United States President Barack Obama has been having quite the difficult time trying to get the economic stimulus bill passed. The bill passed through the United States House of Representatives. But, there were no Republican votes on board. None of the GOP Representatives had voted on the stimulus bill.
Now, it is on the floor of the United States Senate. A comprise was reached between Democrats and some moderate Republicans in the Senate. So far, Democrats only need at least two or three votes to pass the stimulus bill. Still, many Republicans oppose the stimulus bill. Obama has given harsh words to Republican criticism. So far, the US Senate vote has been pushed to Tuesday.
Republicans and Democrats both expect the stimulus to pass. However, Republican opposition still plans to try to delay the passing of the bill. The only GOP Senators on board with Obama’s stimulus are Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Susan Collins of Maine, and Olympia Snowe of Maine.
Senate Democrats feel certain that a final vote can be achieved. Despite the confident, the conservative GOP Senators kept up their attacks. Around Saturday, Obama continued to clash with Senate Republicans in this respect. Obama urged the stimulus to be passed immediately.
There were cuts to the budget. One of the cuts was $40 billion used to help the states. According to economists, it would help the economy by preventing layoffs. However, the cutting off money to help the states could possibly put GOP Governors at odds with their GOP Senate colleagues. Most of the GOP Governors have given their support to Obama’s stimulus bill.
In regards to the $40 billion being cut off, college leaders feel disappointed. The money that was cut off could have helped students continue their education while in this economic recession. It shows that college students would win out in regards to the economic stimulus passing. If you are using a Pell Grant, you could face a bigger increase.
Arne Duncan, Obama’s Education Secretary explains that a better economy depends on more people going to college. Overall, there are billions in the economic stimulus could in the long-term help out students and schools.
Also slashed would be $16 billion for school reconstruction. Democratic Representative Chris Van Hollen explains that classroom construction does create jobs.
In regards to the stimulus, Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama has criticisms. He said that it is not the right road to go. He explained that it would financially hurt the country.
Recently, Obama made a team of financial insiders called the National Economic Council. Lawrence Summers, who heads the council and is also Obama’s top economic adviser, fired back at the GOP criticism of the issue.
“These who presided over the last eight years – the eight years that brought us to the point where we inherit trillions of dollars of deficit, an economy that’s collapsing more rapidly than at any time in the last 50 years – don’t seem to me in a strong position to lecture about the lessons of history,” Summers said in his counter-attack towards GOP critics.
Summers also agrees with what Duncan said in regards to education. He explains that support for higher education is very important. Summers continued to fire back at GOP critics.
“To get any Republicans at all, you had to adopt a cut that’s going to mean policemen and firemen are going to be laid off,” Summers criticized. He adds that the cuts that Republicans want would also lay off public employees.
In a nutshell when you factor in everything, this continues to be a very interesting crossfire between Democrats and Republicans. While a vote could be pushed to Tuesday, the clash continues. A brief article on CNN shows what was partially and completely cut.