10 Reasons to Whack Obama's Stimulus Plan

The family planning portion was dropped from the bill... it's mentioned in almost every report decrying the 0 republican support... Dems are demanding that since they voted no... they want to put it back how it was and pass it. Pelosi et al are resisting so far.

ya know...i was pretty sure, but some days life is busier than other days, and i just didnt take the time to look up all the details.

i do find it almost amusing the repubs are so smug about refusing to support the bill and whining about not being included in the process. heard on npr a couple days ago the dems documented several meetings with the repubs that took place during the drafting of the plan..dems wanted ideas and to discuss further what and why different things were included. at those meetings the repubs appeared to be supportive for the most part and all agreed that each party should get some of what they want included. it wasnt until the minority bossman made news by telling repubs to vote no that the dems became aware of the big divide between the sides. dems had already added some stuff the repubs wanted and pre-vote-no time they gave the dems the impression tha6t altho it isnt perfect it is passable.

floridafun wrote:i do find it almost amusing the repubs are so smug about refusing to support the bill and whining about not being included in the process.

Don't forget about the 11 democrats who voted no.

LTRT wrote:

floridafun wrote:i do find it almost amusing the repubs are so smug about refusing to support the bill and whining about not being included in the process.

Don't forget about the 11 democrats who voted no.

11 blue dogs hardly signifies some rift within the party.

Vis wrote:

LTRT wrote:

floridafun wrote:i do find it almost amusing the repubs are so smug about refusing to support the bill and whining about not being included in the process.

Don't forget about the 11 democrats who voted no.

11 blue dogs hardly signifies some rift within the party.

Ah, but it's a good start!

Cincy Fan 44 wrote:

Vis wrote:

LTRT wrote:

floridafun wrote:i do find it almost amusing the repubs are so smug about refusing to support the bill and whining about not being included in the process.

Don't forget about the 11 democrats who voted no.

11 blue dogs hardly signifies some rift within the party.

Ah, but it's a good start!

hardly ... read a study that said the republican party has an approval rating right now LOWER than W's when he left office just a week and a half ago.

Vis wrote:

LTRT wrote:

floridafun wrote:i do find it almost amusing the repubs are so smug about refusing to support the bill and whining about not being included in the process.

Don't forget about the 11 democrats who voted no.

11 blue dogs hardly signifies some rift within the party.

No one said it did. Unless you've paid close attention and done some in depth reading you've wouldn't have even known that there were 11 dems in opposition to begin with.

gotta love the media eh?

Bman wrote:

Cincy Fan 44 wrote:

Vis wrote:

LTRT wrote:

floridafun wrote:i do find it almost amusing the repubs are so smug about refusing to support the bill and whining about not being included in the process.

Don't forget about the 11 democrats who voted no.

11 blue dogs hardly signifies some rift within the party.

Ah, but it's a good start!

hardly ... read a study that said the republican party has an approval rating right now LOWER than W's when he left office just a week and a half ago.

Wow, I didn't know that bill maher was authoring "studies" now...

I was listening to parts Ed Schultz yesterday (the liberal Rush). He of course was wailing that this is more than just a stimulus package, the reason for all the social items in the bill. This bill while has some stimulus for America is more to start righting the funding for the social programs that were ignored/neglected during the Bush years.

I'm sorry but I thought this was just suppose to be just a stimulus bill? So will Obama live up to his promise and veto this bill due to the pork? Willing to bet he is hoping the Senate can cut out some of the extra fat.

Then there was the whining about the 11 Dems that didn't go lock step with the party and how they should be defeated in the next election. So much for the Dems having a open mind.

sooo what exactly is in the bill that is pork in the opinion of those who keep whining about all the excessive pork?

floridafun wrote:sooo what exactly is in the bill that is pork in the opinion of those who keep whining about all the excessive pork?

Not saying I necessarily agree with all of these points...just pointing out what can be found typing in "stimulus pork" via Google.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/26/MNU515G2DD.DTL

Useful or wasteful?
Supporters say key provisions of the $825 billion economic stimulus bill will help create jobs and revive the U.S. economy, but critics see some of the spending as wasteful. Here's a sampling of how some of the money would be used:

$44 million for repairs at the Agriculture Department headquarters in Washington.

