Winehole23
02-04-2009, 04:46 PM
Snowe: Obama Agrees To "Scrub" Economic Plan (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2009/02/snowe_obama_agrees_to_scrub_ec.html)
Sen. Olympia Snowe said that President Obama has agreed to re-evaluate spending measures in the economic recovery plan, to "scrub" from it items that may not have an immediate stimulative impact.
The moderate Republican said that of $366 billion in discretionary spending contained in the bill, only 12 percent would be spent within a year - and that 12 percent is giving the president "100 percent heartburn." Snowe, one of the "Gang of 14" who is now part of a group of centrist lawmakers who met with Obama at the White House this afternoon, told reporters afterward that he agreed to a process in which a bipartisan group would more closely vet the overall bill.
"He said he understands that it needs to be scrubbed," she said. "He's prepared to be receptive to the ideas and to reevaluating some of the spending measures that were included that are raising questions about whether they are stimulative."
Snowe also said Obama emphasized the need to move on the plan quickly said it's also important to get it right. "Those aren't mutually exclusive goals," she said. "I think it's going to require some bipartisan cooperation."
Sen. Olympia Snowe said that President Obama has agreed to re-evaluate spending measures in the economic recovery plan, to "scrub" from it items that may not have an immediate stimulative impact.
The moderate Republican said that of $366 billion in discretionary spending contained in the bill, only 12 percent would be spent within a year - and that 12 percent is giving the president "100 percent heartburn." Snowe, one of the "Gang of 14" who is now part of a group of centrist lawmakers who met with Obama at the White House this afternoon, told reporters afterward that he agreed to a process in which a bipartisan group would more closely vet the overall bill.
"He said he understands that it needs to be scrubbed," she said. "He's prepared to be receptive to the ideas and to reevaluating some of the spending measures that were included that are raising questions about whether they are stimulative."
Snowe also said Obama emphasized the need to move on the plan quickly said it's also important to get it right. "Those aren't mutually exclusive goals," she said. "I think it's going to require some bipartisan cooperation."