses that don’t want to work”
Yes by all means charge us more taxes and give them to the welfare cases….
July 25th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Thanks for the comment TeddyB. Everytime I hear, or see, examples like the ones you shared with us, I can’t help but feel that this great “American Experiment” has gone so horribly, horribly wrong.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
NOT EVERY ONE THAT DRAWS FOOD STAMPS IS LAZY ASSES.MY MOM DRAWS DISABILTY AND LIVES OF OFF 900.00 DOLLARS A MONTH AND IT TAKE MOST OF THAT TO PAY HER RENT AND BILLS AND SHES NOT LAZY.THATS WHY ALOT OF BAD THINGS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW PEOPLE LIKE YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE ON FOOD STAMPS
July 28th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Thanks for the comment Becky. I agree with you- not everyone who uses food stamps are “lazy asses.” I don’t have a problem with individuals (like your mother) who participate in the program due to their circumstances, and who were meant to benefit from it.
That being said, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM with individuals who abuse and exploit the program, taking away valuable resources that were meant for people like your mother.
If I were her, I’d be livid…
July 28th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I still can’t understand why they “mailed” a notice announcing the stimulus rebate (It was allllll over the new). Then they “mailed” another notice that you would get a rebate. Then another notice is “mailed” to say how much your rebate would be. Let’s not forget about all the checks they “mailed”. How much did that cost us?
July 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Thanks for the comment Venesa. How much did those mailings cost us? Millions…
“Dear Taxpayer: This letter cost you $42 million”
Associated Press, March 7, 2008
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23525100/
July 30th, 2008 at 6:24 am
TeddyB since you’re so fortunate to work at a grocery store and down individuals who are using foodstamps to eat whatever type of food they choose you should re-evaluate the choices you made to work in the profession. Maybe if you had chosen college you wouldn’t be in the predicument to not be able to afford the “steak and spare ribs” check your spelling! Everyone on the system is not abusing and there are some that are shame on them. But its not fair for you to label “them” as you did. Check yourself what are you doing under the table… If you don’t like contributing to paying taxes to help the few that really need the program, quit your job and you get on the system to see for yourself what its like before you pass judgement. Thank God for the 2nd stimulus check.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Some people speak with real ignorance about individuals that are on foodstamps. You should evaluate yourself before you pass judgement on people that have to use this program. No one made you work at a grocery store you had a choice to go to college to make something better than yourself. So don’t hate on the people that are eating the steaks and spare ribs, check your spelling “TeddyB”…Sure there are those that abuse the program and shame on them. But until you’ve been in a predicument where you had to utilize this program you don’t really know. I’m glad to know the government is doing this and we should be grateful. Before you go barking up someone else’s tree check yourself out first!
July 30th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Thanks for the comment Youdecide.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Thank u 2 youdecide. My grand mother gets a check and still needs more help with her bills.She has worked ALL her life and now when she gets old and need help they only gave her 20 in foodstamps.What can she buy with that?NOTHING I think that it is wrong for the gov. to be that way to people.She pays taxes 2 so why be so mean to people who get monthly checks from the gov.Thank the good Lord that they are giving out another check.Now she can buy some food for a little while anyway.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Thanks for the comment Thank God!!! I wish your grandmother all the best.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:46 am
This comment is for Youdecide. I understand that the comment about people on food stamps wasn’t totally correct, but the way you responded was wrong too. I never went to college and I work at a grocery type of a store, but that doesn’t make me any less of a person. There are a lot of people in the world that didn’t go to college that make more money than some that went to college. Plus the fact that just because you work in a grocery store doesn’t mean you didn’t go to college. Some positions require college degrees. I understand where TeddyB is coming from on the food stamp subject. Like I said I work in a grocery store and 2 days a month is food stamp day. Now granted not all come on those days, but usually the 1st 2 weeks of the month are the busiest due to the food stamps. I don’t care that the elderly, or disabled or hell even some young mothers are on food stamps. If there is a dad in the picture he can get a JOB! My problem is the minorities that come to our country who can’t speak English, have all the name brand clothes, gold and diamond jewelry, cell phones, nice cars, even their kids are all decked out can come in to my store and get 3 carts full of food for like $800 and use food stamps and still have a wad of money in their wallets. Plus the people who own stores who use the food stamps to buy things to re sell at their store or the people who come in and use 2 or 3 different cards or people who come in from other states to use their cards in my state which means they are getting money from another state, but living in mine which is really wrong. There are a lot of white people out there too that should and could work to support their family, but instead decide to “keep their legs open” (sorry for the wording) to keep popping out more kids they can’t take care of. It’s horrible to see the way the parents treat these kids sometimes too and they don’t watch them and let them run around and they even open the food and eat it in the store and then toss it somewhere as they are walking instead of using my tax dollars to just pay for the damn thing. This is what annoys me about our govt and the people on food stamps that I don’t think deserve it. There are more out there these days that abuse it then really need it. I feel so bad for all the ones that do need it to survive cause there is a stereo type out there on food stamp recipients. I love all my customers that treat me with respect and they get it back from me, but some of the ones that comes in and treat you like you’re nothing get that feeling right back from me. Maybe one day the govt will look further into a person before handing them money or maybe they will make them go to school or work program for food stamps like they do if you need cash assistance usually. It’d be nice if the govt would help people get a better education, but instead they want to send them right to work. I’m sorry if I offended anyone cause I have been in the position when I was younger so I do know what some of these people feel like, but I got a job and took charge of my own life and now take care of my child on my own for the past 9 yrs. She might not have everything, but she has food, a roof over her head, a good education, and all the love she needs.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Thanks for the comment Agitated.
“I’m sorry if I offended anyone cause I have been in the position when I was younger so I do know what some of these people feel like, but I got a job and took charge of my own life and now take care of my child on my own for the past 9 yrs.”
Don’t be sorry. Be proud. Responsibility is a rare commodity these days. Excuses— a dime a dozen. America needs more people who can “take the bull by the horns.”
August 20th, 2008 at 11:50 am
people who have never had to be on ass, don’t always understand the reasons why we are their, i became disabled at 52yr(bone desese) lost my home, my income working was gone, had to live in my motor-home for 1yr,in the middle of no where, it can happen to anyone!!! now i rent a home, will never be able to own again( credit) a have to receive food stamps, on-track(electric) and help with heating, am i lazy to!!!!!!!DON’T PASS JUDGEMENT ON PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP,MOST OF THE TIME THEIR ARE REASONS WE NEED THE HELP!!!!!!
August 20th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Thanks for the comment kury.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am
I agree with the comments- i to am a reciepient of ebt-food stamps- i worked all my life and now disabled- i deserve the help i worked for and earned the right to chill. i spend mine wisely.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Thanks for the comment shell.