NOTE TO STUDENTS:  This is a very complicated issue.  Many adults - including members of Congress who were voting on the bill - do not completely understand it.  Do your best with the questions, and try to gain a general understanding of the issue.  You can do it!

1. List each government program mentioned in the article that will receive money from the House and/or Senate stimulus plans (totaling almost $800 billion) and the amount of money allocated for each.

2. List at least two of the problems with these allocations, as described in this article.

3. Where will Congress get the money for these programs (which they say will stimulate the economy)?

4. The CBO is the Congressional Budget Office. According to cbo.gov/aboutcbo/budgetprocess.shtml,
CBO's mandate is to provide the Congress with:

• Objective, nonpartisan, and timely analyses to aid in economic and budgetary decisions on the wide array of programs covered by the federal budget and
• The information and estimates required for the Congressional budget process

Why does the CBO report that the stimulus bill's $100 billion in tax cuts is really spending?

5. What alternate stimulus plan did the Republicans propose that Brian Riedl of the conservative Heritage Foundation supports? Why does he support this proposal?

6. What funding, ultimately dropped from the bill, would have restricted religious freedom in colleges or universities?

7. Mr. Riedl of says that although the spending in the stimulus bill may go to worthy programs, the purpose of the bill is less about stimulating the economy and more about enacting a [liberal] agenda. He said "Congress has dusted off their long-term spending wish list and written the word 'stimulus' on top of it." Do you agree with Mr. Riedl's assertion?  Explain your answer.

8. The purpose of the stimulus plan, according to President Obama, is to quickly "put Americans back to work." Opponents of the stimulus bill say that the $800 billion will not create new jobs, but only create temporary government programs, and will therefore not do anything to help the economy. What do you think? Explain your answer.
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