$200 million to rehabilitate the National Mall.

$360 million for new child care centers at military bases.

$1.8 billion to repair National Park Service facilities.

$276 million to update technology at the State Department.

$500 million for the Transportation Security Administration to install bomb detectors at airports.

$600 million for General Services Administration to replace older vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles.

$2.5 billion to upgrade low-income housing.

$400 million for NASA scientists to conduct climate change research.

$426 million to construct facilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

$800 million to clean up Superfund sites.

$150 million for the Coast Guard to repair or remove bridges deemed a hazard to navigation.

$6.7 billion to renovate and improve energy efficiency at federal buildings.

$400 million to replace the Social Security Administration's 30-year-old National Computer Center.

so which ones wont contribute to employment? what are the repubs calling pork on the bill they are against..things that wont contribute to job creation/maintenance? which ones do you agree are pork that are on the list?

for those who have bitched about the pork here, whats the pork YOU are not wanting included in the bill?

because seems to me the neocons are braying that some things wont give immediate total relief within a year or so. be real..we need things to START..it wont guarantee a false financial picture like we have lived in recent years, AND WHY SHOULD WE HOPE IT WILL!!??. i think thats a copout they are using as an excuse to stay in their 12+ year rut of "if the dems want it, it must be unpatriotic and liberal and just plain wrong".

floridafun wrote:so which ones wont contribute to employment? what are the repubs calling pork on the bill they are against..things that wont contribute to job creation/maintenance? which ones do you agree are pork that are on the list?

Come on FF. It's one thing to contribute to employment. It's another to say it will help the economy. We could throw money at just about anything and say we are helping unemployment. How is hiring people to install bomb detectors at airports going to stimulate the economy enough to make up for spending $500 million of taxpayer money? And really I could have picked any of them on that list.

floridafun wrote:sooo what exactly is in the bill that is pork in the opinion of those who keep whining about all the excessive pork?

$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.

Put these items in a seperate education bill:
$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.
$6 billion for higher education modernization.
Pell Grants: $15.6 billion to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $500, from $4,850 to $5,350.
College Work-Study: $490 million to support undergraduate and graduate students who work.
Student Loan Limit Increase: Increases limits on unsubsidized Stafford loans by $2,000.
Student Aid Administration: $50 million to help the Department of Education administer surging student aid programs while navigating the changing student loan environment.
K-12 Education: As states begin tackling a projected $350 billion in budget shortfalls these investments will prevent cuts to critical education programs and services.
IDEA Special Education: $13 billion for formula grants to increase the federal share of special education costs and prevent these mandatory posts from forcing states to cut other areas of education.
Title I Help for Disadvantaged Kids: $13 billion for grants to help disadvantaged kids in nearly every school district and more than half of all public schools reach high academic standards.
Statewide Data Systems: $250 million for competitive grants to states to design and develop data systems that analyze individual student data to find ways to improve student achievement, providing teachers and administrators with effective tools.
Education for Homeless Children and Youth: $66 million for formula grants to states to provide services to homeless children including meals and transportation when high unemployment and home foreclosures have created an influx of homeless kids.
Improving Teacher Quality: $300 million, including $200 million for competitive grants to school districts and states to provide financial incentives for teachers and principals who raise student achievement and close the achievement gaps in high-need schools and $100 million for competitive grants to states to address teacher shortages and modernize the teaching workforce.



Make these part of your universal health care package:
$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.
$87 billion for a temporary increase in the Medicaid matching rate.

Advanced Battery Loans and Grants: $2 billion for the Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee and Grants Program, to support U.S. manufacturers of advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems. America should lead the world in transforming the way automobiles are powered.

Energy Efficiency Grants and Loans for Institutions: $1.5 billion for energy sustainability and efficiency grants and loans to help school districts, institutes of higher education, local governments, and municipal utilities implement projects that will make them more energy efficient.

Home Weatherization: $6.2 billion to help low-income families reduce their energy costs by weatherizing their homes and make our country more energy efficient. (Why just low income?)

