Comedy Within Economic Stimulus?

The House version of the Senate's bill called "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" is somewhat comical, in a sense. At least in my opinion.

First, I read that "IN GENERAL.—None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for a project for the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a public building or public work unless all of the iron and steel used in the project is produced in the United States." Which is really great, yeah? But then there's this exception if "inclusion of iron and steel produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent." However, if that happens they will "publish in the Federal Register a detailed written justification as to why the provision is being waived.

Okay.

Next, "None of the funds provided by this Act may be made available to the State of Illinois, or any agency of the State, unless (1) the use of such funds by the State is approved in legislation enacted by the State after the date of the enactment of this Act, or (2) Rod R. Blagojevich no longer holds the office of Governor of the State of Illinois."

Now that's funny.

And I've only just begun reading this (I'm a terribly slow reader), so I'm sure I'll have more material on this later!