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Craig Crawford

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Unspent Stimulus?

Posted: 08/09/11 06:56 PM ET

With talk of another recession afoot, why is President Obama hoarding stimulus money? Almost $123 billion of the original $787 billion in funding authorized two years ago still hasn't been spent.

Explanations range from the vagaries of local bidding and permit issues to uncertainty among federal officials about where the money should go.

If ever there was a time for the bully pulpit, you'd think Obama would seize it and "bully" states, localities and his own administration into putting the rest of this money to work.

PR Failure: Stimulus projects are not labeled as such. Instead, construction sites feature signs proclaiming the "Recovery and Reinvestment Act." Although the official title, this omits the label more commonly known: Stimulus. As a result untold numbers of Americans are seeing improvements in their neighborhoods with no idea that Obama's stimulus package deserves the credit.

Source: Recovery.gov


Now on Craig's blog: A Presidential Miscue (When NOT to give an economic pep talk)

 
 
 

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07:35 AM on 08/10/2011
The money is spent but slow in being paid out. Actually, there has been effort and PR on this subject.
http://www.propublica.org/article/stimulus-spending-likely-to-make-administrations-goal
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
edejan
01:12 AM on 08/10/2011
The Dems have a massive and consistent failure to market themselves.
photo
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John D Rachel
An expat living in Japan writing a new novel
08:11 PM on 08/09/2011
Obama is the Kamikaze President. Fasten your seat belts. The landing will be rough.