In a true sign of just how short sighted the Republican Party is now we have the spectacle of Republican senators, including so called moderates like Susan Collins of Maine, trumpeting the fact that they are working overtime to eliminate school construction money from the stimulus bill. In one of the most ridiculous and frankly imbecilic moves I have seen in some time Republicans are now selling the notion that school construction, which employs the same construction workers that would build roads and bridges, should not be part of the stimulus because school construction has traditionally been the responsibility of state and local government. Hey Sue, thats the idea behind the stimulus. Get some construction going, and build something that has lasting and durable value to city, state, and country. Educating our kids in facilities that do not have ceiling panels falling on their heads constitutes a good use of stimulus money.
These so called “moderates” are wolves in sheeps clothing. I do not understand how the educational community in Maine is not up in arms over this outrage. And the Democrats ought to be on the air in Maine kicking the tar out of these phonies. While it appears that there is a compromise that will allow a bill to come out of the Senate the Republicans may have been successful in gutting some key provisions regarding school construction. That would be a real shame.
Bill Manzi.com 
Mr. Mayor:
Don’t sugar coat it, how do you really feel? 😉
So, you don’t believe that Congress will address education funding later?
What just annoyed me is that MSNBC is reporting that 42% of the bill is now tax cuts. I’m trying to find the source. That, I think, is imbecilic (depending on how or where the tax cuts are allocated).
-FM
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I just hate sugar coating! I do not believe that these Republicans will support school construction funds in another bill. They appear to be ideologically committed to the concept of just let the states and cities do it. As far as the philosophy that would utilize the same economic ideas that got us into the mess in the first place that has to be the definition of imbecility. Tax cuts do not rebuild our crumbling infrastructure or give us high speed rail, or help us to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. But then again the Republicans are in favor of such projects at federal taxpayer expense, as long as they are in Iraq.
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Yeah, that latter part gets me too … but let me add insult to injury: we paid for the bombs to blow up the Iraqi infrastructure in the first place, before we paid to rebuild it.
I want to visit someday, just to see the 700M embassy complex that we graciously put up. Shangri-La on the Tigris.
With the number of states and cities tipping on the edge, I want to believe that another bill will be done sometime in early summer. But, I haven’t been at this as long as you have.
I’m still researching the tax cuts and where they go. If they are going to low income people, then they will act as a spending stimulus. If they go to the upper middle class and the rich, then I think we should stand up and scream.
-FM
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This is what I find from Thomas on the original Senate bill S.350 (not as marked up by the bi-partisan team) in the realm of tax cuts. Nothing immediately leapt out, but nothing that looked like direct individual bracket adjustments. This is the baseline, soon I hope we see what the conference markups are.
I love the Internet.
—————————————–
Subtitle A–Tax Relief for Individuals and Families
PART I–General Tax Relief
Sec. 1001. Making work pay credit.
Sec. 1002. Temporary increase in earned income tax credit.
Sec. 1003. Temporary increase of refundable portion of child credit.
Sec. 1004. American opportunity tax credit.
Sec. 1005. Computer technology and equipment allowed as a qualified higher education expense for section 529 accounts in 2009 and 2010.
Sec. 1006. Extension of first-time homebuyer credit; waiver of requirement to repay.
Sec. 1007. Suspension of tax on portion of unemployment compensation.
PART II–Alternative Minimum Tax Relief
Sec. 1011. Extension of alternative minimum tax relief for nonrefundable personal credits.
Sec. 1012. Extension of increased alternative minimum tax exemption amount.
Subtitle B–Energy Incentives
PART I–Renewable Energy Incentives
Sec. 1101. Extension of credit for electricity produced from certain renewable resources.
Sec. 1102. Election of investment credit in lieu of production credit.
Sec. 1103. Repeal of certain limitations on credit for renewable energy property.
PART II–Increased Allocations of New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds and Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds
Sec. 1111. Increased limitation on issuance of new clean renewable energy bonds.
