Change Begins

President Obama has already announced his first Press Conference for Friday. This is so refreshing already, after eight years of an Administration that has shunned Press Conferences, we will again see a vital part of participatory democracy returned to the the Executive Branch. It is obvious by the activity surrounding the Obama Team that President Obama is diligently preparing his Administration to take the reins in 75 days and to hit the ground running.

As a sitting Senator, Mr. Obama can and should begin leading now. As a Senator he can propose and push legislation through the Congress that will begin to have an impact immediately. The first thing the Congress should do is get back to work, the party is over. We have taken back our Nation, now it is time to begin correcting the policy deficiencies that have led us to the worst Economic Crisis since thew Great Depression.

Senator Obama should lead the Congress in peeling away some of the $700 Billion Financial Bailout money and apply that where it can do the most good for the Working and Middle Class. $100 Billion Dollars should be peeled away and distributed to the States equally to be used for infrastructure upgrades and improvement that should include removing all publicly owned lighting from the Electrical Grid and make them self sustaining solar or wind operated. The grants must mandate that all Federal Monies used must be used through competitive bidding that takes into account not only price but efficiency.

Another $100 Billion Dollars of the Federal Bailout Monies should be peeled away and used to distribute rebate checks that will have a real impact on the retail economy instantly. The last rebate checks that amounted to about $18 Billion was obviously too little too late to have an impact and jump starting the economy. Another larger round of checks should be authorized immediately. When these checks are received the monies will be spent paying down debt and buying consumer goods which should have a $600 Billion Dollar ripple effect throughout the economy. This will nor be enough to undo the damage done by the Republican Bush Cheney Administration, but it will have the effect of putting a good shot of liquidity into the hands of the People who will spend this money. The money spent will lower retail inventories, put some money back into the banking system and create a seed of economic recovery.

Through the transition team the Obama Administration should start working with the Congress to have a series of legislation ready by January 21, 2009 so that not a day is wasted in passing legislation that will add some permanent stimulation to the economy, such as a massive retrofitting of all Government owned buildings and facilities with alternative, self sustaining, energy systems, that is to be spent with the stipulation that 100% of the equipment purchased for these systems be produced exclusively in the United States. This will put people to work, create long term jobs, create manufacturing, and bring our Nation to the doorstep of Energy Independence.