$26 Billion Heading To States

The House of Representatives just passed a $26 billion aid package to troubled state and local governments by a 247-to-161 vote. The last formality required for the checks to go out is a signature from President Obama.

Today was the final vote H.R.1586, which was aid being pledged to states for Medicaid assistance and to provide funds to avoid teacher layoffs.

Senators passed the bill last week and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had called the House back from recess.  This follows an earlier approval of a $600 million border security bill that still needs to be passed by the U.S. Senate in September.

Today’s vote  a wider margin than what our political watchdog friends were expecting.  Maybe the government is the only game in town when it comes to new jobs.

A billion dollars just doesn’t go as far as it used to.  Maybe twenty-six of those billion can make a difference.  If not, Uncle Sam could ask all those billionaires to send that philanthropy money directly.

JON C. OGG