Miscounting of stimulus jobs cuts two ways

[snookums1]

Confusion over Office of Management and Budget stimulus reporting guidelines has led to under-counting -- in addition to already reported over-counting -- of jobs saved or created by the Recovery Act, according to an analysis by Government Executive.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1109/111009rb1.htm

[Lady_Jean_La]

No matter which way it cuts, it sure lessens faith in the government. Where's the change?:confused:

[fiver]

Confusion over Office of Management and Budget stimulus reporting guidelines has led to under-counting -- in addition to already reported over-counting -- of jobs saved or created by the Recovery Act, according to an analysis by Government Executive.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1109/111009rb1.htm


OH, so it's just a big fat GUESS.

Well that certainly makes that mulit million dollar website well worth every penny of tax payer money spent on it.

[snookums1]

No matter which way it cuts, it sure lessens faith in the government. Where's the change?:confused: The problem is that the contractors that had to report filled out the reports wrong. They first turned them into the governors of the states where the jobs took place. The governors were supposed to check them and then turn them in. So since none of that was done right, the federal government is now in the process of checking to see what the correct figures are.

[juliekan]

So if a report is not filled out correctly, the government doesn't even know WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SENT THE MONEY? (location, business, etc.) :confused:

[juliekan]

sheesh yerself

i am addressing the OP. The government should be able to track where the money went and what it was spent on. Obviously, they are incapable.

[snookums1]

So if a report is not filled out correctly, the government doesn't even know WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SENT THE MONEY? (location, business, etc.) :confused: How do you think the money was allocated? Have you not read anything about the stimulus program? Every state has a website and every paper and newsmedia has explained it. I suggest instead of commenting on something you apparently know nothing about, it might be a tad wiser to read about the subject. Just a suggestion. Your state should have a website. Or you could google it.

[snookums1]

Here is the link the the Pennsylvania website. It explains the entire procedure. Each state got the money and they were to keep track of it. Here is what Pennsylvania has done and is doing with their share.

http://www.recovery.pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/recovery_pa_gov/5994

[juliekan]

I am informed about it. I was trying to point out that the government is incorrectly posting WHERE the money went and WHAT it was spent on. Which should not happen if the government was taking care of the distribution of our tax money. jmo

[snookums1]

And here is the link to PA's November report.

http://www.recovery.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_60654_6019_505729_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/marketingsites/recovery_pa_gov/content/reports/reports_list/arra_expenditure_report_as_of_11_12_09.pdf

The money was given to the states. The Governor of each state is the responsible person. Each state is supposed to have an oversight committee. Oh, and by the way, it was not given in one lump sum and there is still a lot to come.

[snookums1]

I am informed about it. I was trying to point out that the government is incorrectly posting WHERE the money went and WHAT it was spent on. Which should not happen if the government was taking care of the distribution of our tax money. jmo

By going to my states website, I can find out exactly what it is being spent on. I can also find out who the contractors are. I can find out how many people were hired for each job. And for green projects, I can even find out how much the future savings will be. This is just a sampling snipped for bandwidth:

Adams County
Borough of Gettysburg - $250,000 to upgrade the municipal building’s
heating system, the roofing system, the lighting system, and the windows
and entry doors. In addition, installation of correct vapor barriers,
waterproofing and drainage barriers will address existing moisture
penetration issues. Energy consumption will be reduced by 38 percent.
Total kilowatt hours saved: 36,480
Total MCF saved: 81,360
Allegheny County
Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments - $483,800 to replace 434
traffic signal heads and 60 street light fixtures with LED technology. Energy
savings will be 80 percent plus additional municipal savings in maintenance
and replacement costs.
Total kilowatt hours saved: 14,724,120
Allegheny County Airport Authority - $249,422 to replace existing High
Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting fixtures in passenger pickup and passenger
drop-off areas of Pittsburgh International Airport with high efficiency Light
Emitting Diode (LED) lighting fixtures and related mountings from a
Pennsylvania LED lighting company.
Total kilowatts saved: 4,448,910

I am really sorry if your state is not following the guidelines. My state is.