Cleaning Fossil Energy: $2.4 billion for carbon capture and sequestration technology demonstration projects. This funding will provide valuable information necessary to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from industrial facilities and fossil fuel power plants.

Department of Defense Research: $350 million for research into using renewable energy to power weapons systems and military bases.
Industrial Energy Efficiency: $500 million for energy efficient manufacturing demonstration projects.

Diesel Emissions Reduction: $300 million for grants and loans to state and local governments for projects that reduce diesel emissions, benefiting public health and reducing global warming. This includes technologies to retrofit emission exhaust systems on school buses, replace engines and vehicles, and establish anti-idling programs. 70% of the funds go to competitive grants and 30% funds grants to states with approved programs. Last year EPA was able to fund only 27% of the applications received.

Wireless and Broadband Grants: $6 billion for broadband and wireless services in underserved areas to strengthen the economy and provide business and job opportunities in every section of America with benefits to e-commerce, education, and healthcare.

Scientific Research

National Science Foundation: $3 billion, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness, $400 million to build major research facilities that perform cutting edge science, $300 million for major research equipment shared by institutions of higher education and other scientists, $200 million to repair and modernize science and engineering research facilities at the nation’s institutions of higher education and other science labs, and $100 million is also included to improve instruction in science, math and engineering.

National Institutes of Health Biomedical Research: $2 billion, including $1.5 billion for expanding good jobs in biomedical research to study diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, and heart disease - NIH is currently able to fund less than 20% of approved applications – and $500 million to implement the repair and improvement strategic plan developed by the NIH for its campuses.

University Research Facilities: $1.5 billion for NIH to renovate university research facilities and help them compete for biomedical research grants. The National Science Foundation estimates a maintenance backlog of $3.9 billion in biological science research space. Funds are awarded competitively.

NASA: $600 million, including $400 million to put more scientists to work doing climate change research, including Earth science research recommended by the National Academies, satellite sensors that measure solar radiation critical to understanding climate change, and a thermal infrared sensor to the Landsat Continuing Mapper necessary for water management, particularly in the western states; $150 million for research, development, and demonstration to improve aviation safety and Next Generation air traffic control (NextGen); and $50 million to repair NASA centers damaged by hurricanes and floods last year.

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development, Pandemic Flu, and Cyber Security: $900 million to prepare for a pandemic influenza, support advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, and for cyber security protections at HHS.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellites and Sensors: $600 million for satellite development and acquisitions, including climate sensors and climate modeling.

National Institute of Standards and Technology: $300 million for competitive construction grants for research science buildings at colleges, universities, and other research organizations and $100 million to coordinate research efforts of laboratories and national research facilities by setting interoperability standards for manufacturing.

DTV Conversion Coupons: $650 million to continue the coupon program to enable American households to convert from analog television transmission to digital transmission. Seperate bill

$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/PressSummary01-15-09.pdf

Meanwhile the civil engineers give the country infrastructure a D with 3.3 trillion dollars worth of work. Work that will take 10 years to complete it all. Work that will create jobs and we only put $90 billion towards it. Granted it is not all shovel ready, but the dollars in this stimulus package don't get all spent for about 2 years later.

And one of the ideals the Republicans put out and shot down by the dems. Unemployment benefits tax free for the next two years? What's up with that?

if you got laid off in january last year and collected unemployment for 6 months, then got both the 3-month added on times, you went for a full year with taxable income--if it were this january and the same 2 added times applied, you have no taxable income. isnt it better credit-wise to have some taxable income? try renting/renewing a lease on an apartment with no taxable income.. they take 10% out..big whoop.

how much real stimulation will it come from that compared to getting a job at some science research facility or doing the groundwork on laying all that internet cable?

Scooby01_98 wrote:

floridafun wrote:sooo what exactly is in the bill that is pork in the opinion of those who keep whining about all the excessive pork?

$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.

