House Blocks Digital TV Delay
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The Republicans in the house blocked the delay for the conversion of digital TV which is scheduled to go into effect next month. The bill which was supported by President Obama and consumer groups, would of placed a 4 month extension on the plan. In an article it stated that:
Consumer groups have been pushing the effort to delay the transition date to June 12 from February 17, worried that 20 million mostly poor, elderly and rural households are not ready for the congressionally mandated switch.
“It’s really unfortunate,” said Joel Kelsey, an analyst at Consumers Union. “Consumers are staring at a big, fat, unfunded mandate in the midst of an economic crisis.”
More than one million people are on a waiting list for $40 government coupons to subsidize the cost of converter boxes needed by those with older televisions. The agency that runs the program ran out of coupons earlier this month.
Democrats may try again next week, but this time in a way that would possibly permit amendments and require a simple majority to pass.
I don’t want to start a political debate but this makes one wonder how well the Republicans plan on playing with the new administration. I noted the other evening that Senator McCain doesn’t want any more moneies for a stimulus package, but instead wants tax cuts. Which makes one wonder. Tax cuts for who? The people or big businesses?
Does the trickle down theory work?
Comments welcome.
One Comment
Mike Burks
January 31st, 2009
at 7:15pm
A letter to my state Senator:
Senator Brownback,
Do you read the newspaper of the largest city in Kansas? Do you realize that what you are saying about the economy and present administration is putting you in the same moral boat as the Wall Street CEO’s that are giving themselves bonus’s for driving their companies into the ground?
For eight years a Republican has been in the White House and you spent every minute of it kissing up to him. Look where it got us. I no longer trust your leadership. Don’t you think it is time for you to make a change? Don’t you think it is time you got behind a man with a plan to help the middle class. So far, this is all I hear:
Problem: Thousands are losing their jobs.
Your response: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Problem: Home foreclosures are climbing.
Your response: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Problem: Our military is stretched too thin.
Your response: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Problem: Millions of American children are uninsured.
Your response: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Problem: Our infrastructure is crumbling.
Your response: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Problem: The rich are getting richer and the middle class is becoming the poor.
Your response: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Problem: My dog is in heat.
Your response: Tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Let me give you a clue. Obama was elected because people like me were getting tired of people like you. What do you say that you set your ideology aside and try something that might work. For a Change!
Michael M. Burks