When the teabaggers claimed that there was two million or more at their rally and then told the audience at the event that ABC News was reporting between one and 1.5 million, they were obviously lying. They exaggerated the totals to a major news outlet and that outlet, rightfully so, not only called them out on it, but delivered the correct information to the public.
It was actually "tens of thousands." One number I heard was 75,000. ABC News said between 60,000 and 70,000. So instead of having a "million teabagger march", they had a football stadium full of teabaggers protesting in our nation's capital, labeling anyone who is in disagreement with them a Nazi and passing around signs that read "Bury Obamacare with Kennedy."
There is something about activism, class and decency that should go hand-in-hand.
While listening to the claims of how many people attended the event, Glenn Beck and other right-wing mouthpieces have said there were millions in attendance. Conservative estimate according to Beck? 500,000.
For some comparison, here is what 1.8 million looked like earlier this year at some event involving the same guy that the teabaggers are calling a Nazi.
For an even better shot of the inauguration, check this out.
The 1.8 million figure was an official estimate from D.C. officials. Such an event had D.C. officials preparing. It was a record crowd. Meaning that if any event rivaled it, it would mean a serious strain on D.C.
But that's not what happened.
This gives you some idea of what the tea party protest looked like on Saturday:
I just got back from D.C. a couple of weeks ago. I walked from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. I then continued along the National Mall and ended up at the Capitol. That's a long walk. On Inauguration Day, there were people from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. On Saturday, they had a fraction of the people who were there on Inauguration Day.
I don't know why you would want to exaggerate a figure and say that "millions" were there. A number like 75,000 isn't bad. But when you have a problem with the truth, "millions" sounds better.
The final version of the package comes in at $789 billion, which is less than the bills that passed both houses of Congress over the past week.
According to Sen. Schumer, New York will get a healthy cut of the package. The state will receive $12.6 billion in Medicaid funding spread out over the next nine quarters. Of those monies, $8.6 billion will go to the state, $2.8 billion will go to New York City, $929 million will go to the upstate counties and $292 million will go to Long Island. The Medicaid relief will go directly to the localities so they will see immediate benefits.
Usually, the federal government pays a percentage of the state's Medicaid costs. In New York's case, that percentage is 50 percent. But under the stimulus package, that percentage is closer to 60 percent. That means the state will have to put less money into Medicaid.
New York will also receive $2.7 billion in education funding, although this money is considered a "stabilization fund" and will be used to make up for cuts already made to education programs. There is no money for school construction in the bill, which was something included in the House package but taken out in the Senate deal. But there is $800 million for special education funding.
Schumer said that the Senate will start debating this package tonight and could vote on it as early as midnight. He did warn, however, that if a senator chooses to place a hold on the package, they won't be able to act on the bill for 36 hours. So at the latest, it won't be voted on until the weekend. Schumer added though that he didn't see anyone placing a hold on the bill.
So how good is this package? It's not perfect, Schumer argued. But it's good enough.
"We couldn't let the perfect get in the way of the very good," Schumer said.
Schumer complimented and thanked Governor Paterson for his role in lobbying senators and being a proponent of the package. Paterson reminded the media during the call that the state faces tough fiscal times ahead and that this bill doesn't mean we can sit back and relax.
"We have not found the bottom of the floor of the deficit," Paterson said, warning that there will still be cuts and there still will be action taken to address the state's growing deficit.
New York got a bigger piece of the pie than expected. There are a lot of benefits here. I'm awaiting the final summary of New York's part of the package. I should have that later.
Some people have taken liberties with both, lumping TARP in with the economic stimulus package and saying that they oppose the economic stimulus package because of TARP. However, TARP was not meant to stimulate anything. TARP's goal was to buy up $700 billion worth of troubled assets. In the House, TARP passed with a 263-171 vote. Of the 263 representatives that supported TARP, 91 were Republicans. And those 91 Republicans included some of the same loud-mouthed Republicans who are dismissing the economic stimulus package. Republicans John Boehner, Eric Cantor, among others.
The only sector TARP helped was the financial sector. There was no stimulation with TARP. The Treasury Department was handed a blank check (with zero accountability) to buy up troubled assets from banks and other financial institutions. The first $350 billion of that money has already been spent, but no one knows where it went. There were a lot of people in Congress who were nervous about releasing the second half of the $700 billion because of the lack of accountability and oversight.
