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President Obama has made ending the Bush tax on incomes above $250,000 a year a top goal of his presidency. Republicans have predictably fought him at every turn, and used misleading statistics to characterize the plan as one that would cripple small businesses -- when in fact only sliver of the impact would fall on truly small businesses. Wednesday, those Republicans got a big, if unintentional, assist from Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) -- a member of Democratic leadership, who has been a leading advocate for setting the threshold at $1 million in income. "There are people making 250, 300 [thousand...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that Congress needs to "keep the door open" to a another stimulus package -- raising the question of how much the government could eventually spend on top of the $787 billion already allocated to rescue the country from dire economic straits. "The word of the day is confidence. Confidence in our markets, confidence in lending, confidence in our financial institutions," Pelosi said before suggesting the need for another rescue package during a press conference Tuesday following a meeting with top economists. Mark Zandi, chief economist and founder of Moody's Economy, took a more definitive...

WASHINGTON -- Congress on Tuesday cleared for President Obama's signature a $410 billion measure to fund the government, a measure denounced by most Republicans as an example of reckless spending. The Senate approved the measure by voice after it cleared a key procedural hurdle by a 62-35 vote. Sixty votes were required to shut down debate. Obama will sign the measure Wednesday, the White House said, but he will also announce steps aimed at curbing lawmakers' penchant for pet projects. The $410 billion bill is chock-full of lawmakers' pet projects and significant increases in food aid for the poor, energy...

February 25, 2009 House Approves Another $410 Billion in Spending With 9,000 Earmarks-- 1.2 Trillion in 12 Days The House just approved another $410 billion in spending with 9,000 earmarks after approving the $789 billion Generational Theft Act just 12 days ago. The House has approved $1.2 trillion in spending in 12 days. The vote was mainly among party lines: Obama and Congressional Democrats are expected to spend $3.27 trillion before they are through with their bailouts. FOX News reported: The Democratic-controlled House approved $410 billion legislation Wednesday that boosted domestic programs, bristled with earmarks and chipped away at policies...

WASHINGTON – The Democratic-controlled House approved $410 billion legislation Wednesday that boosted domestic programs, bristled with earmarks and chipped away at policies left behind by the Bush administration. The vote was 245-178, largely along party lines.

HR 1105 IH 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1105Making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 23, 2009 Mr. OBEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL Making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes. Be...

PHOENIX - President Barack Obama’s plan to tackle the foreclosure crisis will spend $75 billion in an effort to prevent up to 9 million Americans from losing their homes. In tandem, the Treasury Department said it would double the size of its lifeline to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The government, which seized the mortgage finance companies last fall, said Wednesday it would absorb up to $200 billion in losses at each company. The plan, which Obama is releasing later Wednesday, is more ambitious than initially expected — and more expensive. It aims to aid borrowers who owe more on...

Read it and weep. Obama and Pelosi will soon announce Porkulus II "because the first bill didn't have everything in it we need." Let 'er rip...