FT: Senate Bill Strengthens "Buy America" Message

by: David Sirota

Mon Feb 02, 2009 at 13:09


As corporate lobbyists descend on the Senate Commerce Committee looking to kill Obama's promised Buy America provisions in the stimulus and preserve taxpayer subsidies for outsourcing, their magic may have run out. Here's the Financial Times:
David Sirota :: FT: Senate Bill Strengthens "Buy America" Message
Senate Bill Strengthens 'Buy America' Message

By Alan Beattie in Washington

Since the Senate likes to think of itself as more adult and measured than the House of Representatives, opponents of the controversial "Buy America" provisions in the stimulus bill are looking to the upper house to help them out...

But if anything, the Senate is going further than the House. Last week, the Senate put stronger home procurement rules into the bill, requiring not just iron and steel, but all manufactured goods where possible to be bought from US producers.

As Businessweek has reported, without measures to make sure as much stimulus money as possible stays in the United States, there could be "leakage" (ie. money leaving the country) effectively undermining the necessary multiplier effect of the government cash. It seems the Senate - at least initially - understands this truism.

But, as reported earlier, the lobbying campaign is now set to descend on the Senate Commerce Committee. So check the committee's membership, and call your senator to tell him/her to support Buy America provisions. You can also call the Commerce Committee's main number at 202-224-0411.

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FT: Senate Bill Strengthens "Buy America" Message | 4 comments
free traders (4.00 / 1)
call it protectionism to protect American workers jobs but they want us to keep American soldiers in South Korea and Japan to protect their jobs from China and North Korea
OOOh (0.00 / 0)
Where are the hypocrites bashing summers and gither over the rumors? of course they never admit they were wrong and come back when another speculative report comes out!

oh and give credit to obama for significantly weakening lobbyist power too. You should criticize when warranted and give credit the same way if you want to be credible with anyone in the admin.

Oh (0.00 / 0)
And don't bullshit me that this is a senate thing. because if obama people wanted it out it would be out no question.
[ Parent ]
He didn't reduce the power of lobbyists (0.00 / 0)
he created voluntary guidelines against hiring them, then immediately proceeded to hire a lobbyist.  He will have significantly reduced their power when a law is passed against lobbyist serving in the executive branch.
[ Parent ]
FT: Senate Bill Strengthens "Buy America" Message | 4 comments
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