Stimulus Package, Take Two

While President Obama campaigns, the GOP shrieks at its 3 "defecting" senators, and liberal economists worry over how much has been cut from this version of the bill, you may want to take a look at what the Senate will be voting on tomorrow. This is the Senate amendment to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was passed by the House of Representatives. Once this amendment passes, the House and Senate will conference and work out a version that will pass both houses of Congress.

The Congressional Budget Office has released its report on the economic ramifications of the House bill, as passed. (Note that this is very different from the CBO predictions that were swirling around the first versions of this bill; as mentioned in the cover letter, the full report is for the version that was actually passed, once amendments had been made). Expect reports on the Senate amendment and the final bill soon.

In case none of this stresses you out at all, here's a link to The Employment Situation: January 2009 fresh from the Burea of Labor Statistics, in which we learn that our country lost 598,000 jobs last month -- the most lost in one month since December 0f 1974. Wow. Here's hoping the stimulus bill packs a few punches. But in case the governmental gears are turning too slowly for you or someone you know, NC residents may file for unemployment benefits using the Employment Security Commission website.