Jim Oberstar, U.S. Congressman (D-MN), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, talks about stimulus money and the transportation bill.
See Oberstar's handwritten plan for the transportation bill here: Front | Back
Congressman Oberstar seems to be disconnected to how local government projects proceed. There are not many projects that are truly "shovel ready". There may be many DOT projects that are shovel ready but many other projects that would benefit the community and create jobs take time to plan. Why would governments have projects like this “shovel ready” when before there was no money to complete these projects. Constituents would not be pleased if money was allocated to planning projects that were unlikely to come to fruition. The stimulus will be a combination of saving some jobs and wasteful spending due to the fact that there is not enough time to properly plan projects and save jobs.
I just wanted to mention to the esteemed guest that while working at an Arby's, Rahm Emanuel sliced his middle finger on a meat slicer and, after an infection, had half of it amputated. So, yeah, I think he knows what a real job is like.
Congressman Oberstar reflects the thinking in DC with his comment on not receiving thankyou notes for lowering taxes, it seems he thinks its his money!
We the People don't owe members of Congress (or the executive branch or the judiciary). They serve at our pleasure. That's why it's called a democracy.
Mr. Oberstar is only doing what he is duty-bound to due, under the Constitution and the mandate We the People grant him by electing him.
Clearly, one of the problems with contemporary American government is a gross misunderstanding of who works for whom.
Congress works for us, not for Wall Street (as Obama evidently thinks).
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Comments [5]
I believe Congressman Oberstar was referring to the series of Dave Dawson books!
Mike
Congressman Oberstar seems to be disconnected to how local government projects proceed. There are not many projects that are truly "shovel ready". There may be many DOT projects that are shovel ready but many other projects that would benefit the community and create jobs take time to plan. Why would governments have projects like this “shovel ready” when before there was no money to complete these projects. Constituents would not be pleased if money was allocated to planning projects that were unlikely to come to fruition. The stimulus will be a combination of saving some jobs and wasteful spending due to the fact that there is not enough time to properly plan projects and save jobs.
I just wanted to mention to the esteemed guest that while working at an Arby's, Rahm Emanuel sliced his middle finger on a meat slicer and, after an infection, had half of it amputated. So, yeah, I think he knows what a real job is like.
Congressman Oberstar reflects the thinking in DC with his comment on not receiving thankyou notes for lowering taxes, it seems he thinks its his money!
Tom
We the People don't owe members of Congress (or the executive branch or the judiciary). They serve at our pleasure. That's why it's called a democracy.
Mr. Oberstar is only doing what he is duty-bound to due, under the Constitution and the mandate We the People grant him by electing him.
Clearly, one of the problems with contemporary American government is a gross misunderstanding of who works for whom.
Congress works for us, not for Wall Street (as Obama evidently thinks).
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