Democratic critics

Donald Payne, the Democrat from Newark and one of the House of Representatives most progressive members, outlines what he thinks needs to be included in a bailout plan. According to PolitickerNJ, Payne, who voted against the $700 billion package joining 94 other Democrats, said

he would need to see significant changes benefiting low income Americans
and workers before he could support it on a second pass.

“We have not extended unemployment benefits or mortgage relief,” Payne said
moments ago in an appearance on MSNBC.

The veteran congressman acknowledged there is no question the economy is in
crisis mode, but insisted on seeing stronger bottom up measures.

“This is still in progress,” he said.

The comments from plan opponents like Payne and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, of Oregon, Marcy Kaptur, of Ohio, and Steve Rothman, of Bergen County, make it clear that the supposed concensus did not break down only because of concerns from conservatives. Any bailout needs to be structured so that the prime beneficiaries are average folk.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet