Can someone tell me: What in world is a Job Saved or Created? What does that mean? How Do you define it? Is it Tangible?
ABC News discovered that the jobs list by states on the Recovery.gov website are located in Congressional districts that do not exist. Well imagine that. For example: 30 jobs saved or created in the 15th Congressional District at a cost of “$761,420 in federal stimulus spending.
There is one teeny,tiny problem the Arizona 15th Congressional District does not exist.
ABC News found many inaccuracies on the Recovery.gov site. Late Monday, officials who run the website attribute the cause to human error.
“We report what the recipients submit to us,” said Ed Pound, Communications Director for the Board.
Recovery.gov receives information from state and federal agencies, public colleges and universities on what programs funded.
“Some recipients clearly don’t know what congressional district they live in, so they seem to be just throwing in any number. We expected all along that recipients would make mistakes on their congressional districts, on jobs numbers, on award amounts, and so on. Human beings make mistakes,” Pound said.
Reaction from Congress was anger and frustration. U.S. Representative David Obey(D-WI) Chairman of the House appropriations Committee, issues a written statement demanding the Recovery.gov site corrected and updated.
“The inaccuracies on recovery.gov that have come to light are outrageous and the Administration owes itself, the Congress, and every American a commitment to work night and day to correct the ludicrous mistakes.”
Another citation was $34 million to the Navajo Housing Authority in the 86th Congressional district. Again the congressional district does not exists. In fact, ABC News cites several incidents from the recovery.gov website.
In Oklahoma, recovery.gov lists more than $19 million in spending — and 15 jobs created — in yet more congressional districts that don’t exist.
In Iowa, it shows $10.6 million spent – and 39 jobs created — in nonexistent districts.
In Connecticut’s 42nd district (which also does not exist), the Web site claims 25 jobs created with zero stimulus dollars.
The list of spending and job creation in fictional congressional districts extends to U.S. territories as well.
$68.3 million spent and 72.2 million spent in the 1st congressional district of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
$8.4 million spent and 40.3 jobs created in the 99th congressional district of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
$1.5 million spent and .3 jobs created in the 69th district and $35 million for 142 jobs in the 99th district of the Northern Mariana Islands.
$47.7 million spent and 291 jobs created in Puerto Rico’s 99th congressional district.
The Recovery.gov website created to give information on the $787 billion stimulus bill to show to foster greater accountability and transparency”.
Here’s a clue President Obama fire your economic advisers they do not have your best interest at heart. Peter Orzag, Christina Romer most go. The $787 billion stimulus package does not work. Shovel ready jobs does not exist. This administration along with the Democratic congress supposed to create infrastructure jobs where are the jobs and why unemployment rate continues grow(albeit at slower rate).
Look I understand that unemployment is a lagging indicator but The White House and Congress promised the Unemployment rate would not reach eight Percent we are now nine month out we are at 10.2 percent and growing.
We fooled by this stimulus package. The remaining funds will be distributed in the third quarter of 2010 to protect Democrats for the November election. Time to start over tax cuts and tax credits which gives employers incentives to hire the growing ranks of the Unemployed.
A job summit sounds good but we need action with results. Employers need feel confident to take that risk. Until then Jobs will continue to disappear and hope and change has become fear and disillusionment
ABC News