Diverse groups line up for Obama plan
TEXT OF STORY
Steve Chiotakis: President-elect Barack Obama and congressional leaders are getting together Monday. They’re set to discuss Mr. Obama’s stimulus package worth hundreds of billions of dollars. But some Republican leaders are already hesitant to come on board. Here’s Marketplace’s Steve Henn.
Steve Henn: Republicans are worried the Democrats could try to increase the size of the stimulus plan to close to a trillion dollars. And Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell has warned that his party won’t simply roll over or offer a rubber stamp.
The Obama plan will likely include massive infrastructure spending, an extension on unemployment benefits as well as aid to states facing increased costs for services like Medicaid. But interests as diverse as zoos, aquariums and U.S. steelmakers are lining up for a piece of stimulus pie.
Ryan Alexander: They’re looking for the opportunity.
Ryan Alexander is president of Taxpayers for Common Sense:
Alexander: That’s, you know, that’s their job — they’re trying to protect or advance their industries.
American steel executives told the New York Times they’d like the bill to include a buy American clause. And the U.S. Conference of mayors put forward a plan that includes $1.5 million for a waterslide in Miami.
In Washington, I’m Steve Henn for Marketplace.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
