A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
Okay, I just literally spent the past five hours looking through all 1400+ (1434 to be exact) pages of the stimulus bill the Senate just passed, which sends the Stinkulus Bill to President Obama for signature. I’m not going to offer any personal insight into this other than I’m disgusted with all the spending that has NOTHING to do with job creation and everything to do with government job insurance. I mean, there is a LOT of money coming to us in the military and I’m still opposed to it. Yes, we need the money, but not in a “STIMULUS” bill. Instead, I copied some numbers and figures about where SOME of this money is going and how much. It’s nowhere near all-inclusive of the entire $787 billion. I didn’t touch the tens of billions of dollars to the Department of Health and Human Services (I’ll probably add those later when I’m brave enough to dive back in). The only thing I will put above the cut line is this little gem tucked deep inside:
And here’s a quick bit of fun from the bill. Can anyone translate this paragraph for me?
“the Secretary of the Treasury shall make a $300 payment to each individual who, for any month during the 3-month period ending with the month which ends prior to the month that includes the date of the enactment of this Act, is entitled to a benefit payment…â€
I’m not sure, but I think that may mean I qualify…
What you are about to see only adds up to approximately $120 billion of the total stinkulus bill. Enjoy!!
$1.4 billion for restoration of water and related natural resources and for related activities for Indian tribes
$50 million for California Bay-Delta
$14.4 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs
$2 billion for manufacturers of advanced battery systems and vehicle batteries that are produced in the United States, including advanced lithium ion batteries, hybrid electrical systems, component manufacturers, and software designers
$1 billion for clean coal power initiative
$483 million for the Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup Fund
$5.5 billion for Defense Environment Cleanup Fund
$125 million for the D.C. Water and Sewer authority
$330 million for “Science†(no further information provided)
$5.5 billion for Federal Buildings Fund (courthouses, border stations, etc), $2.5 billion of which will be used to convert federal building into “High Performance Green Buildingsâ€
$300 million for the federal government to buy electric vehicles
$7 million for Obama’s new Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board
$198 million for US Customs and Border Protection
$200 million for Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology
$800 million to remain available until expended, solely for planning, management, design, alteration, and construction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection owned land border ports of entry
$1 billion for procurement and installation of checked baggage explosives detection systems and checkpoint explosives detection equipment
$450 million for Coast Guard
$240 million for “Alteration of Bridgesâ€
$500 million for state and local fire stations upgrades and modifications
$15 million for Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Lost track millions for various Superfund Trust Funds
$75 million for Smithsonian Institution
$500 million for Head Start Programs
$550 million MORE for EARLY Head Start Programs
$1.4 billion for Elementary and Secondary School improvements
$13.5 billion for special education programs
$14 billion for Pell Grants (increased by $281 for award year 2009-10 and increase by $400 for award year 2010-11 (translation: higher tuition costs)
$160 million for community service projects (how does this create jobs if they’re volunteering?)
$890 million for Social Security Administration computers and IT costs
Forces increase in minimum wage in American Somoa and Northern Mariana Islands to $7.25 (Pelosi’s districts)
$481 million for Army warrior transition complexes, $34 million for Army family housing, and $84 million for Army child development centers
$174 million for Marine Corps and Navy barracks, $492 million for their energy conservation and alternative energy projects, and $173 million for Marine Corps and Navy child development centers
$612 million for Air Force barracks (dormitories), $80 million for Air Force family housing, and $80 million for Air Force child development centers
$150 million for Army National Guard readiness centers
$145 million for VA development of paperless claims processing
$1.1 billion for VA to construct and manage the national cemeteries
$9000 for non-US citizen Philipine veterans of WWII, $15,000 per each US Citizen who was Philipino during WWII.
