Stimulus bill

We are on the road to recovery. Senator Dick Durbin just read the vote after Senator Sherrod Brown returned from Ohio. He will fly back for his mother's funeral tomorrow morning.

Senator Harry Reid is proceeding with morning business. They're going through the motions getting business set up for the week the Senate returns for business.

...In the back.

I thought that Blue Dog Democrats were still Democrats, uh at least that they had enough sense to either support their leadership (who helped their sorry asses get elected) or keep their fracking mouths SHUT.

BUT NOOOOOOO! Not Heath, that crazy guy:

Shuler hits Democratic leaders on bipartisanship
By MIKE BAKER - Associated Press Writer
Published: Mon, Feb. 09, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler said Monday that his party's leadership on Capitol Hill has failed to pursue a bipartisan compromise to a costly economic stimulus package, arguing that a lack of Republican support is eroding the program's credibility.

Last week, South Carolina Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham, created a stir and made the media rounds after throwing a tantrum on the Senate floor. I watched the entire tantrum live on C-Span and dissected it to see if it contained anything of value. I am looking for anything new the Republicans might offer that isn't the revenue reduction scheme they typically pander. I can honestly report that I found nothing. The Republicans in Washington don't like being out of power and they don't like Nancy Pelosi. They don't like Pelosi so much they are willing to throw the entire nation under the bus while they pout and lick their wounds.

I turned on the television in time to see Barack Obama handed a slip of paper. Apparently, it was a note telling him the stimulus bill had passed in the Senate. When he announced this to the crowd in Ft. Meyer's, Florida, the crowd came to its feet. Obama was quite obviously pleased and said several times, "This is a good thing."

He took questions from a grateful crowd. At one point he called on an older woman who was obviously overwhelmed with emotion. Her name is Henrietta Hughes and she said, "We need help." She said her family is their home. She said, "We need more than a vehicle or parks to go to. We need Help. We need our own kitchen and a bathroom." Barack Obama left the center of the stage and walked over to Ms. Hughes. He took her hand and kissed her cheek and assured her that we will do everything we can to help. He then told her to make sure she spoke to his staff afterward.

I am not a fan of the Huffington Post. I rarely can find my way around and I'm not that concerned with what celebrities think - even if they are very bright. Today her headline caught my eye. It is one of those that reaches out and grabs you.

Stimulus Package: If you jump halfway across a chasm, you fall into the abyss.

That's exactly what we are doing. The senate needs to add more infrastructure spending and it needs to be "shovel ready." (I know some don't like that saying, but it works.)

Rep. Larry Kissell was one of 11 members of Congress who had their amendments to the stimulus bill introduced on the House floor and offered for debate and a vote. In 2007 Kissell's predecessor had introduced a similar bill. He was not able to get it out of committee. In ten years holding the seat, former Rep. Robin Hayes was able to get five bills passed with most introduced to rename post offices in the congressman's district.

Kissell's amendment, if it remains part of the package after the bill makes it through the Senate, will expand the Berry Amendment to require that uniforms purchased by the Department of Homeland Security also be made with fabric and findings manufactured in the United States. The amendment is intended to keep people working and put some textile workers back to work.

For your viewing pleasure....and don't miss the look that Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-GA gives Larry after he challenges Rep. Kissell. We must note that Rep. Westmoreland is a member of the Prayer Caucus, a group that has Robin Hayes on the board of advisors.

Remember during your wonderfully powerful Inauguration speech when you said "we will extend our hand, but only if you first unclinch your fist?" That was my favorite part of that entire day. Finally, a smart, demanding Democrat who seizes leadership and wants to move forward. And we admire you for trying, but...

Rep. Larry Kissell, NC-08 went in front of the rules committee today to try to fulfill promises made to American textile workers by his predecessor, Robin Hayes. With less than three full weeks under his belt, Kissell proposed an amendment to the committee and his amendment is included as part of the stimulus bill. Tomorrow, that amendment will be debated on the House floor.

The amendment would require the Department of Homeland Security purchase uniforms from American textile companies. Hayes tried and failed to get similar legislation through the House. You will find the full amendment here.

Update