Sec. 1112. Increased limitation on issuance of qualified energy conservation bonds.
PART III–Energy Conservation Incentives
Sec. 1121. Extension and modification of credit for nonbusiness energy property.
Sec. 1122. Modification of credit for residential energy efficient property.
Sec. 1123. Temporary increase in credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property.
PART IV–Energy Research Incentives
Sec. 1131. Increased research credit for energy research.
PART V–General Business Credit
Sec. 1141. 5-year carryback of general business credits.
Sec. 1142. Temporary provision allowing general business credits to offset 100 percent of Federal income tax liability.
PART VI–Modification of Credit for Carbon Dioxide Sequestration
Sec. 1151. Application of monitoring requirements to carbon dioxide used as a tertiary injectant.
PART VII–Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicles
Sec. 1161. Modification of credit for qualified plug-in electric motor vehicles.
Subtitle C–Tax Incentives for Business
PART I–Temporary Investment Incentives
Sec. 1201. Special allowance for certain property acquired during 2009.
Sec. 1202. Temporary increase in limitations on expensing of certain depreciable business assets.
PART II–5-Year Carryback of Operating Losses
Sec. 1211. 5-year carryback of operating losses.
Sec. 1212. Exception for TARP recipients.
PART III–Incentives for New Jobs
Sec. 1221. Incentives to hire unemployed veterans and disconnected youth.
PART IV–Cancellation of Indebtedness
Sec. 1231. Deferral and ratable inclusion of income arising from indebtedness discharged by the repurchase of a debt instrument.
PART V–Qualified Small Business Stock
Sec. 1241. Special rules applicable to qualified small business stock for 2009 and 2010.
PART VI–Parity for Transportation Fringe Benefits
Sec. 1251. Increased exclusion amount for commuter transit benefits and transit passes.
PART VII–S Corporations
Sec. 1261. Temporary reduction in recognition period for built-in gains tax.
PART VIII–Broadband Incentives
Sec. 1271. Broadband Internet access tax credit.
PART IX–Clarification of Regulations Related to Limitations on Certain Built-In Losses Following an Ownership Change
Sec. 1281. Clarification of regulations related to limitations on certain built-in losses following an ownership change.
Subtitle D–Manufacturing Recovery Provisions
Sec. 1301. Temporary expansion of availability of industrial development bonds to facilities manufacturing intangible property.
Sec. 1302. Credit for investment in advanced energy facilities.
Subtitle E–Economic Recovery Tools
Sec. 1401. Recovery zone bonds.
Sec. 1402. Tribal economic development bonds.
Sec. 1403. Modifications to new markets tax credit.
Subtitle F–Infrastructure Financing Tools
PART I–Improved Marketability for Tax-Exempt Bonds
Sec. 1501. De minimis safe harbor exception for tax-exempt interest expense of financial institutions.
Sec. 1502. Modification of small issuer exception to tax-exempt interest expense allocation rules for financial institutions.
Sec. 1503. Temporary modification of alternative minimum tax limitations on tax-exempt bonds.
Sec. 1504. Modification to high speed intercity rail facility bonds.
PART II–Delay in Application of Withholding Tax on Government Contractors
Sec. 1511. Delay in application of withholding tax on government contractors.
PART III–Tax Credit Bonds for Schools
Sec. 1521. Qualified school construction bonds.
Sec. 1522. Extension and expansion of qualified zone academy bonds.
PART IV–Build America Bonds
Sec. 1531. Build America bonds.
Subtitle G–Economic Recovery Payments to Certain Individuals
Sec. 1601. Economic recovery payment to recipients of Social Security, supplemental security income, railroad retirement benefits, and veterans disability compensation or pension benefits.
Subtitle H–Trade Adjustment Assistance
Sec. 1701. Temporary extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance program.
Subtitle I–Prohibition on Collection of Certain Payments Made Under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000
Sec. 1801. Prohibition on collection of certain payments made under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000.
Subtitle J–Other Provisions
Sec. 1901. Application of certain labor standards to projects financed with certain tax-favored bonds.