Put these items in a seperate education bill:
$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.
$6 billion for higher education modernization.
Pell Grants: $15.6 billion to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $500, from $4,850 to $5,350.
College Work-Study: $490 million to support undergraduate and graduate students who work.
Student Loan Limit Increase: Increases limits on unsubsidized Stafford loans by $2,000.
Student Aid Administration: $50 million to help the Department of Education administer surging student aid programs while navigating the changing student loan environment.
K-12 Education: As states begin tackling a projected $350 billion in budget shortfalls these investments will prevent cuts to critical education programs and services.
IDEA Special Education: $13 billion for formula grants to increase the federal share of special education costs and prevent these mandatory posts from forcing states to cut other areas of education.
Title I Help for Disadvantaged Kids: $13 billion for grants to help disadvantaged kids in nearly every school district and more than half of all public schools reach high academic standards.
Statewide Data Systems: $250 million for competitive grants to states to design and develop data systems that analyze individual student data to find ways to improve student achievement, providing teachers and administrators with effective tools.
Education for Homeless Children and Youth: $66 million for formula grants to states to provide services to homeless children including meals and transportation when high unemployment and home foreclosures have created an influx of homeless kids.
Improving Teacher Quality: $300 million, including $200 million for competitive grants to school districts and states to provide financial incentives for teachers and principals who raise student achievement and close the achievement gaps in high-need schools and $100 million for competitive grants to states to address teacher shortages and modernize the teaching workforce.



Make these part of your universal health care package:
$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.
$87 billion for a temporary increase in the Medicaid matching rate.

Advanced Battery Loans and Grants: $2 billion for the Advanced Battery Loan Guarantee and Grants Program, to support U.S. manufacturers of advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems. America should lead the world in transforming the way automobiles are powered.

Energy Efficiency Grants and Loans for Institutions: $1.5 billion for energy sustainability and efficiency grants and loans to help school districts, institutes of higher education, local governments, and municipal utilities implement projects that will make them more energy efficient.

Home Weatherization: $6.2 billion to help low-income families reduce their energy costs by weatherizing their homes and make our country more energy efficient. (Why just low income?)

Cleaning Fossil Energy: $2.4 billion for carbon capture and sequestration technology demonstration projects. This funding will provide valuable information necessary to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from industrial facilities and fossil fuel power plants.

Department of Defense Research: $350 million for research into using renewable energy to power weapons systems and military bases.
Industrial Energy Efficiency: $500 million for energy efficient manufacturing demonstration projects.

Diesel Emissions Reduction: $300 million for grants and loans to state and local governments for projects that reduce diesel emissions, benefiting public health and reducing global warming. This includes technologies to retrofit emission exhaust systems on school buses, replace engines and vehicles, and establish anti-idling programs. 70% of the funds go to competitive grants and 30% funds grants to states with approved programs. Last year EPA was able to fund only 27% of the applications received.

Wireless and Broadband Grants: $6 billion for broadband and wireless services in underserved areas to strengthen the economy and provide business and job opportunities in every section of America with benefits to e-commerce, education, and healthcare.

Scientific Research

National Science Foundation: $3 billion, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness, $400 million to build major research facilities that perform cutting edge science, $300 million for major research equipment shared by institutions of higher education and other scientists, $200 million to repair and modernize science and engineering research facilities at the nation’s institutions of higher education and other science labs, and $100 million is also included to improve instruction in science, math and engineering.

National Institutes of Health Biomedical Research: $2 billion, including $1.5 billion for expanding good jobs in biomedical research to study diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, and heart disease - NIH is currently able to fund less than 20% of approved applications – and $500 million to implement the repair and improvement strategic plan developed by the NIH for its campuses.

University Research Facilities: $1.5 billion for NIH to renovate university research facilities and help them compete for biomedical research grants. The National Science Foundation estimates a maintenance backlog of $3.9 billion in biological science research space. Funds are awarded competitively.

NASA: $600 million, including $400 million to put more scientists to work doing climate change research, including Earth science research recommended by the National Academies, satellite sensors that measure solar radiation critical to understanding climate change, and a thermal infrared sensor to the Landsat Continuing Mapper necessary for water management, particularly in the western states; $150 million for research, development, and demonstration to improve aviation safety and Next Generation air traffic control (NextGen); and $50 million to repair NASA centers damaged by hurricanes and floods last year.

