(Be) Holden to the Status Quo
Written by Audrie Zettick on February 4, 2009
I thought the country (or at least the millions who voted for Barack Obama) threw the status quo out the window this past November. But the same-old, same-old reigns in the U.S. Congress these past weeks, especially from my Congressman, Tim Holden (D, PA-17).
At first, I had hope. Let’s review:
- No Time for the Status Quo. By most accounts, these are the most challenging times since the Great Depression; it calls for us to support elected officials who are acting for the long term, greater good of our nation.
- Fast, Focused and Finite. Widely-accepted, economic stimulus wisdom from Lawrence Summers. (Here for David Brooks’ insight).
- Tim Holden noted that the economy is in “the worst state that I can remember in my lifetime” and that “the economy is in dire straits, and we need to show some leadership and do something here.”
Except that “leadership” meant sticking with the status quo, old-style politics.
The Commonwealth of PA is among the states whose budgetary woes result in part from a history of old-style vote getting: putting something for everyone in appropriations bills, so we “get support.” Holden and most of the Democrat Caucus did the same with the stimulus bill, H.R. 1.
Holden’s justification: “I don’t know how I’d vote against $1.8 billion coming to Pennsylvania.” ……except he also said “I can’t direct money to go anywhere.”
The result? Not a stimulus package that is fast, focused and finite. More like flabby, frenzied and flatulent. Apparently, my district isn’t the only one “Be Holden” to the status quo.
Posted in: economy
One Response to “(Be) Holden to the Status Quo”
If you go to the new Stimulus Watch web site, you will find an easy-to-use database containing all the “shovel-ready” projects contained in the House bill, including someone’s estimates of jobs created and costs. Sorting by state/municipality reveals that the only projects ($4.4 billion in PA total)submitted or approved for inclusion in Holden’s district are for Harrisburg.
Rec center and skating rink? The list is a hoot — Steve Reed’s letter to Santa.
The bill is pure pork that would allow states and local governments to mask the problems and deficits created by the same people who now say they want to “create jobs,” while papering over their failures.
I wonder how District 17 taxpayers in municipalities other than Harrisburg feel about this use of their tax money…
By Oopstheydiditagain on Feb 5, 2009