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Here's a stimulus success story: In Arizona's 15th congressional district, 30 jobs have been saved or created with just $761,420 in federal stimulus spending. At least that's what the Web site set up by the Obama administration to track the $787 billion stimulus says.
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There's one problem, though: There is no 15th congressional district in Arizona; the state has only eight districts.
And ABC News has found many more entries for projects like this in places that are incorrectly identified.
Late Monday, officials with the Recovery Board created to track the stimulus spending, said the mistakes in crediting nonexistent congressional districts were caused by human error.
"We report what the recipients submit to us," said Ed Pound, Communications Director for the Board.
Pound told ABC News the board receives declarations from the recipients - state governments, federal agencies and universities - of stimulus money about what program is being funded.
"Some recipients clearly don't know what congressional district they live in, so they appear 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.
The issue has raised hackles on Capitol Hill.
Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc, who chairs the powerful House appropriations Committee, issued a paper statement demanding that the recovery.gov Web site be 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."
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ABC News was able to locate several examples on the government's Web site outlining hundreds of millions of dollars spent and jobs created in Congressional districts that have been misidentified.
For example, recovery.gov says $34 million in stimulus money has been spent in Arizona's 86th congressional district in a project for the Navajo Housing authority, which is actually located in the 1st congressional district.
Click Here to Track the $787 Billion Stimulus Plan
The reporting problems are not limited to Arizona, ABC News found.
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.
Last edited by flintgauge; 11-17-2009 at 12:19 PM.
Once again, this was bound to happen w/ state and locals self reporting. It's a mess.
It's a mess and designed that way on purpose so the administration cannot lose. I can't believe there are people who actually believe what's on recovery.gov. I can believe the administration blows it's own c*ck and points out that web site as some sort of proof. Certainly they must know the problems they designed into it and that it will never come close to the actual number of jobs created (or saved lol). That thing is a joke.
It's purposefully designed to massively exaggerate the number of jobs the joke of a stimulus package has been responsible for creating.
Damn Fox News and its Conservative agenda zing Obama again.... oh wait... nevermind
LOL ... I know ... what are the libbies who love to attack the sources to protect the Dems going to say? They can't blame Fox. They can't blame Beck. They can't blame Rush. Lets see how they spin this to be Bush's fault. Or will they just say ... "errors are bound to happen". They need to wipe the Liberal ******** out of their eyes.
Errors are bound to happen...when you use a ridiculous reporting technique. This just means/proves that the use of any stat off that site is no better and likely worse that using a random number generator to guess at it
Plus much of the aid was under the umbrella of relief to the states --- especially w/ the infrastructure, stabilization fund (education), and FMAP. But that gets back to my "self reporting" point since the authors thought the quickest way to deliver funds was to provide most of this money directly to the state and locals so they could spend it on what they wish (under existing authorizations, for example, the current highway bill). But the other reason to give it directly to the state/locals was to take the criticism of earmarks off of the table.
Errors are bound to happen...when you use a ridiculous reporting technique. This just means/proves that the use of any stat off that site is no better and likely worse that using a random number generator to guess at it
Or course there are errors bound to happen ... like pretty much every estimate the government puts out. They have failed miserably at projecting costs of social programs ... how could you possibly expect them to correctly predict job savings?
Where is the Obama can do no wrong crowd? Oh wait, he messed up royally.
If Obama owned and operated the site himself, as well as collected the data used, I say you have a point. You seem to indicate that the Admionistration made these numbers up themselves... do you really think that?
I mean, its noty like states dont intentionally inflate numbers so that they can continue getting money from the federal govt...
__________________ Gun Totin' Liberals: Left of Center But Always on Target
LOL ... typical liberal stance. **** the costs. Lets rebuild a 100k house for 400k instead of buying a new one. Its asinine and borderline insane.
Again, the costs being high was the entire point. The government is taking over for the American consumer to keep money moving. Being cheap or being frugal is counterproductive to this style of economic stimulus.
I'm not debating the validity of the program. I'm telling you how the program is designed to work and what it's supposed to accomplish.
Exclusive: Jobs 'Saved or Created' in Congressional Districts That Don't Exist