$60.3 million for Arlington National Cemetary
$5.5 billion for federal roads
$2 billion for high speed railroads
$510 million for Native American Housing assistance
$1.5 billion for “homelessness prevention activitiesâ€
$39 billion to Department of Education for use by states
$2 billion fuel cell tax credits
$400 million for Indian schools in the next two years
Here’s all the health and human services stuff I initially left out:
$135 million for Indian health services
$410 million for Indian health facilities
$2 billion for health resources and services
$412 million disease control, research and training
$300 million for National Center for Research Resources
$1.3 billion for the Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health and to the Common Fund
$7.8 billion for “emergency health requirements”
$500 million for the Bethesda, Maryland National Institute of Health facility
$2 billion for state child care and development funds
$400 million for Social Security unemployment
$100 million for “aging services programs”
$3 billion for ‘‘Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’’
This is an additional $18 billion and STILL not ALL of the health expenditures in this bill. Come on, it’s over 1100 pages!!
(43) Readers Comments
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sharon
It’s going to be a long four years.
yankeemom
Well done, CJ! I tried to get through some of it but my eyes started to cross and the words became all sorts of wavy.
Thanks for the effort and info. I’m just going to link to you. You got a helluva lot farther than I did!
Mickey
Sound like this is pet projects for the most part. to me this is still all most useless, but who i am. I only live here in the US.
David M
This isn’t a stimulus package, it’s an Omnibus Budget Package. Congress is lying to the American Public about why they need to pass this bill so fast, because it will not do at all what they claim it will do.
Where do I sign up for the Revolution?
MissBirdlegs in AL
This is called “buying votes”, but the President and Congress don’t have to pay for them – we and our families do until the end of time… Total crapola!
P.S. I need to study that one weird paragraph you highlighted, CJ. Surely I qualify for something in the whole dang bill – maybe that’s it.
Kat
Not so much buying votes, I see it as pay back for the past election!!! Very expensive wasn’t it?
Fearless
Thanks CJ. This is one great slab of bacon. It is pure payback for those votes that put the left in control. The US will default on the debt, I just don,t know when.
Sharon M
I agree with the other Sharon.. It’s going to be a very long 4 years. Appx 1400 days and counting. Oh wait, in a year or so we’ll be hearing new helpful “changes” when the re-election committee starts openly working.
Sharon M
Flag Gazer
The Democrat wish list is now reality – every facet of our lives is now micromanaged and funded by them. Jobs – not going to happen. How many times to economists have to prove that the government does not create jobs – private enterprise does.
Michael in MI
Long *four* years? Try 8+. As people have mentioned, this was to buy votes. And just like there was no cure for BDS, there is no cure for the Obama cult worship either. He will be easily re-elected in 2012, when he has every medium of information dissemination and propaganda on his side, along with a willing sheep populace.
This is just downright depressing. I was all set to be completely out of debt by this month (except for my mortgage and car payments) and prepared to start making some renovations to my house and looking forward to progressing at work. Then, June 13th, 2008 hit, I lost my job at Ford in a cost-cutting move, December 18th, 2008 hit and I got laid off from my job at my engineering consulting firm and now here I am February 14th, 2009 and I’m set to go broke in 4 months, probably lose my house and still be unemployed and my life pretty much over at 33 years old. And with things just seemingly to get worse and worse with the government and the nation over the next decade.
As I said, this is just all too depressing. In a matter of 2 months, I went from thinking this could be the best year of my life to now seeing it as the worst year of my life. And now keeping up with the crap the government is doing, just keeps getting worse.
*sigh*
Flag Gazer
Also, looks like the Indian tribes cleaned up – see what giving Michelle a lavendar robe will get you?
Critical Facts
Hmmm. Where was the outrage when bush put his stimulus package into law?
Regardless, got any better ideas?
SSgtJ
Bush gave tax refunds to everyone who paid taxes and some that did not. This bill just bails out the unions, trial lawyers and other democratic groups.
Kat
Don’t forget huge tax breaks to Hollywood. Now that’s “middle America” isn’t it?
Critical Facts
give me a freeping break!!
Flag Gazer
Were you not paying attention then? There was outrage and disbelief…
CJ
CF, instead of being an ignorant baffoon, why don’t you search my archives. You’ll find that I WAS outraged at Bush for the last stimulus. Yes I have better ideas and I’ve already left those too.
