Rendell Pushes Stimulus, Gets "Naughty" On MSNBC
Gov. Rendell was on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today, pushing for the federal economic stimulus plan being considered by the U.S. Congress. The Democratic talking point on all this: If we can spend billions to bail out the banks at the close of President Bush's term, why not spend billions on the economy at the start of President Obama's term?
Gov. Rendell was on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today, pushing for the federal economic stimulus plan being considered by the U.S. Congress. The Democratic talking point on all this: If we can spend billions to bail out the banks at the close of President Bush's term, why not spend billions on the economy at the start of President Obama's term?
Rendell, who also spoke about the process of governors picking candidates for open U.S. Senate seats in Illinois and New York, talked up an idea to let the government hold liens on homes facing foreclosures because owners can't afford their adjustable rate mortgages. The liens would be satisfied when owners sold those homes.
Republicans in Congress have expressed growing concern about what they consider to be unnecessary spending in the proposed $825 billion stimulus plan. Rendell said states will be required to detail how they spend that money. He concedes that "some, not many, but some" of the items in the package are wasteful and should be trimmed by Democrats and Republicans.
But our favorite part? Rendell's odd sign-off, when he laments to co-host Mika Brzezinski that they didn't get to discuss what he considers to be the "sexiest word in the English language -- Infrastructure." That got a big laugh out of the show's hosts, the biggest from Brzezinski, who added, "Oh Governor, you naughty naughty. Come back for that."