Flashback, February 5, 2009:
These are the actions Americans expect us to take without delay. They’re patient enough to know that our economic recovery will be measured in years, not months. But they have no patience for the same old partisan gridlock that stands in the way of action while our economy continues to slide.
- President Barack Obama
It’s clear he felt action needed to be taken in order to get the Stimulus bill passed and implemented.
The $787-billion economic stimulus bill was signed into law in February 2009, a federal spending measure that President Barack Obama said was urgently needed to “to jolt our economy back to life.” Fourteen months later, however, only 50 percent of the recovery funds have actually been injected into the economy.
Another 20 percent is supposed to be paid out between now and the end of September, and the balance — $236.1 billion, or 30 percent – apparently will be paid some time next fall and into next year.
Yes, it was very important that we forego debate, or even comprehension, of the stimulus bill and get it implemented. Obviously, there would be dire consequences if that money were not used to stimulate the economy.