Critical Facts
cj:
Did you cash the bush stimulus checks you and your family received? Will you be cashing the Obama checks? Will you be driving on the new roads and under the new bridges that will be built with the money? How about your kids; will they be going to schools that receive funding for improvements? Will they be applying for Pell Grants to assist with their college education? Or how about the money invested in VA hospitals, Arlington National Cemetery; is that a bad thing? I notice there is a chunk going to border protection, too; your Utah brethren will just gobble that one up. On and on ….
I guess what amazes me the most, is that those howling the loudest against the spending will be the first in line with their hands out to receive it. Indeed, the Utah legislature is already arguing how to spend the money on roads and infrastructure, and they haven’t even received it yet!
Ignorant buffoon? No, I don’t think so!
CJ
No I won’t be cashing the Obama checks. And if I ever get one (I doubt it), I’ll prove by posting a video burning the thing! I won’t be responsible for my children’s debt.
I have no problem with new roads, but NOT in a “stimulus” bill. I have no problem with funding education – scratch that. Yes I do AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL! My kids don’t need new construction or better computers, they need their damn teachers to show up to teach.
The VA NEEDS all kinds of funding, but not in a stimulus bill. These are budgetary items, not stimulus. So, yes, it’s a bad thing here.
What up with your religious condescension and Utah? I’m not in Utah, I’ve never lived in Utah, and I will never live in Utah. Many states are chomping at the bit of this pork!
It’s okay to be ignorant. It’s not okay to be ignorant by choice.
Kat
Where is the military funding? I will tell you, it’s a budget CUT. Obama is asking the military to cut it’s budget by 10% this year, so we can afford the Hollywood bail out!
Carol Steward
CJ, job well done! I tried to read it but OMG what a monster..I finally gave up because I know we are headed into Socialism regardless if I read it or not. But I do appreciate your time and effort to break it down for us altho now I am really ready to scream when I see what a waste of our money. I don’t worry about myself but am concerned about our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren because even they will never be able to pay off our National Debt or be free of debt themselves!! I feel like we are in a timezone…. like way out in space somewhere…floating around…with no hopes of returning to normalacy. God please help us!!
Mickey
Carol, you said God help us. CJ, like many of us already know that CF is ignorant, but ignore him for he know no better BHO told him so…. See there is a CHANGE….
LL
Where’s my comment?? Stinkin’ thing got eaten.
CJ
I didn’t see one in moderation or spam.
Donna
Thank You CJ for reading the thing and reporting about it to us. I, like alot of others do appreciate it very much!
I see what people are talking about now, that it doesn’t do alot to stimulate anything but some people’s pet projects. Where is the job creation? I just don’t see it either.
I was thinking the same thing the other day that it’s going to be a long 4 years.
Kat
Ditto… thanks CJ, we appreicate your time in researching this thing!
Bob the Liberal
Ok, let’s do nothing then, and let the free markets we have handle everything.
Think the recession is bad. Just wait. The depression is just around the corner.
The banking bailout was very flawed. No question there. But it stopped a complete market collapse. We weren’t weeks away, we were hours away. Yes, it wasn’t the best we could do. hell, it really sucked. But doing nothing would have caused a complete economic collapse. Welcome to 1930.
SSgtJ
Bob, there is a big difference between ‘doing nothing’ and what this bill does and you know it.
SSgtJ
Was this bill was so important to rush thru without reading … now the President doesn’t even want to sign it until Tuesday. He is busy treating his wife to expensive dinners and flying all over the country (creating more global warming ???) … just asking …
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02152009/news/nationalnews/whats_the_rush__155255.htm
CJ
Don’t forget the “much needed vacation” after signing all those executive orders. WHEW! Rough life.
Bob the Liberal
Ok, there are procedures that every bill has to go through before the president signs it. It has to be formally typed up, votes have to be recorded on it, etc. That does take some time. This is a weekend, and Monday is a federal holiday, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t be able to sign it until Tuesday.
Peggy
Ok, I am a special ed teacher in middle school. I see that middle schools AND special ed programs are getting “billions” of dollars. However, I am not real happy. Why….we have already been told that our budget for schools have been cut and there are more than 100 teachers in our county that will not have a place anymore. In gen. ed. the class sizes will go up (nearly 30 depending on grade level) and para-professionals (teachers aids) will be nearly cut out totally. Why can’t we get a chunk of this?
