March 22, 2009
EARMARKS GALORE
Throughout his presidential election campaign last year, Barack Obama railed against “earmarks” -- whereby members of Congress can sneak expensive projects into national appropriation bills without a hearing.
How can we forget the curbside promise to Joe The Plumber?
We can only assume (hope) our new President winced when he signed into law his first appropriation from the Treasury Department. The money draft drained $410 billion from a $787 billion fund for eight thousand “shovel ready” projects.
Consequently the fiscal 2009 deficit will nudge $1.8 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. This is four times the President Bush record last year.
Mr. Obama’s budget will double the national deficit during the next decade to $9.3 trillion.
Statistics are dreary, but American taxpayers must get ready to deal with a global economy keyed to that of the United States and China.
OUTLOOK
Republican and “Blue Dog” Democrat leaders in both Houses of Congress resist the Obama spending bill.
Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), leader of a Blue Dog coalition for fiscal restraint, declares: “We have to secure our economy in the short term, but we cannot run trillion-dollar deficits forever.”
The Congressional Budget Office said last week that the economy is weaker than predicted two months ago. Now, CBO projects the deepest recession since World War II.
Nevertheless, the office expects a faster recovery in 2010-11. White House spokesmen vow to act on health care, global warming and education.
LABOR UNION REACTION
Labor unions have mounted a concentrated campaign to bolster Obama’s old-time Democrat programs. Leading the push are programs on health care, global warming and education.
The Washington Times reports reaction of Anna Burger, secretary-treasurer of the Service Employees International Union:
“American families cannot afford to wait for the change necessary to reform our economy and broken health care system. We cannot let opponents of change stand in the way. Our choice is clear: Change, or more of the same.”
However, middle-of-road Democrats are not shy in opposing carbon emission programs, farm payments, large health-care services and reducing tax deductions of the wealthy for charitable donations.
TUG-OF-WAR
The semantic tug-of-war by liberals, conservatives, middle-roaders and so-called “independents” continue full force.
It is called “The American Way.”
Obama, Bush W, -- and all other Presidents since George Washington – have had the problem of cutting taxes or raising them.
Herein we submit another example –of 33 years ago -- of President James Carter.
In my home page search box, type: slings and arrows. Choose first entry.
Pray for Obama and the Congress a little bit -- and for the nation a lot.
By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist
