The More GOPers Complain, The Higher The Bill Goes

The House of Representatives will vote today on President Obama's economic stimulus bill. President Obama, as promised, met with House Republicans yesterday to peddle the bill, and in an uncharacteristic show of humility, made a stop at the Ohio Clock, traditional headline-grabbing spot of Senators at the Capitol, and announced how well the talks were going. Maybe it was just old habits dying hard, as the President also made a Freudian slip at the Ohio Clock, referring to "my Senate colleagues," and correcting himself after, "I mean, my former Senate colleagues." Called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009, Obama's plan is expected to pass the House in spite of GOP resistance, and a few Democrats, too. In anticipation of the bill hitting the Senate floor within a few days, tax committees within the Senate have already tacked another $70 Billion onto the plan, bringing the total a Chairman's penstroke shy of $1 Trillion dollars. The Wall Street Journal published a scathing review of the legislation today, criticizing huge portions of the bill as non-productive, with low return potential and calling some of it outright vanity spending.

Democrats are saying the bill isn't big enough, Republicans are saying it's too big. At the same time, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is launching its first 2010 campaign ad, directly targeting Harry Reid and his "big spending." This stimulus bill better work, or Democrats are in trouble. We already thought we were seeing a Clinton Revival in Obama's administration staffing picks; we just might see an even more significant one at mid-term elections if they're not careful. House Republicans, upset over being shut out of the crafting of the bill, are already targeting Speaker Pelosi and Vice President Biden over it. And, Politico is claiming the stimulus is killing the Obama honeymoon, or Pelosi is. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) when asked what happened to Obama’s honeymoon answered, “Ask Pelosi." It seems the more Republicans complain about this bill, the higher the price tag goes. Back in September, when it was the GOP calling for "broad economic measures," the number was $500 Billion. Then Nancy Pelosi got hold of it and started floating progressively higher numbers until we get to today -- the day of the vote, and the Senate is already planning to hike the number again. Like I said, this better work.