The US House of Representatives interrupted its summer recess last week to pass, with a bogus sense of drama, an inconsequential spending bill. The measure, already passed by the Senate, gave money to the states to maintain teacher and public-service payrolls, which was good, but covered the cost with savings elsewhere and corporate tax increases, making its stimulus value minimal. That such a timid initiative should have divided and paralysed Congress for weeks is the most disappointing thing of all.
美國眾議院上周中斷了夏季休會期,帶著一絲做戲的味道,通過了一項無足輕重的支出議案。此項議案已獲參議院批準,具體內容是要向各州撥款,用作教師和公職人員的薪資。這確實不錯,但由于相關經費來自增加企業稅收以及從其它地方節省下來的資金,所以刺激效果微乎其微。而最令人失望的是,這樣一項小措施竟然讓國會分裂和癱瘓了好幾周。