Out there in Governmentland, only a few weeks ago, state politicians were wringing their hands and crying over a $6 billion deficit they have created over the past eight years. In a recent Enterprise article, Rep. Ruth Kagi brought tears to my eyes (“Kagi calls for fast action on Obama funding for children,” Jan. 21). She wants federal taxpayer money to bail out her projects “for the children.” Always “for the children.”
State bureaucrats may be heaving a sigh of relief now. The Seattle Times reports (Jan. 28) that up to $4 billion may be given to the state by the federal taxpayers in the president’s new “stimulus” package.
The package, ostensibly to provide assistance to the private sector, with no pork, appears to stimulate those states and the unions that supported the president’s election, while leaving those who produce the jobs in limbo.
Here’s a partial list of expenditures in the bill: $600 million for a new government fleet of eco-friendly cars; $60 billion for light rail (with art sculptures along the routes); $6 billion for colleges and universities; $50 million to Endowment of the Arts; $200 million to upgrade the National Mall (new grass, etc.); $4.91 billion for “neighborhood stabilization”; $650 million for digital TV coupons; $44 million to repair the Dept. of Agriculture National Headquarters; $132 billion for 32 new but “unspecified” government projects; $150 million for the Smithsonian Institute; $35 million for STD information, research; and $83 billion for earned income credit. This is a tax rebate for those who pay no federal taxes. Huh?
The above includes the “creation” of 2.5 million public works jobs.
It seems evident that this “porkulus” package is primarily designed to maintain government and union jobs. Federal Reserve economist John Fernald says that elements of the package would effect economic growth, but not for many years.
J. R. Leicester
Shoreline
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