2/5 Executive Session - Any Nominations Cleared for Action; SD-430, 2:00 p.m.

Or another way to pose the question is "what kind of recovery do we want?" And I would suggest that it cannot be just another massive fiscal "stimulus" that props up the wealthiest and maintains the nation's vast economic disparities. Economics is now political in the sense that there is a popular political consensus to direct fiscal recovery to productive areas that will benefit those at the bottom as well as the productive middle-class: quality, affordable housing; upgraded schools and school systems; energy, technology and infrastructure investment, both public and private.

And, perhaps it is time to consider a new institution (or set of institutions) to direct this fiscal investment, rather than leaving the political decisions in the hands of Fed and Treasury ala Bush et al.