Dissent over stimulus plan

The libertarian-minded Cato Institute reports that it has taken out a full-page ad in the New York Times and other publications in opposition to the President Obama's plan to employ a massive stimulus package to jump start the national economy.

The ad is signed by dozens by economists and argues that a repeat New Deal won't save the economy. Cato maintains that the New Deal did not end solve the Great Depression.

"As such, it is a triumph of hope over experience to believe that more government spending will help the U.S. today. To improve the economy, policymakers should focus on reforms that remove impediments to work, saving, investment and production. Lower tax rates and a reduction in the burden of government are the best ways of using fiscal policy to boost growth,"
reads the advertisement.

Several local officials seem to have signed on to the stimulus plan. Representatives from San Bernardino, Fontana, Rialto, Barstow and other local governments attended a recent meeting convened by Rep. Joe Baca in order to propose various projects that could be worthy of stimulus funding.