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Wait... So you're claiming it is the Democrat's fault that Republicans made this a huge public issue? I think I'll have a beer while we watch you dig your way to China.
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Wait... So you're claiming it is the Democrat's fault that Republicans made this a huge public issue? I think I'll have a beer while we watch you dig your way to China.
Edit: Cross post.
Wow, another stretch of the truth. I didn't say it was "democrat's fault". It's the fault of both parties in Congress. It takes two to tango and for this to not get through means members of both parties were against it.
Wow, some of you are really stretching the truth. First of all, if the Democrats wanted this in the bill it would have still been there and so that means there were democrats who also opposed this spending. Secondly, even if it had been approved, it would not have taken effect prior to the swine flu outbreak. And thirdly, if this and volcano research is so vital then couldn't it have been approved in a separate bill on it's own? Also, isn't there already measures in place for volcano monitoring and pandemic monitoring and studies? There are already government resources dedicated to both of these areas. What Congress needed to do was approve an increase in those agencies' budget.
Stretching the truth? Its all there in the public record - the GOP insisted on removing this funding during the negotiations on the bill! Is there enough resources dedicated already? Nope, that is why the agencies had to submit validated proposals to deal with things like a pandemic.
Of course the money would not instantly be producing results but it would be in the pipeline; vaccine makers and hospital supply contracts would have been awarded and started production. Instead, we're not nearly as ready as we could be. Thanks GOP!
Hey, here's even a Republican senator who advertises on her website that she had a hand in removing that funding from the bill!
A quote from the link you provided:
Quote:
After meeting with Mr. Obama, Sen. Collins expressed concern about a number of spending provisions, including $780 million for pandemic-flu preparedness. "I have no doubt that the president is willing to negotiate in good faith, that he wants to have a bipartisan bill," Sen. Collins said
.
Another example of the Republicans being penny wise and pound foolish! How much would a flu pandemic cost the US is we were not properly prepared?
Really, only the GOP were for this being removed from the original bill? If it were only the GOP who were against it then the Democrats could have said to hell with you and put it in anyway because they have the votes. But since they didn't then there must have been some members of the Democratic party who were also against it being included. I agree that both need additional funding however to slap blame exclusively on one political party is pretty narrow minded. In government run programs there's never enough money to do the job right,...except to keep federal politicians safe and comfy (always seem to have enough money to do that don't they?). Yes the CDC needed more money to handle a pandemic. Yes the USGS needed more money for volcano monitoring. But so do many other necessary and vital government agencies but they still do their best to get the job done right (except for the FEC).
Sen. Collins, a centrist with allies in both parties, was called to the White House Wednesday to meet with Mr. Obama. She envisions holding the cost of the stimulus package to $700 billion or less, well below the $819 billion package of tax cuts and spending the House approved last week.
The target grew out of discussions among a group of moderate Republicans, led by Sen. Collins, aimed at reining in costs and better targeting federal funds toward job creation. The effort amounts to "rebuilding" the Obama package, according to an individual familiar with the talks. The package would include tax cuts and investments intended to create jobs, such as infrastructure projects, but it would step back from spending projects that don't immediately lift the sagging U.S. economy.
Not all Democrats are certain to vote with the White House. Sen. Ben Nelson (D., Neb.) is working with a dozen or more moderate Democrats to find ways to scale back the package. The senators have identified more than $50 billion in projects they contend don't meet the test of near-term job creation, including $122.5 million for new and renovated polar ice breakers.
Sen. Nelson also met with Mr. Obama Wednesday. He said the president knows the bill needs "scrubbing," and is committed to working with moderates.
Sen. Nelson's effort is being coordinated with Sen. Collins, who has been conferring with a half-dozen moderate Republicans, and the two senators might move forward on a bipartisan alternative. Their actions are being closely monitored by Senate Democratic leaders, who want to keep the president's initiative on track.
So what she and her Democratic party friends wanted to do was streamline and focus the bill towards job growth and trimming what wasn't directly related to job growth. The CDC has had plans for a pandemic for many years.
Hey, here's even a Republican senator who advertises on her website that she had a hand in removing that funding from the bill!
OMG, wonder how long that will remain on her site?!
After meeting with Mr. Obama, Sen. Collins expressed concern about a number of spending provisions, including $780 million for pandemic-flu preparedness.
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