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development, Pandemic Flu, and Cyber Security: $900 million to prepare for a pandemic influenza, support advanced development of medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, and for cyber security protections at HHS.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellites and Sensors: $600 million for satellite development and acquisitions, including climate sensors and climate modeling.

National Institute of Standards and Technology: $300 million for competitive construction grants for research science buildings at colleges, universities, and other research organizations and $100 million to coordinate research efforts of laboratories and national research facilities by setting interoperability standards for manufacturing.

DTV Conversion Coupons: $650 million to continue the coupon program to enable American households to convert from analog television transmission to digital transmission. Seperate bill

$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.

http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/PressSummary01-15-09.pdf

Meanwhile the civil engineers give the country infrastructure a D with 3.3 trillion dollars worth of work. Work that will take 10 years to complete it all. Work that will create jobs and we only put $90 billion towards it. Granted it is not all shovel ready, but the dollars in this stimulus package don't get all spent for about 2 years later.

And one of the ideals the Republicans put out and shot down by the dems. Unemployment benefits tax free for the next two years? What's up with that?

sooo have you submitted your proposal to obama and all the senators and congress people? obama says often he is open to ideas..he doesnt need authorship.

Obama economic plan now tops $900B
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20090204&id=9565111

WASHINGTON (AP) - The cost of President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan now exceeds $900 billion after the Senate added money for medical research and tax breaks for car purchases.

It could go higher Wednesday if a tax break for homebuyers is made more generous, even as centrists in both parties promise to clear away spending items that won't jump-start the economy immediately.

we got 900, do I hear 950....

Stimulus Brings Out City Wish Lists: Neon for Vegas, Harleys for Shreveport
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123369271403544637.html

Source: The United States Conference of Mayors' Main Street Economic Recovery report

Mayor Henry's wish list totals $573,317,633:
http://www.usmayors.org/mser/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Fort+Wayne&State=IN

Aboite Trails - 13 miles (8,000,000)
Johnny Appleseed to Shoaff Park trail - 3 miles (3,000,000)
Covington Rd trail - 5.5 miles (5,500,000)

Yep, how are we to survive as a people without multi-million dollar walking trails.

LTRT wrote:Stimulus Brings Out City Wish Lists: Neon for Vegas, Harleys for Shreveport
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123369271403544637.html

Source: The United States Conference of Mayors' Main Street Economic Recovery report

Mayor Henry's wish list totals $573,317,633:
http://www.usmayors.org/mser/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Fort+Wayne&State=IN

Aboite Trails - 13 miles (8,000,000)
Johnny Appleseed to Shoaff Park trail - 3 miles (3,000,000)
Covington Rd trail - 5.5 miles (5,500,000)

Yep, how are we to survive as a people without multi-million dollar walking trails.

WOW that is twice the amount Indianapolis has submitted. Nothing like padding it to the extreme there mr. mayor.

Scooby01_98 wrote:

LTRT wrote:Stimulus Brings Out City Wish Lists: Neon for Vegas, Harleys for Shreveport
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123369271403544637.html

Source: The United States Conference of Mayors' Main Street Economic Recovery report

Mayor Henry's wish list totals $573,317,633:
http://www.usmayors.org/mser/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Fort+Wayne&State=IN

Aboite Trails - 13 miles (8,000,000)
Johnny Appleseed to Shoaff Park trail - 3 miles (3,000,000)
Covington Rd trail - 5.5 miles (5,500,000)

Yep, how are we to survive as a people without multi-million dollar walking trails.

WOW that is twice the amount Indianapolis has submitted. Nothing like padding it to the extreme there mr. mayor.

I'd rather have him ask for twice and get half of it whacked than have half whacked to a quarter... C'mon man... get with the program, it's all political.

While I think the trails are a good thing, what kind of companies that do the construction and infrustructure work will actually create a noticable affect on employment around here? MOST of this 500M looks like it's going to help big construction companies with legally hefty contracts.

