Today in Washington D. C. - Aug 3, 2009 - Stimulus Fall Short; Do You Believe Them On Health Care?

US House is in Recess. Tomorrow, the Senate is likely to begin floor debate on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. The Senate reconvened at 2 PM today and resumed consideration of H.R. 2997, the fiscal year 2010 Agriculture appropriations bill. The bill provides $124.5 billion for the USDA, the FDA, and farm programs. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has filed cloture on the Kohl-Brownback substitute amendment and a cloture vote is scheduled for 5:30 PM.

As Americans examine the predictions the Democrats and the administration made on “cash for clunkers” this week and take another look at their predictions about the stimulus bill in light of the new unemployment numbers coming Friday, people would do well to consider the predications and promises being made about the administration’s health care reform plans.

Over the weekend, there was a lot of discussion of the “cash for clunkers” program, where car buyers are offered a discount, from government funds, for trading in old vehicles for new ones. Politico reported last week, “The program — aimed at giving at boost to the U.S. auto industry — was supposed to expire at the end of October. But in the one week since it took effect, it appears to have run dry of the $1 billion allocated to it . . . .” And according to The Wall Street Journal today, “Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday that unless the Senate approves $2 billion in additional funding, the Obama administration could be forced to halt as early as Tuesday the ‘cash for clunkers’ program . . . .” Clearly the administration didn’t anticipate that a program giving away what seems like free money with a car purchase and was supposed to last until October would run out in a week.

Meanwhile, Americans are anxiously looking to Friday’s unemployment report to see how the economy is doing. It will also provide another opportunity to evaluate the Obama administration’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill. Already, though, it’s become clear that it has not lived up to the predictions the administration made at the time it was passed. As Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on “Meet the Press” recently, “The president said rush and spend it; pass it, we’ll hold unemployment to 8%, which now [it’s] pretty clear we’re going to 10, in my state it’s almost 11. By any measurable index, the stimulus package has been a failure.”

In June, Obama’s economic advisers predicted unemployment would remain at 8% or below through this year if the economic stimulus plan was approved. But, unemployment rose to a 26-year high of 9.5% in June. In January, Larry Summers, a key economic advisor to President Obama predicted the stimulus would create up to 4 million jobs. But over 3.3 million jobs have been lost this year. Even at the state level, there is little in the way of job creation. The Denver Post reported yesterday that, according to the White House, the stimulus was supposed to create 59,000 jobs in Colorado. But “state officials can link fewer than 1,000 new full-time-equivalent positions to stimulus spending.” Mark Cavanaugh, the director of Democrat Governor Bill Ritter’s economy recovery team, said of the estimated jobs number, ‘I have no idea where that number came from. . . . I think it was pin the tail on the donkey.”

So now, Americans are hearing a number of assurances from President Obama on his health care reform plans. Last week in Raleigh, North Carolina, Obama said, “Under the reform I've proposed, if you like your doctor, you keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you keep your health care plan.” Yet, the president already had to walk back statements like that in June. In fact, Salon.com wrote, “Questioned about an earlier promise that no one who was happy with their current insurance provided by their employer and wanted to keep it would be forced to switch, Obama had to concede that wasn't really true.” At a townhall event in Ohio two weeks ago, Obama said, “I continue to insist that health care reform not be paid for on the backs of middle-class families.” However, Treasury Secretary Tim Geither said on Sunday that he cannot rule out higher taxes to help tame an exploding budget deficit. Obama's chief economic adviser indicated the need to possibly raise taxes on middle-class Americans.

So given this administration’s track record on their predictions and promises about the availability of funds for cash for clunkers and unemployment and job creation under the stimulus bill, does it make sense to take their word that the president’s health reform plans will allow Americans to keep their doctors and insurance plans, won’t raise taxes on the middle class, and won’t add to the deficit? How many ways can we say NO!!!!

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Tags: Agriculture Bill, Barack Obama, cash for clunkers, economic stimulus, government healthcare, Obamacare, Tim Geither, unemployment, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!