Stimulus, State Governor's, and Approval Ratings

Schwarzenegger is one of few GOP governors to praise stimulus plan Mercury News — Fresh from a resolution of the state's budget meltdown, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger retook the national spotlight as a bipartisan bridge-builder, completing a three-day trip here Monday with fresh praise for President Barack Obama's stimulus plan. "It's very important for the country that both parties pull together right now," the Republican governor said at a news conference. Referring to the economic crisis, he added: "We need to get the confidence of the people back." click to read complete article

Big stimulus bill sparks long-term fiscal fears Miami Herald — Despite all the White House hoopla Monday about "fiscal responsibility," Washington is showing little inclination to practice what it's preaching. The $787 billion stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed Feb. 17 adds an estimated $185 billion to the already-record federal deficit for fiscal 2009, pushing it up to about $1.4 trillion. That's a whopping 10 percent of the gross domestic product, the highest level since the end of World War II. click to read complete article

Most Americans support Obama's economic plan Reuters — Large majorities of Americans support U.S. President Barack Obama's plans to revive the economy and his efforts to work across party lines, according to a pair of public opinion polls released on Monday. One month into his presidency, a Washington Post-ABC News poll found 68 percent of Americans approve of Obama's job performance. click to read complete article