WASHINGTON DC — Another summit Thursday. Yet another. There have already been White House “summits” on distracted driving, health care, swine flu and fiscal responsibility. No matter what is yakked about at the summit on Thursday it doesn’t change the fact that Congress is the lead actor. The Obama legislative decision process is once again seen regarding jobs:
1. Be bugged by members of Congress, the NAACP, the Urban League and others on the jobs crisis.
2. Wait.
3. Call for a wider discussion of experts.
4. Wait.
5. Mandate that Congress does something.
6. Wait for them to do it.
Hopefully they won’t delay plans to wait and see what the White House dog and pony will be. Do yourself a favor and ignore the White House summit on Thursday and pay attention to Capitol Hill where the decisions on cold hard cash are made. Focus in on Charlie Rangel and David Obey on Tuesday and Wednesday as President Obama announces a troop increase (read: big fat cash outlay) for Afghanistan. If there is no cash to be found on troops for Afghanistan then there is no cash to be found for a jobs bill. This reality indicates why members are already signaling that the stimulus cash should be focused (or refocused?) on jobs.
