STIMULUS WATCH: Early road aid leaves out neediest
The Associated Press: STIMULUS WATCH: Early road aid leaves out neediest.
Federal auditors acknowledge they can’t yet track the transportation money that is leaving Washington and there is no single list of the thousands of projects planned in each state. For its analysis, the AP used lists of projects approved through March by the Transportation Department and collected lists of stimulus projects that have been announced in 49 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Federal officials have approved 2,800 projects. The remaining projects on the AP list represent the states’ official plans for the money. Only Virginia, which has not announced its plan, is not included.
As the number of projects grows, places like Elk County, Pa., could still be left out because they could not afford the upfront costs needed to put proposals in the pipeline.
“It’s all based on this ’shovel readiness,’” said Elk County Commissioner Daniel Freeburg. “That’s been our stumbling block.”………..
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For now, laid-off workers in Elk County, Pa., question why they’ve missed out, while money flows to more prosperous places.
“Why are they helping them?” asked Wendy Cameron, 50, of Saint Marys, Pa., who lost her job in a metal factory last year. She doesn’t have health insurance and would gladly take road work. “They’re not in need. We are.
“What are these people going to do? Is everybody going to go on welfare? I’ve never been on welfare. I don’t want to be on welfare.”
Unless the residents of PA are related to Murtha, or have given heavily to his re-election campaigns, they are screwed!
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May 11, 2009 - 11:20 AM on May 11th, 2009
[...] Right Voices: “Unless the residents of PA are related to Murtha, or have given heavily to his re-election campaigns, they are screwed!” [...]
May 12, 2009 - 04:41 AM on May 12th, 2009
The mainstream media wouldn’t do it. So we are trying to get your important messages to the American people. 21 This post is a suggested read at, http://aresay.blogspot.com/