At first glance, IMO, some of the good things Mr. Henry had on that list are:

• Alley Rehabilitation - $2,000,000 - 80 jobs
  
• Community Health Center - $1,000,000 - 80 jobs
  
• Owner-occupied Housing Rehab. - $2,000,000 - 120 jobs (should be 8M IMO)
  
• School Infrastructure 23 Elementary Schools 8 Middle Schools - $301,100,000 - 900 jobs
  
• Meijer Road @ Trier Ditch bridge reconstruction - $500,000 - 25 jobs
  
• Residential Concrete Street repair 55 miles in poor or very poor condition; 2009 would include 10 of these miles. - $7,200,000 - 100 jobs
  
• Arterial Concrete Street repair 10 miles in system in poor or very poor condition; 2009 would include 6 of these miles. - $12,000,000 - 160 jobs

Obama: Catastrophe coming if Congress doesn't act
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090204/ap_on_bi_ge/congress_stimulus

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Wednesday the recession will turn into "a catastrophe" if the economic stimulus is not passed quickly, lobbying anew for the plan as its price tag climbed above $900 billion and drew more criticism.

guess he's all done with that hope & change thing.

yeh, just like the auto bailout eh?

ooooooh, aren't you scared.

meta4 wrote:I'd rather have him ask for twice and get half of it whacked than have half whacked to a quarter... C'mon man... get with the program, it's all political.

Excellent point, and by the way, you were the first to 3200! Mayor Henry has some ambitious requests to say the least, but I hope he's able to secure as many jobs for this area as he can with those requests.

meta4 wrote:

While I think the trails are a good thing, what kind of companies that do the construction and infrustructure work will actually create a noticable affect on employment around here? MOST of this 500M looks like it's going to help big construction companies with legally hefty contracts.

Keep in mind that the trails also leverage private investment and offsets some of the cost so we get much more bang for the proverbial buck. A comprehensive trail system also provides a common good.

That Henry asked for more than Indy is true, it is also true that a greater allocation of resources typically have gone to Indy. Between their extensive and growing trail system and mass transportation system Indy has had considerable infrastructure improvements over the past few decades... and a large part of that due to private/public investment and partnerships. They have done a phenomenal job of leveraging public dollars but to seize the opportunity to do so IMHO they have received a disproportionate share of resources.

Vis wrote:

meta4 wrote:

While I think the trails are a good thing, what kind of companies that do the construction and infrustructure work will actually create a noticable affect on employment around here? MOST of this 500M looks like it's going to help big construction companies with legally hefty contracts.

Keep in mind that the trails also leverage private investment and offsets some of the cost so we get much more bang for the proverbial buck. A comprehensive trail system also provides a common good.

That Henry asked for more than Indy is true, it is also true that a greater allocation of resources typically have gone to Indy. Between their extensive and growing trail system and mass transportation system Indy has had considerable infrastructure improvements over the past few decades... and a large part of that due to private/public investment and partnerships. They have done a phenomenal job of leveraging public dollars but to seize the opportunity to do so IMHO they have received a disproportionate share of resources.

First, correcting myself in the quote, I said "Most of the money will go to..." and then in the list of things I liked, there was $300M for schools - that's the lions share....

However, Vis, you got me thinking about the trails... and while they're nice and all, they also produce a problem. Loosely estimating that within 5 years, 25+ miles will have to be recovered/sealed/maintained. IMO, water, sewer, bridge restoration, and roadway improvements rank a tad higher on the scale for me than nice trails... I'd hope to see people get out and get to some of the existing trails before we go expanding the "system".

Sooo, Just sayin... then again, "meh", what the eff do I care? I don't live in the city anymore. Good Luck Tom.

Cincy Fan 44 wrote:

meta4 wrote:I'd rather have him ask for twice and get half of it whacked than have half whacked to a quarter... C'mon man... get with the program, it's all political.

Excellent point, and by the way, you were the first to 3200!

Thanks man. Hey, when you want to be the "emperor" just let me know... I gots a bottle of Gatorade right here with me on the Death Star. It helps with all that electricomagical stuff channeling the force through my fingers.