And most of the Tennessee Congressional delegation will be quite comfortable with the idea that Congress can tax and borrow this money and make better decisions about how to spend it than the citizens who paid the taxes or provided the creditworthiness. Most of the Tennessee Congressional delegation is comfortable with the idea that they are morally and intellectually superior to their constituents.
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Wind farms want permanent tax credits. The steel industry wants "Buy American" protection for infrastructure projects in the bill. Home builders want a national low mortgage rate, guaranteed by Uncle Sam. Universities want money for campus repairs, as well as $700 more per student in federal grants.
The spending requests total many times the likely size of the package. Environmentalists alone put together a wish list of 80 projects that add up to $405 billion.
With a fight likely over a pie that, however large, isn't big enough for all, industries are crafting creative pitches to show that assistance to them would provide the fastest, broadest or most comprehensive stimulus.
The U.S. Travel Association, which represents hotel, resort and theme-park operators, wants the stimulus package to include a measure they have pushed for years, establishing a government office to pitch American tourism to foreigners.
