There’s been lots of talk from leaders of both parties about the importance of working together to enact a ‘stimulus package’ quickly. The early impression is that there’s enough common ground to move quickly on a package centered on a one-time tax rebate for individuals. Democrats are pushing for inclusion of an extension of unemployment benefits, or increased spending on food stamps. These policy disagreements notwithstanding, it seems likely that some sort of compromise can be reached relatively quickly. Even as negotiations on the stimulus package are ongoing however, Democrats are already planning a second package — one that will serve as a political issue, rather than a serious policy proposal. It will likely contain any ideas rejected by the White House, as well as raft of spending on public works. According to Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn, that package will be helpful in winning his home state of South Carolina for the Democrats. Roll Call reports:
In the same piece, Barney Frank says that there will be a ‘major infrastructure stimulus’ in the second bill, and Congressional Quarterly reports that Representative Jim Oberstar is pushing for a package of $15 billion in transportation and water projects. That figure may be low, since Oberstar proposed more than $50 billion in infrastructure spending to boost a slow economy in both 2001 and 2003. You have to wonder if Democrats will suddenly decide that a mere $15 billion is enough. The reality is that any time the economy is perceived as slowing, Democrats propose more pork-barrel infrastructure spending. It was true when Bill Clinton took office in 1993; it’s true today. But the deeper truth is that Democrats always favor more spending on pork-barrel projects. They just use the perceived sluggishness of the economy as a selling point.
