Tom Waseleski
Last night the Senate sweetened the bailout deal, i.e., made it more expensive for American taxpayers, in a way to win more votes. Total cost of the package is now $700 billion to fix the credit crisis on Wall Street and another $150 billion in tax cuts for individuals and business.
That, unfortunately, is how it's done in Washington -- you exacerbate one problem, like the federal deficit, on the way to addressing another.
The plan is now before the House. All of the seats are on the Nov. 4 ballot, so most of those who will vote are up for re-election, which makes casting a vote all the more difficult. Some representatives in Western Pa. -- Democrat Jason Altmire and Republicans Tim Murphy and Phil English -- voted against the plan that went down Monday. Each of them has an opponent for re-election.
Yet tough times call for tough leadership. Many economists continue to say that Congress must act if average Americans are to escape a parade of financial horribles. Imperfect as the revised plan is, how do you want your rep to be counted? I know I want mine to vote Yes.
Posted
Oct 02 2008, 11:15 AM
by
Tom Waseleski