Included in that giveaway: $37 billion in public works spending on infrastructure (think pork and a lot of it), $15 billion in aid for states to pay their Medicaid bills, $6 billion to extend unemployment benefits and $3 billion for additional food stamps.

We'd like to ask the Speaker just which economic principle this stimulus package is based on.

If Congress is truly determined to stimulate the economy, then it should focus on legislation that would not cost taxpayers a dime, would not inflate the deficit and, above all, would actually achieve its intended purpose.

Washington has not settled on an amount, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to start with the $61 billion package already passed by the House and go from there.