Time for Plan B

The so-called stimulus bill has been a major disappointment on a number of levels. Yet, the president on Thursday penned an editorial for the Washington Post titled “The Action Americans Need,” in which he urged quick passage of the $900 billion-plus plan.

Congress will do Obama — and itself — a favor by not complying. A Rasmussen tracking poll shows support for the recovery plan plunging fast. Two weeks ago, 45% of Americans supported it; this week, it’s down to 37%. Meanwhile, opposition has jumped to 43% from 34%. So, more people now oppose it than support it.

Congress is getting an earful. As CNN.com reported, “The recent debate over the nearly $900 billion economic stimulus plan and revelations of tax problems by three Obama administration appointees have voters angrily jamming phone lines on Capitol Hill to air their frustrations to their elected representatives.”

Phone lines, according to CNN, have been jammed for two weeks. And in a sampling of 12 Senate offices, “half had so many messages that their voice-mail boxes were full.”

In his Post opinion piece, Obama lashed out at “misguided criticisms” of the plan and suggested those who oppose it are somehow acting against the will of Americans who “went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change.”

Change, yes. But not the change that’s being offered.

Start with the fact that the bill Obama is pushing has little to do with stimulus at all. The Congressional Budget Office reckons that just $29 billion, or 8%, of the $356 billion in discretionary spending under the plan will be spent this year. Another $116 billion, or 41%, will be spent in 2010.

Sorry, but by definition a two-year “stimulus” plan that doesn’t spend even half the money can no longer be called stimulus.

The fact is, this bill was never meant as “stimulus” per se, but rather as a quick way for President Obama and the Democrat-led Congress to rush through their sweeping agenda for the country under the guise of an emergency economic rescue.

And now, the American people have called them on it.

I’d like to see Obama be successful in his presidency. But his success will be built — can only be built — on winning voter support for his plans. Yes, he won the election, but he has yet to make the case for each and every one of his policies.

Obama is dealing with some thorny issues — including a shocking number of tax problems among the people he has nominated to high posts — that suggest organizational disarray in the White House. He’d be wise to step back and push the reset button.

If the president is as serious as he says about a “bipartisan” consensus, he might craft a pure stimulus bill, one that will at least try to do what it’s name implies. And yes, it should include tax cuts, since fully 53% of those queried in a recent poll said they wouldn’t support a stimulus bill if tax cuts weren’t included.

As it is now, the plan includes a stunning number of unnecessary, unstimulating projects: $400 million for global-warming computers, $6.2 billion for “home weatherization,” $25 million to rebuild off-road ATV trails, $20 million for “fish-passage barriers.”

The list goes on and on, with dozens of similar programs. If you’re skeptical, go to stimuluswatch.org and see for yourself.

Obama is trying to do too much too soon in just one bill. He should pass a real stimulus first, then make the case separately for all the nonstimulus spending later. If he doesn’t do this, he risks losing out entirely — and damaging his presidency.