Bailout pork part deux

[kenny61]

Havent seen all the pork yet but its starting highlights in red

Stimulus vs. appropriations

The GOP makes many specific objections. The bill, say Republicans, does not include enough money for infrastructure projects that are considered "shovel ready" (meaning they could create jobs quickly). It also focuses too much on long-term spending programs, they say, which many Republicans characterize as worthwhile but not in the GOP's view a way to jumpstart the economy.

For example, the bill provides funding for special education programs. Republican member Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, said such funding is important but should go through the regular appropriations process.

"It sounds like we've said, 'What are all the good things we could do if we had ... $700 billion to spend,' " Simpson said.

Obey countered that "states and localities with the drop in revenue are losing their ability to fund education across the board," he said. Without federal funding, he said, that could lead to the layoffs of teachers, speech therapists, and others associated with schools' special-ed programs.

Republicans are also questioning a $15.6 billion measure to temporarily increase the maximum Pell Grant for undergraduates by $500, from $4,360 to $4,860. Democrats say that by making education more affordable, children and workers retooling their skills can be more competitive in the workforce.

But after two years, House Budget Republicans argued in a statement, "this funding vanishes, meaning a student attending school with the help of a Pell Grant will face a sudden and sharp decline in financial support." And, they say, while "spending on education ... may be worthwhile ... it will not provide an immediate stimulative impact."

And such funding "cliffs," they say, will put pressure on Congress to keep spending at elevated levels when various measures expire.

Republicans also questioned the stimulative value of some of the bill's smaller measures, such as $50 million in funding for the National Endowment of the Arts to preserve jobs in the nonprofit arts sector, and $650 million to extend a coupon program and consumer outreach to consumers with analog televisions so that they can get digital TV converter boxes.

Lastly, they expressed concern that some money allocated in the bill would be spent too slowly, in some cases over the next three or four years, rather than in the next year or two.

In the end, most Republicans concede the bill will pass but say they will continue to try to influence the final outcome.

Mike Pence, R-Ind., a leading House Republican, declined to say whether the package would get any Republican support if it didn't change significantly. Pence said he spoke to Obama at Tuesday's inaugural lunch and the newly sworn in president said he wanted to discuss a broad range of issues with House Republicans.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Wednesday that he had sent a letter to the White House requesting a meeting with Obama.

"We want to sit down with the president and talk about our ideas, because it's clear that trying to get money back into the economy quickly, to preserve jobs and to create jobs has to be the goal," Boehner told reporters. "And fast-acting tax relief, we believe is the best way to do that."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Thursday that Obama would hold a bipartisan meeting at the White House Friday to discuss the rescue plan.

- CNN Congressional producer Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. To top of page

I heard on the tv that there is also a $100 million earmarked for free condoms

Well thats guaranteed to stimulate something