Sec. 1902. Increase in public debt limit.
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Mr Mayor, The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, appointed by Question 2 opponent Governor Patrick, advises public school systems that they may continue to expel students for possession at school. Expulsion is an extremely severe decision for any system to make, but systems infected with the most virulent strain of “reefer madness” – “zero tolerance” do impose it. Is it a “penalty, sanction or disqualification” prohibited by Question 2? I think so. I hope school administrators take into consideration the principle of mercy, as this is one area where the stakes are sufficiently great that litigation may result.
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Wow,
You guys are outraged. I remember when you fellows were railing about the Republicans destroying the constitution (NSA etc.)
Now you have hopped onto the Barack Obama high speed socialism train and scream at Maine’s RINO Republicans who had the temerity to help broker a compromise. Why? Because the mayor did not get his favorite line item. I remind you mayor, IT IS the responsibility of the cities and towns to build and maintain schools. Now the States have been involved because the towns could not handle it, resulting from out of control town spending (remember what prop 2 1/2 was all about.)
I also remind you that the purpose of this bill is resurrect the economy, not correct our political failings.
I remember when you fellows were arguing we should not be in Iraq because of the indebtedness we were acquiring. Of course that was simply a diversion to support you opposition to the war. Now you don’t blink an eye when YOUR boy proposes a trillion dollars in unprinted debt.
YOUR HONOR, I ASSUME THERE WERE ONE OR TWO DEMOCRATS IN THAT COMPROMISE MEETING, BEN NELSON FOR ONE.
Well, take heart gentlemen, the house and senate version have to be reconciled. Nancy Pelosi, that paragon of logic, will lard up the compromise and maybe you will get your education kiss.
You and I do agree on one thing, those Republicans from Maine are phonies.
Good Buy to the Republic. We have surrendered our unique form of freedom.
Jules
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Jules:
All debt is not equal: there is good debt, and bad debt. Can you point to what the estimated 3T in debt spent in Iraq bought us, exactly? What did it do for US?
Your version of freedom scares me more than a little bit. You’re voting with your brethren, willing to blow up the Republic to maintain a failed ideology.
-FM
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Fred,
Explain good debt.
Explain, ” You’re voting with your brethren, willing to blow up the Republic to maintain a failed ideology.
You do know the election is over? You won. How long are you going to hold onto Bush?
Move on.
Jules
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Nothing there for the self employed..nothing for social security recipients who face even higher Medicare premiums….and nothing there for the average person facing higher food, utility, energy bills….who is being bailed out this time???
Let the gredy corporations and banks simply go under…NO American tax money to corporations who moved their manufacturing oversees…NO taxpayer money for those who went the route of outsourcing…and NO taxpayer money for those who got fat while
getting rid of good American workers…
and by the way…..let’s hire MORE Immigration Enforcment workers and clean up
America…IMMEDIATE DEPORTATION FOR ALL ILLEGALS IN OUR NATION’S PRISONS!
The republicans took America from a nation with a prosperous economy..a budget surplus and lower taxes for the average worker..to the mess where we are in today…they have proven that there viewpoint is wrong for America….
The Republicans are the ones who gave taxpayer money as a reward to business to move into the “global” market at the price of jobs for Americans….
and the Republicans who used lies as a rationale to divert our resources and deplete our wealth….
so now is the time for republicans to just go to church and repent!
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Jules:
It’s not just about Bush. It’s about the GOP since Reagan. The education of America has to go back 28 years to understand how we got to where we are, at least in terms of government fiscal management.
But I don’t blame the Republicans for everything: there has been a fundamental shift in our economic system that our political and social systems haven’t caught up with yet. The economic system, in combination with our cut taxes and spend wildly Republican ideology brought us to this recession/depression. Now, it’s up to us to understand how and why we got here, and how to move forward from here.
-FM
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Fred,
I assume to you going forward is to tax and tax.
I think you will get your way.
Jules
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