STIMULUS WATCH: Early road aid leaves out neediest

Source: ap




http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guNAb2By3sueeeMXl9bWidVIwh1wD983T6D00


STIMULUS WATCH: Early road aid leaves out neediest

By MATT APUZZO and BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE – 7 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Counties suffering the most from job losses stand to receive the least help from President Barack Obama's plan to spend billions of stimulus dollars on roads and bridges, an Associated Press analysis has found.

Although the intent of the money is to put people back to work, AP's review of more than 5,500 planned transportation projects nationwide reveals that states are planning to spend the stimulus in communities where jobless rates are already lower.

One result among many: Elk County, Pa., isn't receiving any road money despite its 13.8 percent unemployment rate. Yet the military and college community of Riley County, Kan., with its 3.4 percent unemployment, will benefit from about $56 million to build a highway, improve an intersection and restore a historic farmhouse.

Altogether, the government is set to spend 50 percent more per person in areas with the lowest unemployment than it will in communities with the highest.

The AP reviewed $18.9 billion in projects, the most complete picture available of where states plan to spend the first wave of highway money. The projects account for about half of the $38 billion set aside for states and local governments to spend on roads, bridges and infrastructure in the stimulus plan.

The very promise that Obama made, to spend money quickly and create jobs, is locking out many struggling communities needing those jobs...................

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guNAb2By3sueeeMXl9bWidVIwh1wD983T6D00

---

There should be a mechanism if place to ensure that the neediest places get the cash.

And we're getting a wad of stimulus money. Guess what it's for.... to build a road for Monsanto. That's right - a new road to accommodate a new Monsanto plant - a road that goes nowhere.

It's just one outrage after another with this guy. After eight of the darkest years in our nation's history, nothing much has changed.

That means high growth communities, the ones that have the most need.

Still, many places that have been left behind need help, too, and have crumbling infrastructure. I wonder, though--if Obama gets Bubba a job, will he remember it, or will he continue to follow the blather on talk radio and Fox? I like to think folks will give the President credit where it is due, but I've been wrong before.

:kick:

As other noted, projects that were ready to roll got money first. Makes sense.

is to wait until EVERYBODY gets their plan together and submits it, and then some time in 2014 they can start assigning projects.

It's too bad that some of those communities weren't ready, but don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good.

What can we do better from here?

(often)

There is not a screaming need for new roads there. Elk County does, however need some type of new industry so that the few people who live there can find employment...but, road construction is not the problem!