Congress Mulling Ways To Stimulate Economy

[OhioChick]

Source: Reuters

Economists like former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers on the left and Harvard professor Martin Feldstein on the right, have been urging the government to give the economy a fiscal boost.

By Reuters
InformationWeek
December 23, 2007 01:18 PM



WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers have begun to consider whether the slowing U.S. economy needs the government's helping hand, but it is not clear what further steps, if any, the White House might be willing to consider.

When President Bush declared Thursday that "all options" would be weighed to counter a housing slump some fear will lead to recession, Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill already had been thinking of ways to give the economy a lift.

Over the next month or so, if economic indicators worsen, lawmakers will be eager to jump on legislation to calm voters' jitters just months before presidential and congressional elections are held in November.

"There is no doubt that we are going to deal with an economic slowdown/recession and we need to do what is responsible," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, who holds a high-ranking Democratic leadership job in the House .



Read more: http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205201459

[Tesha]

1. End the war. Spend that money on our national infrastructure.

Problem solved.

Tesha

[havocmom]

2. And put some SERIOUS penalties up to corporations that outsource

We don't do well if we don't get paychecks.

We don't spend and stimulate new jobs if we don't get paychecks.

Taxes don't come rolling in if we don't get paychecks.

Schools don't teach without the taxes that come from people getting paychecks.

It's all related and it's all based on one simple equation: We ALL do better when we ALL do better. Shifting massive amounts of money upward into fewer and fewer hands will destroy what is left of America.

[kysrsoze]

14. And reform medical care. The scamming and outright extortion are out of control

The U.S. appears to be the only country where, due to extreme profit motive and lack of checks, costs are spiraling out of control - much faster than other countries.

[Sherman A1]

3. The only way I can think of to stimulate the economy is

HR333.

[Demeter]

4. And Don't Forget Impeachment!

Not only would there be a great psychological boost for the weary, and shock to the criminal, but a whole bunch of unemployed would find lots of dandy government jobs open up, while the prisons would do a booming business.

[caseycoon]

6. Not to mention...

We'd all go out & spend money to celebrate!
:rofl:

[Demeter]

9. The Drinks Are On Me! I'm Ready to Party; just need a good reason!

[dysfunctional press]

5. initiate an 'apollo program' to develop renewable energy resources-

so that we no longer need to import petroleum.

AND legalize industrial hemp cultivation.

[rodeodance]

7. start a works program like FDR did.

[Thor_MN]

8. Stop coddling corporations and get some money in the hands of people that will spend it

rather than tossing it into foreign accounts to avoid taxes.

[Lost4words]

21. Corporations, enemies of the constitution, enemies of our people!

if things dont change, it will be hunting season.

8643

[Cobalt-60]

10. IMPEACH! -Remove the criminals from the White House

The criminals inhabiting the White House have been draining our economy into the pockets of their criminal cronies.
Sam Kinnison mode...
IMPEACH!,IMPEACH!,DO IT!,IMPEACH!,IMPEACH!
cancel SK mode
Just impeach the f*cking crooks- TODAY!

[Zorra]

11. Actual Solution: Stop using unnecessary, unjustifiable wars as an "easy fix" for

stimulating the economy.

Invest in constructive long-term programs such as producing alternative energy solutions, organic food production, public infrastructure improvement, and any other constructive positive endeavors necessary to improve conditions for Americans and the rest of the planet also.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

12. One word: "Imeachment".

Duh. :shrug:

[MilesColtrane]

13. What's left for them to do?

Bernake has already tried pouting and fluttering his eyelashes.

[harmonicon]

15. single-payer universal healthcare

It would work wonders. Maybe our auto industry would have fighting chance.... you know, get back to making good cars instead of being healthcare companies that also make a few cars. I don't know if it's still true now, but a few years ago GM spent more money on employee healthcare than they did on steel, yes, steel - WTF?

[Fovea]

16. Screw free trade

bring back a tariff system, and eliminate the majority of offshoring.

Start a mass transit program with the goal of reducing single occupant automobile trips 50% by 2016.

Cap executive wages at 5 times the average worker wage/salary in the corporation.

Dramatically ease labor's ability to organize and negotiate. Abolish corporate personhood, and sharply curtail lobbying. All of this would re-invigorate competition.

[bhikkhu]

17. Close about 700 US bases in foreign countries

Keep our soldiers and money here.

[TrogL]

18. Welcome to stagflation

...the end result of Reaganomics.

The only people who can buy are the rich, who don't care about inflation.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

19. All the rich pukes are salivating and corp whores on both sides will throw tax $$$ at them.

Corporations don't want to pay taxes when they are doing well and want tax subsidies when there is downturn. Can't lose if you buy enough dollar whores on Capitol Hill.

[rucky]

20. They bleed consumers dry with...

healthcare, energy, and crappy wages. then people have to use credit cards and they jack up those rates.

I guess the only thing they can do now is turn us upside-down and take what falls from our pockets.

Or we can get out of our Mideast wars, quit being dependent on oil, get universal healthcare and a government-backed debt consolidation, raise the minimum wage to guarantee that you won't be in poverty if you work full-time. But that stuff is communist.

[MrBlueSky]

22. Don't do anything!

I, for one, say don't stimulate the economy.

The worse the recession, the more Democrats elected in November. The voters next year will blame any recession on the Bush Admin. And that will make (or add to) a Democratic landslide in November.

Just imagine this...

before the recession starts:

Projections for 2008 election

House: 260 - 275 Democrats
Senate: 55 - 56 Democrats
White House: Madam President (or Obama)

after the recession begins:

Projections for 2008 election

House: 290 - 310 Democrats
Senate: 60 - 62 Democrats
White House: Madam President (or Obama)

[Orsino]

23. Mulling = Not doing anything yet.

Non-story.

[Javaman]

24. entrusting congress with stimulating the economy is like

asking them to do their job and end the war.

[Acadia Blue]

25. Hey rePIGs, tax your rich priviledged unpatriotic corporate welfare

base, and get enough money to run this country.

[TrogL]

26. Do a Robin Hood

There is precedent.