And Obama has said as much, himself.

But what is this supposed to mean?

Republicans are insisting that any stimulus package include a provision precluding any tax increases now or in the future to pay for this new spending.

It strikes me as probably completely meaningless, but I can't tell for sure.

You asked in the other thread about what in the Republican's plans are so bad.

My answer: Nothing really! However, I'd love to go to such a place where plans like this were actually implementable. it's what (once) made me admire the Republican platform. Many of the policies are still very attractive-looking.

It's the post-election implementation I'm worried about. These plans about 20% tax cuts and no more taxes are emotional but never happen. Both parties love, love, love pork. Cuting all the Pork from a bill won't matter much at all, and both parties find time to put stuff in their bills. The average american may not care too much if you explain to them that the relief they need isn't coming because 1% of the spending in the bill is frivolous. So while all those things are nice on the linked page,  it's sounds like "Contract With America II: This Time We Really Mean It!".

As for reducing government spending to pay for the stimulus, good luck. The government has been regularly running overbudget since..WWII? I don't know, but it's been a long, long time. Fiscal responsibilty dictates that if the People want the programs the government is putting out, they have to be paid for--even if that means taxes have to go up since no one, even the tax-obsessed Repulicans are willing to be upfront. "Investments" in "energy security" and "technology" and "7500 cash to buy a house"and "defense for the GWOT" and "Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security" aren't free.

So knock the stimulus all you want, (I have as well) and sell your Tax Cuts for the Masses but here's the deal:

- Banks are afraid to lend, even when they have money.

- Americans are running from market investment. Look how the SC Stock market game is going..and we're just playin around!

- Employees who've lost their jobs are hard pressed to find jobs and they could care less when you pledge tax cuts. Hard to cut taxes at zero income, or when they get unemployment checks/or are underemployed in the lower tax breakets anyway. And at this rate americans are scared to spend and will likely save, not spend, those tax cuts.

- Lost jobs means no mortgage payments--and Americans spend what they make. If they enter the market at lower-paying jobs, goodbye house, hello apartment (and drops in the housing-related industries)

It may not be pretty, but what the Cantor package is missing is the intangible of trust and leadership. If no one believes your plans are going to be implemented, why even entertain them?

That $7500 tax credit is already in place for first-time home buyers.  I don't think the policy makes too much sense for existing homebuyers if the goal is to stabilize home prices, because, well, existing homeowners would likely have to sell their current house to buy the new one.  That doesn't take any net inventory off the market, and the price declines is due to the fact that there is so much unsold inventory on the market. 

I thought we were for letting the market decide what homes are worth.  The market says that homes are overvalued, therefore the prices are falling.

Repeat after me:  Houses are not an investment.  They are a place to keep your stuff.

Reid to GOP: It’s your fault if stimulus stalls

As the $820 billion stimulus package heads to the upper chamber, Senate Democratic leaders are launching a pre-emptive strike.

“If we don’t [pass the bill], it’s not our fault, we’re trying,” Reid said.

From A of S's

Republican Senators are meanwhile pushing tax cuts and mortgage rate cuts for credit-worthy borrowers. From 5% to 4% federally-guaranteed 30-year-mortgages.

Which seems to address the problem more directly than spending $50,000 for two dog parks in Lewiston, Maine. And $500,000 for one dog park in Chula Vista, CA.

Other dogcrap spending can be found at StimulusWatch.