For CF…yeah I would LOVE to see this thing work for me but as you see it isn’t and won’t. This type of funding comes from property taxes and not from the feds. (At least in GA it does) I would love to know that my school could buy the supplies I need for my students. Right now, I (yes me) buy the supplies I need. Right down to copy paper. YES, stinking print paper. My school is qualified as a Title 1 school. That means most kids live below the poverty line. When these parents are trying to buy food they really don’t care about pencils and paper. I buy those items for my students. Why…..well how can they learn if they don’t have school supplies?
Someone tell me what this multi-billion dollar crap is going to do for my school.
Oh and do NOT get me started on the military or the Indian reservations. (yes I am registered Cherokee so I can say what I feel with relatives who still live on a reservation) (yes my husband is 20+ years in the Navy so I think I can say how I feel about those issues as well)
CJ
Thanks, Peggy. It really speaks volumes that an educator is against this bill that includes funds for education. As a Soldier, I’m against this bill that includes funds for the military. And that you as a Cherokee are against a bill that includes funds for Indian reservations. Thanks for your insight.
Unfortunately, there will be many in the military welcoming this stinkulus package. There will be many educators with their hands wide open! The Native Americans won’t be crying for their handouts either. We all know that each of these is important. The key is that they are not need in a package meant to fix the ECONOMIC problems we have. The closest thing I see in this bill is construction jobs for building roads, but even that is temporary. When those project are done and that money is spent, guess what? Everyone is out of work again!
Thanks again for your comment. Tell your husband I thank him for his service (I’m a Navy brat as well).
Some Soldier's Mom
I have the same thoughts about the funds for modernizing and upgrading fire stations — same as schools: what’s the point of having snazzy schools and fire stations if cities, towns, counties & states do not have the resources to retain or hire firefighters and teachers? where are the jobs?? 6 months for a contractor or two? and the cops in the country must be pissed — I didn’t see no stinking funds for police stations or donut shops (eh… family joke… )
NY-David
Actually, states (and local govs as a result) are getting a chunk. NY just put someone in charge to manage it.
I don’t think this bill is perfect. At best, its infrastructure and stuff that Bush should have been doing for the last seven years and chose not to. At worst, it will be the biggest boondoggle in the history of our nation.
NY-David
CJ
“Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit Obama’s national debt.”
The best things in life are free but President Obama’s tax advisors are working hard trying to solve that problem.
SSgtJ
LOL … I like that one.
Say it ain’t so Joe …
Critical Facts
And blessed are the currently living, who just inherited Bush’s bills for wars and national oversight run amok!
Peggy
You know, I have thought about the jobs that this should create…why can’t those in charge of us now fall back to another Demo…FDR. He actually created jobs that served for the good of the US and the economy. Those jobs were only supposed to last a year or two but some lasted for decades (the TVA is still working). Put people to work and allow them to pay thier bills…that will do more for our economy than giving out checks for crap.
But wait…maybe since it was an old thought it can’t be used again.
Carol Steward
As long as we are voicing our opinions..I am really ticked that Obama can spend thousands of dollars flying all over the U.S. while the economy is sucking swamp water. What is he trying to prove? Or is he still campaigning? Makes one wonder, doesn’t it? He needs to put his butt in his office and tend to the business he was hired to do and quit wasting our money then maybe we wouldn’t need a stimulus check….DUH..stimulus HE_ _!!!!
NY-David
People had a problem when Jimmy Carter downsized the Whitehouse to point of keeping the thermostat very low and wearing sweaters.
Let the guy get the job done.
NY-David
Critical Facts
Carol:
You need to get over the fact that McCain lost the election to Obama. You also need to come to the realization that your thinking is firmly rooted in the minority of Americans.
SSgtJ
Maybe we would get over it CF, if you didn’t keep trying to shove it in our face.
But since you brought it up again … wonder how the vote would have gone had we had the ‘fairness doctrine’ in place and applied it to the NYT, NBC, ABC, CBS, Newsweek, Hollywood, the Unions, George Soros (who hides his taxable income off shore). Wonder, would 3 percent of the people have voted differently … just 3 percent … just asking …