Summary of the Stimulus Plan
Democrats released a summary of the stimulus plan this AM (link takes you to Talking Points Memo who reproduce the entire document). The basics: $550B in spending and $275B in tax cuts. See a brief summary (taken directly from the Plan) after the jump, and tell us what you think.
Energy:
· $32 billion to transform the nation’s energy transmission, distribution, and production systems by allowing for a smarter and better grid and focusing investment in renewable technology.
· $16 billion to repair public housing and make key energy efficiency retrofits.
· $6 billion to weatherize modest-income homes.
Science and Technology:
· $10 billion for science facilities, research, and instrumentation.
· $6 billion to expand broadband internet access so businesses in rural and other underserved areas can link up to the global economy.
Infrastructure:
· $30 billion for highway construction;
· $31 billion to modernize federal and other public infrastructure with investments that lead to long term energy cost savings;
· $19 billion for clean water, flood control, and environmental restoration investments;
· $10 billion for transit and rail to reduce traffic congestion and gas consumption.
Education:
· $41 billion to local school districts through Title I ($13 billion), IDEA ($13 billion), a new School Modernization and Repair Program ($14 billion), and the Education Technology program ($1 billion).
· $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cutbacks to key services, including $39 billion to local school districts and public colleges and universities distributed through existing state and federal formulas, $15 billion to states as bonus grants as a reward for meeting key performance measures, and $25 billion to states for other high priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education.
· $15.6 billion to increase the Pell grant by $500.
· $6 billion for higher education modernization.
Health Care:
· $20 billion for health information technology to prevent medical mistakes, provide better care to patients and introduce cost-saving efficiencies.
· $4.1 billion to provide for preventative care and to evaluate the most effective healthcare treatments.
Unemployment:
· $43 billion for increased unemployment benefits and job training.
· $39 billion to support those who lose their jobs by helping them to pay the cost of keeping their employer provided healthcare under COBRA and providing short-term options to be covered by Medicaid.
· $20 billion to increase the food stamp benefit by over 13% in order to help defray rising food costs.
Public Sector:
· $87 billion for a temporary increase in the Medicaid matching rate.
· $4 billion for state and local law enforcement funding.
Tags: Stimulus Plan 2009
One of the issues that needs to be addressed is how this money will be used. State governments should not be allowed to use this money to make up for their budget deficits. I’m thinking here of the $10 billion for public transit. Though I see the education is directly related to state shortfalls.
Also, I’d throw the Pell Grant money elsewhere. Almost $16 billion for a $500 increase. Sorry, not worth it . . . for right now.
I’m with Nemski when it comes to the States. I’m looking for innovation.
The way Delaware has handled its transportation funding they shouldnt get any of that funding.
I am assuming the local school districts funding for modernazation and repair would be for construction? If so what of local districts that have recently passed referenda and have seen an increase in school taxes? will districts get that money free to do the work the community already approved and is paying for?
The outline sounds good, but the devil is in the details.
One of the main ideas of the stimulus is to get money out where it can be spent pretty immediately to make up for the GDP gap. Some funds to states to help keep some key programs going is a way to do that. And while we all want a SUPERTRAIN, none of that will be shovel ready in 180 days.
I think that the longer term, more innovative stuff (and even non-innovative stuff) will come later.
“will districts get that money free to do the work the community already approved and is paying for?”
Personally I think this money should go to bringing solar power to existing schools which will help the environment and the taxpayers. All the summer days with no schools in session = $$$. Red Clay is wrapping up their 185 million dollar capital projects and believe it or not they are sowing seeds for another capital referendum to add space to some select suburban schools that are expanding K-8 but yet Warner School in Wilmington is operating at about 53% building capacity and the other city schools at about 75%.
nemski – I love the current poll.
OMG! I finally agree with Kilroy on something. I have been a proponent of solar panels on schools for 5 years. It is genius.
I love solar panels as well, and this is where my concern comes in with State control. I don’t want States using the money for their “vision.”
Holy crap, me too! Like, every time I drive by Newark HS and see that big, flat, empty roof.
several years ago a school district in NJ aded solar panels to a couple schools. pretty soon those schools were off the grid so to speak and were actually making money. they got the panels through a federal grant.
Exactly. G Rex, Kilroy, Pandora, Arthur and I agree, isn’t that a quorum?
liberalgeek you have to wait 12 days and a quorum isnt required, remember?
jason330 wrote, nemski – I love the current poll.
What makes you think it was me? 😉
For the purposes of the stimulus plan, you have a quorum if you can have contractors installing those panels in the next 180 days.
Surely that could be done.