[snookums1]

I can even see every school district in the state and how much they got and what it was to be used for:

Chartiers Valley SD
Counties
Allegheny
Estimated Total Funding Amount
$1,316,530
Funding Recipient(s)
Funding Targeted to Low-Income Students
Amount:
$197,400 (ARRA)
Special Education Funding
Amount:
$486,300 (ARRA)
Educational Technology Funding
Amount:
$7,900 (ARRA)
2009-10 State Basic Education Funding Formula Increase
Amount:
$412,430 (ARRA)
Fiscal Stabilization Grants
Amount:
$212,500 (ARRA)


Every state was supposed to do that.

[snookums1]

This is an example of work on a bridge:

Ft. Duquesne Bridge Rehab
Bridge Restoration and approach work of Ft. Duquesne Bridge in City of Pittsburgh
Project Status 24%
Counties
Allegheny
Municipalities
Pittsburgh
Project Schedule
Construction Start Date
2009-07-07
Estimated Complete Date
2010-10-29
Estimated Total Funding Amount
$26,280,000
Funding Recipient(s)
Trumbull Corporation
Amount:
$23,372,232 (ARRA)
Sub-Recipient(s)
Parking Lot Painting Company
Rampart Hydro Services L.P.
Safety Grooving & Grinding, LP
Adams Petroleum Products, Inc.
Superior Painting Co Inc
Swank Associated Companies, Inc.
Amelie Construction & Supply, LLC
Green Acres Contracting Co., Inc.
Bruce - Merrilees Electric Company
Beth's Barricades
Power Contracting Co

Inspection
M.J. Mctish And Associates, Inc. D/B/A Mctish, Kunkel & Associates
Amount:
$2,131,786 (ARRA)

Estimated Jobs Created/Retained
191
Primary State Route
0279
Average Daily Traffic
85140


So you see, if people really wanted to know where the money is going and what it is being used for, all they have to do is look it up. It would make more sense than claiming no one knows where it is going.

[snookums1]

http://recovery.ohio.gov/

http://www.recovery.ny.gov/

http://stimulusaccountability.ga.gov/02/gov/stimulus/home/0,2804,134245182,00.html

Well, every state I have tried so far has a web site showing how much money they have received, what it is being used on etc. All one has to do is google and they can see what the money is being spent on and see how many jobs it has created in their state. And besides jobs, just think how much safer you will feel crossing a bridge that has been repaired, how much kinder to your tires and back a newly paved road will be, and the list goes on and on.

[theal3]

Great data here for jobless stats: interactive graph.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/06/business/economy/unemployment-lines.html

[snookums1]

Great data here for jobless stats: interactive graph.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/06/business/economy/unemployment-lines.html I sometimes wonder if some groups weren't targeted. At least in this recession I am not eating browned flour gravy over bisquits and calling it a meal. I was in the Reagan recession. But then, I realize that some are doing what I did in the Bush recession and I not only feel for them, I donate to food banks so they can eat better.

[theal3]

I sometimes wonder if some groups weren't targeted. At least in this recession I am not eating browned flour gravy over bisquits and calling it a meal. I was in the Reagan recession. But then, I realize that some are doing what I did in the Bush recession and I not only feel for them, I donate to food banks so they can eat better.

That interactive graph, if you "play" with it shows the 10% rate all media preach about, is for all men and women, but if you put in by race or even age and education, it shows, whites are around 5 or 6 % or even 8 depending on education, it's the minorities black and hispanics that cause the overall rate to be 10% I agree the Reagan recession was far worse, I had 3 kids at the time, 2 in junior high and and toddler.... and HAD to go back to work sooner than I planned, and since my husband was a teacher, there were salary freezes, on top of Regan's hike in SS% for employers and employees, and only could find part-time work. And we too donate to local food banks more since last years. I think it's far worse for families now, than in Reagan years, since wages haven't kept up with inflation, and the cost of heat, phones, and gasoline. Yikes that was over 20 years ago.

