CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
March 11, 2009 – 1:08 a.m.
Democrats in Congress Fear Recovery May Take Too Long
By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff
Democratic House members say they have less time to wait for signs of economic recovery than President Barack Obama , a conflict of timing that lawmakers say has become increasingly evident in their dealings with the White House.
They have been hearing from constituents about the gap between the pain they feel from the recession and the lack of improvement they see from the federal government’s enactment of trillions of dollars in spending to bolster entities ranging from banks to schools.
“Constituents are saying, Why aren’t I seeing any relief now,” said Rep. Jason Altmire , D-Pa.
That’s the message Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner got from House Democrats during a caucus about the Troubled Asset Relief Program, according to Caucus Chairman John B. Larson , D-Conn.
“I think he heard very loud and clear from the members about the fierce urgency of now,” Larson said in a play on an Obama campaign theme borrowed from Martin Luther King Jr.
At Augie and Ray’s, a Main Street restaurant in East Hartford known for its onion rings, people are grappling with problems of the moment, Larson said. “It’s about what’s happening to them now.”
None of the lawmakers interviewed would claim the electoral motive for himself or herself but they said it is a general dynamic in caucus discussions with White House.
“I think that was communicated,” Rep. Tim Ryan , an Ohio Democrat said. “Obama and Geithner completely understand that this needs to be done now.”
But Ryan, who comes from the hardscrabble Mahoning Valley, where Youngstown and Warren have long suffered from industrial decline, said he would rather see them get recovery plans right than get them in place fast.
He said that if the right policies are put in place his constituents are better positioned to bounce back because of their experience with tough times. “We’ve been going through this for 30 years,” he said.
Altmire, who won with 56 percent of the vote while Obama got just 44 percent in his district, acknowledged that some lawmakers are conscious of the 2010 election, but said, “I don’t look at it that way.”
Comments
Obama already owns the stock market losses since his election. By June, he and his fellow Dems will fully own the recession. Since there is no "stimulus" in the stimulus bill, Dems are likely to be in big, big trouble. Never count out the Republicans when Democrats are in charge.
This is why the stimulus money should have been given to the people via tax refunds. People know how to spend their money better than government does. But no, Obama and his gang have given "the bird" to the taxpapers by signing the egregious Omnibus bill as well as the prevous bills, knowing full well that the taxpapers are up in arms about it. Now we will all be poor!
Um, this recession started in 2007, when Bush was President.
Economic discontent like this usually breeds right-wing populism when the Left is in power. My prognosis for the Admin. is not good.
The recession started when Bush was president. However, instead of trying to limit its effects, Obama has used it as an excuse to enact a bunch of programs-beloved-of-liberals which will make the recession worse. Obama is - intentionally or not - doing everything possible to turn a recession into a Depression. This is why conservatives want him to fail!!!! A recession was bad enough, do we really need to turn it into a Depression???
Owen March 11, 2009 5:21 PM Um, this recession started in 2007,when Bush was President. Me March 11,2009 Um, this recession started in 2007, when the DEM's took over Congress
The recovery may have a lot to do with whether or not President Obama gets a second term. (1) If the economy shows visible signs of recovery before the end of President Obama's term, it's highly likely he'll get a second one. (2) If the economy gets worse, or even remains the same he'll be a one term president. (3) If the economy isn't booming but has stabilized, or gotten marginally better, whether or not President Obama gets re-elected may depend on the successes of his other initiatives.
That's real brave coming from Tim Ryan (LOL), he's sits in a safe district, unlike Altmire. Nervous, are we?
Again, it seems like the issue is being forced not by a good plan, but the fact that an election is coming. And in another article we see P BO looking toward 2012. Why don't we take the time to do things the right way and then worry about the election? We need more interest in completing a task than for just staying in office, which has been the predomiant issue for politicians. If it is going to take time to see the results of our first attemts to stabilize the economy, be patient. If it was good, it will show. If it isn't enough, we can do it again ( with much caution I will agree to this strategy, a bit) Even the Fed doesn't know for sure.
POST A COMMENT
Oops! The following errors must be addressed: