Celebrating Passage of the Stimulus Bill

I just got back from Denver's Natural History Museum, where President Obama signed the economic stimulus bill into law. It was a small venue for signing such a big bill - frankly, I wish the bill signing ceremony would have been outdoors downtown at a public rally. But I guess I can't complain – it was signed five minutes from my home, and that's pretty cool.

Now, I say it's "pretty cool" not because it's a presidential event or because its specifically President Obama (though, sure, a presidential visit to East Denver is certainly a rare occurrence). I say it's cool because this bill is really monumental, even though it could have been better. Let's remember that while spending on social programs comprises just 4.6% of total emergency spending [1] on this economic emergency, it's still a solid boost. As the Washington Post reports [2]:

The economic stimulus package dramatically ramps up spending for a broad array of social programs for needy Americans in a way not seen since the launch of the Great Society programs...

The bill includes billions in new money for food stamps, expanded child care and services for the homeless. It funds long-sought increases in education funding for low-income and special education students, new refundable tax credits for low-income workers, stepped-up job training, expanded health-care coverage, and an increase of $100 a month in unemployment insurance.

The Post goes on to note that the spending is temporary, and making it more structural and permanent will be one of the many battles that comes after today's bill signing. But at least for today, we can celebrate a real - if imperfect - step forward for progressive priorities.