he Senate passed the bill for our hush money today: US Senate panel passes $157 billion stimulus plan.

     The U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved a $157 billion economic stimulus package on Wednesday that offers smaller tax rebates to more people than a plan passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
     The committee approved the bill as the full Senate prepared to begin debate as early as Thursday on competing versions of an economic stimulus plan lawmakers hope will encourage consumer and business spending to help stave off an election-year recession.
     . . .
     Economic growth slowed abruptly to 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter last year, following a surge of 4.9 percent in the third quarter, the U.S. government said on Wednesday.
     The Finance Committee added a number of measures not included in the House bill, including nearly $6 billion in tax benefits for renewal energy resources. The bill would extend unemployment benefits beyond the 26 weeks offered by most states. Bush and many of his fellow Republicans oppose extending unemployment benefits.
     The committee also agreed to an amendment that temporarily raises by $10 billion the amount of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that states can offer to help fund low-income housing and low interest mortgages to help some homeowners facing foreclosure refinance their loans.
     Like the House bill, the Finance Committee measure includes business incentives for new purchases. But it goes further by allowing companies to write off more of their losses against previous tax years.

     I have no idea how much this is actually going to help. Economic trends aren’t my thing, sorry. Somehow, though, I just can’t get my hopes up for this one. If anything, it seems like little more than a bandaid over a gaping bullet wound. I really don’t see it accomplishing much.
     Meanwhile, filed away under “Banging The Wasps’ Nest With A Fucking Big Stick”, we find this: High Court Affirms Plan To Cut Power to Gaza. Yes, because that will help.

     Israel’s Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the government’s decision to reduce fuel and electricity deliveries to the Gaza Strip as a form of “economic warfare” against the armed Hamas group in control there.
     In doing so, the three-judge panel rejected the arguments of Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups that the blackouts and shortages caused by the cuts represent a form of collective punishment against Gaza’s 1.5 million residents.
     ”We emphasize that the Gaza Strip is controlled by a murderous terror group that operates incessantly to strike the state of Israel and its citizens, and violates every precept of international law with its violent actions,” the judges wrote.

     Your riddle, folks, and then I’m back to my writing. (Over 4,000 words today, and still going.)

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