Consumer Reports Morning Update[SIZE=-1]
Economic Stimulus Bill:
President Obama and Republicans in the Senate have agreed to try to agree on the stimulus plan, which the Senate should take up next week. (Reuters)
The debate in Washington seems to be shifting to the speed and efficiency with which the government can distribute relief once a bill is passed. (New York Times)
But the Congressional Budget Office is indicating speeding up the spending won't be easy. (MarketWatch)
What's in: $141 billion for schools and colleges (USA Today); $50 million for the arts (NY Times); grants for broadband Internet expansion and digital TV transition (PC Mag)
The president voiced his frustrations Thursday at Wall Street executives taking huge bonuses, calling them "the height of irresponsibility." Could this be the end of bonuses on Wall Street? (Bloomberg)
Here's a buzzword everyone should learn in these tough economic times: Spartaneity. What does it mean? Combine the frugality, simplicity, and luxury-avoiding behavior that form the common meaning of spartan with the spur-of-the-moment behavior that's synonymous with spontaneity. (CR Home & Garden blog)
Healthcare Reform:
The Senate passed a bill that will provide health insurance to 11 million low-income children. The House approved its version of the legislation earlier this month, and President Obama is expected to sign a final version as early as next week. (Washington Post)
Paul Krugman's column today asks why the Obama administration has been silent so far on its promise of guaranteeing health care for all Americans. Krugman raises, and then attempts to debunk, three reasons: It's too expensive, it's not a priority and it's just bad political timing. (New York Times)
Salmonella Outbreak:
Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will hold hearings on the salmonella outbreak linked to tainted peanut products. As many as 530 people people have been sickened so far. (Newsday)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro has asked the Justice Department to look into criminal prosecution of the company which has been linked to the tainted peanut products. (CR)
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act:
The National Association of Manufacturers has asked the CPSC to delay implementation deadlines of the CPSIA, which was passed to keep lead out of children's products. The manufacturers group says companies are unprepared to meet a February 10 deadline. (Journal of Commerce)
Digital TV Transition:
After the House failed to push through a delay on the DTV transition date, the Senate on Thursday passed a second version of the legislation which would move the transition deadline to June 12. The new version will go back to the House and could be up for a vote by next week. (Broadcast Newsroom)
For The Weekend:
It's time for some football. Get a head start on your Super Bowl watching with a guide to HDTVs, HDTV services and, of course, the commercials. (CR Electronics blog)
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