But the economic stimulus package is different - very different. The package passed the House with a 244-188 vote. Zero Republicans supported the stimulus package. The Republicans are quick to point out that there is money for birth control and other things in this bill, but they aren't quick to mention all of the contents of the package.
- $32 billion to update the nation's energy grid
- $16 billion to repair public housing
- $6 billion to weatherize modest-income homes
- $10 billion for science facilities, instrumentation and research
- $6 billion to expand broadband internet access
- $30 billion for highway construction
- $31 billion for modernizing and improving infrastructure that lead to 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
- $41 billion for local school districts; $13 billion through Title I funding, $13 billion for IDEA, $14 billion for school modernization and repairs and $1 billion for education technology
- $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cuts to education programs
- $15.6 billion to increase Pell grants by $500
- $6 billion for higher education modernization
I included the rest of the summary over the fold. But the list above should give you an idea that this economic stimulus package is intended on stimulating the economy and helping average taxpayers and local and state governments fund programs that need funding.
Let me put it into this context. Among the House Republicans, 91 of them (some of whom aren't around anymore) supported giving a blank check to the banks and backed money that would go strictly to banks and financial institutions. But not a single House Republican would support the economic stimulus package that would give money to your local and state governments and go to projects that would help us in our daily lives.
TARP is something completely different. TARP was to help banks and financial institutions that have suffered due to, among other things, the subprime mortgage crisis. The economic stimulus package is different. This is money that will be invested into environmental initiatives, health care, infrastructure and will also fund $275 billion in tax cuts.
Hopefully it is understood that TARP has its own focus and the economic stimulus package has its own focus. They are two very different things with different missions.
Congressman-elect Eric Massa, who will officially be Congressman Eric Massa at noon today, traveled to Washington D.C. yesterday and held a swearing-in reception to celebrate his election to Congress and to acknowledge those who helped him get to Washington D.C.
Thanks to the Massa's press team, we have some pictures from yesterday's events. It should be noted that Massa rode in a Hydrogen fuel cell car built by General Motors on his trip to Washington D.C.
Here is the press release regarding Massa's journey to Washington D.C.:
(Photo courtesy of Michael Parks)
Early this morning, Congressman-Elect Eric Massa departed his hometown of Corning, New York to be sworn into the 111th Congress on Tuesday. Massa will arrive for his formal swearing-in on Tuesday morning, but the 282 mile journey in a GM Electric Fuel Cell Equinox went off without a hitch. Massa took this zero emission, hydrogen powered vehicle to Washington to highlight sustainable energy technology. The vehicle was primarily researched and developed in Honeoye Falls, part of New York's 29th Congressional District.
"I'm here to be the voice of the families of New York's 29th Congressional District and help take this country in a better direction," said Congressman-Elect Eric Massa. "Taking this GM Electric Fuel Cell car to Washington reflects all that I will stand for as your Representative - Creating good jobs in Western New York, breaking our addiction to foreign oil, taking meaningful steps toward addressing global warming, and getting our economy back on the road to success. I look forward to being sworn into office on Tuesday so we can get to work."
Congressman-Elect Massa will drive the Fuel Cell Equinox to Capitol Hill on Tuesday and will be available for interviews in your new DC office at 1208 in the Longworth House Office Building afterward. The entire 111th Congress is scheduled to be sworn-in at noon. Congressman-Elect Massa's individual swearing-in ceremony will take place at 5:30pm. To arrange an interview, please call Jared Smith.
Massa will make us proud as he begins serving his two-year term in the House of Representatives. I know he will be a friend of the Constitution and he will be a friend of the netroots. You can't ask for too much more than that.
If you are going to be in the Washington D.C. area tomorrow night, you are invited to Congressman Eric Massa's swearing-in reception. Here are the details:
Congressman-Elect Eric Massa
Cordially invites you to a reception in honor of his Swearing in as a Member of the 111th Congress.
Monday, January 5, 2009
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The Monocle
107 D Street, N.E.
Capitol Hill
RSVP:
massa.reception@gmail.com
I won't be able to attend, but I will be getting reports from Congressman Massa's staff. So I should have some pictures and a summary of what goes on.
But if you are in the area, try to make it. It promises to be a great time with a new member of Congress.
