See The Stimulus In Action? Help HuffPost Follow The Money

In February, we asked HuffPost readers to help us dig through the stimulus bill, and hundreds of readers wrote in with great tips, including the news that a provision to extend health care coverage for some laid-off workers had been stripped from the Senate version of the legislation.

Now it's time for some follow up reporting. Money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going out to state and local governments, and we'd love if readers across the country could provide us with a view from the ground. Do you see shovels hitting the dirt? Is our money being spent wisely?

The blog at WhiteHouse.gov is keeping tabs on local news stories showcasing stimulus dollars at work -- adoption programs in Arkansas, green jobs in California, electronic health records in Florida -- but some stories might not make the cut. To wit: pieces like the Boston Globe's feature on backlash from local officials in Massachusetts who claim some poor school districts are being skipped over because of a state formula for doling out the money.

Send us local news stories, tips, rumors, anything you got. Email [e-mail].

Comments

[Brownbomber2]

I guess I just don't get it, how can you spend the amount of money this country is spending if you are as broke as we are supposed to be. Where is the money coming from? If I am broke, I either go to the bank to borrow money ( who is our bank), I open another credit card (to pay for the one I just maxed out) or I quit spending. What foreign country are we borrowing from and what do they expect in return. This makes me think of all the people taking out payday loans and paying exhorbitant interest just to get through the week because they have overspent their bank account. Opening another credit card, when I have already maxed out my other cards and overspent my bank account is not a good answer, most of the bankruptcies in this part of the country are because people are doing that very thing. Stop spending money, tough choice when I am trying to keep up with my neighbors and buy my kids $300 cell phones or the hottest new video game. Our country as a whole needs to rein in our spending, not just our government, although they need to be the first to stop. We can get along with less, as most of us have already learned, we don't like it because it has become our lifestyle and we like living like moving stars. see second half of post below

[Brownbomber2]

I am just as guilty as the next guy about wanting more than I can afford, although I have finally stopped and am trying not to get back in debt before I can pay off my home. I can drive an old car, wear clothes that are a couple years old, but I would rather not live in a tent somewhere or try to rent a house again. All the money I spent renting is gone forever and I had someone else dictating how I could live. I know everyone is going to say they have already cut all they can, but be honest with yourselves, have you really? Instead of a $300 cell phone, get a tracfone and don't talk so much. I spend about $300 a year. I used to spend a $100 a month for my cell phone. I have one 1998 vehicle and one 2002 vehicle and plan to own them for awhile longer. I wouldn't want to live like the Amish or the Mennonites with the horse and buggies, but they do not seem to be in trouble the way the rest of us are and if the banks collapse, they will still be able to survive and provide for their families. We could all take a lesson from them in not wanting more than we can afford. If we don't we are just going to be renters in this country and another country is going to be our landlord, dictating how we live!

[faicole]

I suggest you go to PBS.org and view the Frontline episode that aired yesterday (3/23). It does an excellent job of explaining our current financial crisis. We are in deep debt and going deeper. However, I think there is good debt and there is bad debt. Good debt (like a mortgage or a college education) pays off in the end. Investing in schools, infrastructure, clean energy and health care for our citizens is good debt that will pay for itself and bring a return in the long haul. War, jails, contracts to defense people won't.

I would also suggest you read "Free Lunch" by David Kay Johnston and you can get some suggestions regarding government policies that need to be changed. If corporations just PAID THEIR FAIR SHARE - not took profits offshore, not paid taxes to China at lower rates to prevent paying in the US - we could cut the deficit in the near future. Everybody has to be willing to do their part. And Americans have to realize we can't get everything for nothing; you can't cut taxes and pay for schools, health care, medicine for seniors etc. and not pay taxes. It won't - and doesn't - add up.

[Tugar]

RETIRED NOW, BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH "A TEMPORARY JOB" YOUR WORKING...

Some years ago, offered by the City to veterans returning from the Vietnam War, I myself was out of work and looking for a job when I was hired on the administrative staff to get others back to work with aid from the federal govt. Sure the jobs, (mine too) was: “TEMPORARY ! But I was kept on that payroll for over 2 years, then sent to another location operated by the city where I stayed on for another 4 years.

The Republicans are screaming Obama’s “Stimulus Pkg” is only offering ‘TEMPORARY” jobs. Sure, they are temporary, but they are jobs that will offer employment to hire Policemen, Firemen, Recreational Parks people etc.

I was just one of the people that found work at one time under an original public employment program (PEP) in my city that was funded by the federal gov’t.., and there was not a thing wrong with that. Many of the people hired under that program were later hired by the cities, once the cities became financially stable enough to hire them on their own payrolls. I went on to another city entity, only to go to Washington, DC later, where I was hired by the federal gov’t from where I retired.

SO TO THE GOP, ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS: If you don’t have a better solution, then just "ZIP IT" ! President Obama’s on the right track.

[cjt1957]

Let me see, I am paying for the house, down the street from mine, the credit cards from a family around the corner, don't get me started on what AIG is costing me. The 17,000 earmarks on the stimulus and buget, I got that in pocket change. The ATVs and RVs that were bought on home equity money, well that is costing me too.
15% Social security tax
8% sales tax
28% with holding tax
Unemployment insurance Tax
all those taxes in my phone bill
3% Property taxs
Fuel tax on gasoline
6% state income tax
How much more can we stand?

[nanooknw]

YOU are not alone. We are all paying. In one way or another we will continue to pay taxes.
If we did not have a government, you would not have to pay taxes. But, I don't think you would
like it much.

[davidwayneosedach]

How much is Senator Dodd lining his pocket with? Huff post should put the spot light on him.

[Rocket80]

I work for the city of Los Angeles and am getting tons of overtime due to 'stimulus package' projects. It's great!

Weird though because the city is currently about to begin a layoff process yet we are getting OT from the stimulus. Oh well, I'll take it. Now the question is, do I save it in fear of getting laid off, or spend it to help the economy...

Funny thing is, I'm against all these bailouts and stimulus packages yet am directly benefiting from them. You'd think I'd feel guilty, but I don't, because this is what the people of American demanded from their leadership, and it's what they are getting. Maybe this liberalism thing isn't so bad....

[ebanks84]

Cool...........

[SweetBabu]

This is from Philly. Great news for us!

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090304_The_money_train__SEPTA_upgrading_stations__adding_thousands_of_jobs_with_help_of_federal_stimulus_money.html

[albanianmomforobama]

Well...my husband got his unemployment extended. Does this count? Slow news day today I guess?

[YankinCanada]

I'm in Canada. If any makes it's way up here, I'll let ya know. In about 5 years!

[SOLERSO68]

here you go yankin canada

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/03/stimulus-dollars-maryland-100-hybrid-buses.php

[slowhand0728]

Crickets.....

[Lillopa]

Huffington Post would have to start in the beginning following the money of the last 8 years--were did $ 6 Trillion dollars go on?? Where did the surplus money go?

[SOLERSO68]

well to start with, a trillion dollars per year in upper class/ coporate tax cuts. that leaves us about a trillion in the hole without counting two wars. so, to answer your question, about 95% of the 6 trillion was handed over to the rich! now, add the several trillino spent on the wars and we're back in deep poo.

[calirighty]

Get a life. Giving someone a tax cut does not mean money was handed over to them. They earned the money so you need to get over your sense of entitlement. The top 25% of income earners in this country pay over 80% of all taxes. So I think your free ride is over and maybe you should start figuring out how to take care of yourself instead of expecting someone else to do it for you.