“Exactly. G Rex, Kilroy, Pandora, Arthur and I agree, isn’t that a quorum?”
If it’s not a quorum, it may be a sign of the Apocalypse.
Not if they haven’t been trained and the panels haven’t been manufactured yet. Some could certainly be shovel-ready, so to speak, but only a fraction could possibly be installed.
Hell, we mothballed two PV cell manufacturing facilities in Delaware alone. Ironically, one is supposed to be converted into a school…
You’d have to do an assessment of the target roofs and design, permit and build in whatever structural changes might be needed to hold the panels. You’d have to do some assessment of how much electricity you want to generate to even know what kind of panels or how many to install. The structural stuff — if needed — is what would likely push up against 180 days. In addition to panel availability.
liberalgeek
“OMG! I finally agree with Kilroy on something. I have been a proponent of solar panels on schools for 5 years. It is genius”
Happy happy joy joy the other reindeers let’s Kilroy in on the games! LOL
Didn’t want to suggest Geothermal as it’s beyond my GED thinking! But let’s use the money to find ways to reduce operating cost of our schools and state buildings.
I think Delaware needs a new industry which could be producing alternative energy products. The Chrysler plant in Newark, I would have offered any manufacturer of any alternative energy products no state corporate tax for three years if they set up shop in Delaware. The jobs would generate tax revenues from payroll and trickle back in the local
Photovoltaic! Who said that?
Geothermal (i.e., ground loop heat pump) is cheap if you do it during construction… more costly if you try to retrofit an existing structure.
Okay, wouldn’t all the work/manufacturing involved count during those 180 days?
Hell, we mothballed two PV cell manufacturing facilities in Delaware alone. Ironically, one is supposed to be converted into a school…
See…now that’s funny, in an irony-type of way, because that location was one of the criminal-like flushings of money via one Dr. Joseph Wise! It all goes around in a freaked out circle, doesn’t it?
liberalgeek //
“Hell, we mothballed two PV cell manufacturing facilities in Delaware alone. Ironically, one is supposed to be converted into a school…”
Then along came HEMM Solar Cells beating the 40% conversion efficiency barrier ! Sucks
I’ve been reading the long list of allocations over at TPM. There’s alot that gets to the immediate crisis, but there’s plenty of long term stuff in there, like R&D even for the dreaded carbon capture scheme. That is the kind of stuff that isn’t quite so stimulative, I’m thinking.
Okay, wouldn’t all the work/manufacturing involved count during those 180 days?
If I’m the Obama Administration and I want to be able to come back in the next 4 to 6 months and report of the progress of this package, I will want to report on construction-in-progress (hence shovel-ready) and not design or manufacture in progress. But I don’t know if that would count — I don’t think I would bet on it tho.
cassandra_m
“If I’m the Obama Administration and I want to be able to come back in the next 4 to 6 months and report of the progress of this package, I will want to report on construction-in-progress”
I cant see construction on existing road and highways but not major new construction such as schools! Permits, acquiring land and bid processes! Once the road and highway construction gets rolling come back to this post to see I am right! The price of asphalt will be the next scam!
“I cant see”
Duh , can see
I think that is why they have been talking up “shovel-ready” — which pretty much means projects that are ready to go to bid or close to it. And I don’t see anything here for new school construction — but there is an item for modernization and repair of existing facilities.
cassandra_m
“but there is an item for modernization and repair of existing facilities.’
I am sure it will apply as capital expenditures! Red Clay is sowing seeds for a capital referendum for additions to certain schools that current are using those toxic portable classrrooms. Also, they plan on spending a few 100’s to move their district offices in to portions of Baltz.
The question will be, will the aid go to the state to decide? I doubt the school districts will get the direct grants. I have a hunch Charter school will be a big winner as they can’t hold capital referendum or even operational referendums.
“I think that is why they have been talking up “shovel-ready” — which pretty much means projects that are ready to go to bid or close to it”
Then you are looking a highway construction because I don’t think the state needs more buildings. Well, we have the new bridge over the inlet project.
I honestly don’t think we can spend our way out of the “depression” without changes to how we do (send) buisnees overseas! Blame the uinion sure but then who is the greedy ones using child labor or not adhering to OSHA standards. I doubt many foreign recieved retirement.
where does my tax rebate work into all this?
Donhusseinsquishviti
“where does my tax rebate work into all this?”
Rebate ! or you mean the feds will lower you taxes by $1000.00 a year! It sucks becuase Delaware will be raising income taxes.
BTW, if I had it my way unemployment benefits wouldn’t be taxable income! How may desperate people trying to live of unemployment put a little aside each week for the tax man?