They just can’t help themselves
The massive economic stimulus package President Obama pushed through Congress last year is coming in on time and under budget – and with strikingly few claims of fraud or abuse – according to a White House report to be released Friday.
Shocking! The White House giving itself and A+ for legislation that Americans are vastly against, was the last straw that led to the rise of the TEA Party, has not kept unemployment below 8% as promised, and, oh, look, fraud and abuse claims
- Federal investigators have received more than 730 allegations of waste or fraud in stimulus act funding so far, have canceled the contracts of some bad actors and have sent a couple of dozen cases to the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and prosecutors.
- Already, federal investigators are finding evidence of bid rigging in Recovery Act contracts for the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, CNN has learned.
- Weeks after rampant fraud was exposed in a welfare program to make low-income houses energy efficient in Wisconsin, a similar example of widespread corruption has surfaced in Texas.
Those are just three out of tons of examples, not too mention that the entire Stimulus was basically a fraud.
By the end of September, the administration had spent 70 percent of the act’s original $787 billion, which met a White House goal of quickly pumping money into the nation’s ravaged economy, the report says. The administration also met nearly a dozen deadlines set by Congress for getting money out the door.
Supposedly, the recession ended in June 2009, before the majority of Stimulus spending even got going, yet, even if We The People believe that the recession ended then, we see a general malaise within the nation, which the Stimulus failed to alleviate in the 13 months since the supposed end of the recession. Unfortunately, not everyone is capable or qualified to build a road. Or road sign touting the project as part of Obama’s (outsourced) Stimulus plan.
Many prominent economists agree with that assessment. The CBO has forecast that the package may be on track to meet the administration’s goal of preserving 3.5 million jobs by the end of the year.
Interesting that that number has not changed. If the Stimulus was so Sharktopus awesome, why didn’t it create even more jobs? Of course, as the Stimulus ends, so many of those jobs created/saved will go away, since there is no more money. States are in dire straights: with so many people out of work, not buying property (homes, boats, cars are the biggies), and concerned, they see their revenue from income tax, property tax, and sales tax dropping through the floor. So they can’t pay to keep all those workers, such as teachers, police officers, and fire fighters.
Congressional Republicans and many conservatives challenge those claims, arguing that the stimulus package led to record budget deficits while doing little to improve the economy. With the unemployment rate stuck at 9.6 percent, polls show that about two-thirds of voters agree with that view.
The one little bright spot of reality in what is essentially a press release story. If the Stimulus was so great, why is unemployment so high? Why is spending down? Why do Republican voters have a 20 point lead over Democrats on enthusiasm for voting? Why is U.S. satisfaction among adults at 19%? Even Democrats are worried (39%). Why do 63% of respondents see the country as heading down the wrong track?
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU. Re-Change 2010!
1/3 of the stimulus went to tac breaks and 1/3 went to the states to keep paying salaries of cops firemen and teachers
And how’d those short term “breaks” do, John? The market is doing ok, but the average American is not.
[…] William Teach reminds us: […]
1/3 went to the states to keep paying salaries of cops firemen and teachers
Once again your lack of math skills are in doubt.
The stimulus provided a little over 38 billion for teachers, new school construction and the “No Child Left Behind” program.
Cops and Fireman got $10 billion.
That means that less than $50 went of almost $800 billion went to the areas you cite.
One third of $800 billion is $267 billion.
How is it that in your world, $50 billion equals $250 billion?
1/3 of the stimulus went to tac breaks
So letting the people keep money they should most likely never have to have paid in the first place is a “break?”
Only in the mind of a leftist.
And why did that help Johnny? Unsustainable salaries are not going to miraculously become sustainable, simply because democrats are giving away (other people’s) money like they are wont to do. It only suspends reality for a brief time. And then, the problem still has to be resolved. Cut spending, cut jobs and cut some services. WAdmittedly none of that is popular and none of it will be painless. But it’s gotten so out of control, and stimulating it for a brief period is only extending the inevitable for another agonizing period. It’s time that the Demorats GROW UP…and become responsible.
tax breaks?!!?!? Seriously? WHERE?!
I’m a low income wage earner. I didn’t get one. My parent’s didn’t get a tax break. I still pay the same taxes as I did in 2009 and 2008.
Why do I still pay the same since 2008!?!? Because my employer can’t afford to give raises. They haven’t been for the last 4 years.
This whole Stimulus thing is a lie, based on lies, built on lies, and spews lies all around. What else can one expect from liberals?
OH, and John, if this Stimulus paid for firemen and cop’s salaries… then why did they have to pass a .. what was it…. $50 billion extra stimulus for teachers and firemen?