That's the end of liveblogging tonight. Pretty uneventful night. No big surprises. McCain swept the primaries on the Republican side and Obama takes the primaries on the Democratic side. Obama has the momentum and McCain is inching closer to the nomination. Huckabee really needed a win (or two or three) tonight and he didn't get it.
Governor Eliot Spitzer met today with New York's Congressional Delegation and presented his list of federal legislative priorities.
From an e-mailed press release:
Governor Eliot Spitzer today presented the New York Congressional Delegation with his list of federal priorities for Federal Fiscal Year 2009, asking the state's representatives in Washington to push for federal legislation to help fuel economic growth and opportunity in New York State. Traveling to Washington just days after President Bush released his federal Budget, the Governor offered a critique of the administration's spending priorities and the devastating impact they will have on New York State. The Governor encouraged Congressional members to fight back against cuts that would wreak havoc on the state's health care and educational systems, homeland security and economic prosperity.
"President Bush has shown, through his misplaced priorities, that we cannot count on the White House for a federal budget that offers real solutions for the serious problems facing our state," said Governor Spitzer. "As we weather this national economic slump, New York needs innovative solutions from Washington to help combat housing shortages, high energy and health care costs, security threats and other serious challenges. The growth of our economy depends in part on this work being accomplished during this Congress and I look forward to working closely with the state's Congressional Delegation on initiatives of critical importance to New Yorkers."
The federal priorities outlined by the Governor today complement his recently released state budget proposals to strategically invest in education, health care, economic revitalization and housing. Each of these priorities furthers Governor Spitzer's goal of making New York the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family - to make it, once again, the center of economic growth and opportunity.
Gee, I wonder if Tom Reynolds was in the room when Spitzer was talking about President Bush? Or how about Randy Kuhl? Vito Fossella? Any takers?
In any event, Spitzer's priorities are important ones. In his meeting with the delegation, he outlined several key points. Namely:
Health Care: Congress should secure a moratorium preventing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from adopting rules that would dramatically reduce Medicaid funding to New York State and hinder the state's ability to provide quality health care services for our most vulnerable populations.
Education: Congress must fully fund No Child Left Behind, including increased funding for Reading First and 21st Century After-School Programs, while improving teacher quality standards. Congress must strengthen higher education programs and funding provided through the Higher Education Act reauthorization.
Environment: New York needs the passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act which preserves the intent of the federal Clean Water Act to broadly protect the nation's waters. In addition, federal funding for upgrading sewage treatment plants needs to be significantly increased. New York State, like many other states, needs billions of dollars to upgrade sewage treatment plants that discharge into the Long Island Sound and other important water bodies.
Civil Rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act should be improved with the passage of the ADA Restoration Bill, which would bring the language of the act in line with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other civil rights laws.
There were several others. For a full list, come over the flip.
After President Bush vetoed every SCHIP bill that reached his desk and Congress couldn't override those vetoes (or reach an agreement on any sort of SCHIP bill), Governor Eliot Spitzer has taken matters into his own hands.
The budget provides funding to expand the State's version of SCHIP, Child Health Plus, by increasing income eligibility levels from 250 percent to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, making New York's program one of the most comprehensive in the nation. Governor Spitzer made this announcement during his State of the State address and full details of the plan will be outlined in Governor Spitzer's Executive Budget Presentation on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.
"In the face of Washington's inaction, New York State is taking bold steps to ensure the protection and welfare of society's most vulnerable residents: our children," said Governor Spitzer. "President Bush's incomprehensible decision to veto SCHIP has left the duty of insuring children to our state. New York will not allow the failure of the White House to deprive essential health care to those who need it most. This initiative has wide, bipartisan support across the state and I commend all of our partners who have worked tirelessly on behalf of New York's children."
Sen. Hillary Clinton had this response when learning of Gov. Spitzer's plans:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said: "I was proud to support the bipartisan legislation in Congress that would have assisted NY with expansion of Child Health Plus, but the President vetoed it leaving New York and our children on their own. Governor Spitzer's commitment to fully fund the program despite the President's actions will allow tens of thousands of uninsured children to access affordable, quality healthcare and I commend Governor Spitzer for his leadership on behalf of New York's children."
Amen to that. This was an important move. If Bush and his Republican pals won't give us the money, Gov. Spitzer will find the funding for it. Good work.
(Photo courtesy of Michael Parks)