[beattherap]

That interactive graph, if you "play" with it shows the 10% rate all media preach about, is for all men and women, but if you put in by race or even age and education, it shows, whites are around 5 or 6 % or even 8 depending on education, it's the minorities black and hispanics that cause the overall rate to be 10% [snip].
the media "preach" about the unemployment rate being 10% ?... your use of the word "preach" is strange... trying to imply the ur isn't really 10.2 % ?...

stats for 10/09 indicate the ur for all whites is 9.5%, 9.9% for white men...

true, non-whites up the rate to above 10%... would you prefer the media "preach" the ur is below 10% if we exclude blacks.

imo.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

the media "preach" about the unemployment rate being 10% ?... your use of the word "preach" is strange... trying to imply the ur isn't really 10.2 % ?...

stats for 10/09 indicate the ur for all whites is 9.5%, 9.9% for white men...

true, non-whites up the rate to above 10%... would you prefer the media "preach" the ur is below 10% if we exclude blacks.

imo.

Total insanity, now the UR is a ploy for the media and the right. Simply insane!

[PosterGuy]

:laugh:

The administration gets busted, and now it supposedly "cuts both ways?":biggrin:

[fiver]

This is an example of work on a bridge:

Ft. Duquesne Bridge Rehab
Bridge Restoration and approach work of Ft. Duquesne Bridge in City of Pittsburgh
Project Status 24%
Counties
Allegheny
Municipalities
Pittsburgh
Project Schedule
Construction Start Date
2009-07-07
Estimated Complete Date
2010-10-29
Estimated Total Funding Amount
$26,280,000
Funding Recipient(s)
Trumbull Corporation
Amount:
$23,372,232 (ARRA)
Sub-Recipient(s)
Parking Lot Painting Company
Rampart Hydro Services L.P.
Safety Grooving & Grinding, LP
Adams Petroleum Products, Inc.
Superior Painting Co Inc
Swank Associated Companies, Inc.
Amelie Construction & Supply, LLC
Green Acres Contracting Co., Inc.
Bruce - Merrilees Electric Company
Beth's Barricades
Power Contracting Co

Inspection
M.J. Mctish And Associates, Inc. D/B/A Mctish, Kunkel & Associates
Amount:
$2,131,786 (ARRA)

Estimated Jobs Created/Retained
191
Primary State Route
0279
Average Daily Traffic
85140


So you see, if people really wanted to know where the money is going and what it is being used for, all they have to do is look it up. It would make more sense than claiming no one knows where it is going.

Huh?

"ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: The chairman of the Obama administration’s Recovery Board is telling lawmakers that he can’t certify jobs data posted at the Recovery.gov Web site -- and doesn’t have access to a “master list” of stimulus recipients that have neglected to report data."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/11/jobs-recovery-gov.html

The accounting of funds and jobs is a bunch of garbled numbers that cannot be verified. And how can anyone trust a website (Recovery.org) that says there are 875 Congressional Districts?

[fiver]

http://recovery.ohio.gov/

http://www.recovery.ny.gov/

http://stimulusaccountability.ga.gov/02/gov/stimulus/home/0,2804,134245182,00.html

Well, every state I have tried so far has a web site showing how much money they have received, what it is being used on etc. All one has to do is google and they can see what the money is being spent on and see how many jobs it has created in their state. And besides jobs, just think how much safer you will feel crossing a bridge that has been repaired, how much kinder to your tires and back a newly paved road will be, and the list goes on and on.


Except for the nagging fact that the jobs numbers are bogus.

And that billions have been poured into non-existent Congressional Districts.

[Lady_Jean_La]

The problem is that the contractors that had to report filled out the reports wrong. They first turned them into the governors of the states where the jobs took place. The governors were supposed to check them and then turn them in. So since none of that was done right, the federal government is now in the process of checking to see what the correct figures are.
I feel relieved that they explained it was human error. I was beginning to worry. imo

[Lady_Jean_La]

Except for the nagging fact that the jobs numbers are bogus.

And that billions have been poured into non-existent Congressional Districts.

Sometimes facts get in the way. Just enjoy the great web sites, aren't they pretty. imo

[fiver]

Sometimes facts get in the way. Just enjoy the great web sites, aren't they pretty. imo
I would have accuracy than aesthetics.


But you are right, they are down right purty.