Biden: Stimulus projects moving faster than expected

Biden: Stimulus projects moving faster than expected
McClatchy Newspapers






Vice President Joe Biden waves to the crowd as he walks onto the field to be AP – Vice President Joe Biden waves to the crowd as he walks onto the field to be enshrined into Little League's …
By Steven Thomma, McClatchy Newspapers Steven Thomma, Mcclatchy Newspapers – 2 hrs 51 mins ago

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden will claim Thursday that the $787 billion stimulus plan "is doing more, faster, more efficiently, and more effectively than we had hoped."

In a speech planned to mark the 200-day mark since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was approved, Biden will say that $62.5 billion in tax cuts have been delivered, $1.9 billion contracts have been awarded to small businesses, and more than 10,000 transportation projects approved.

In many areas, he'll say that work has exceeded goals:

— Work has started on 2,200 highway projects, for example, 700 more than the expected at this stage.

— Work's also started on 192 airport projects, 94 more than scheduled.

— Health care centers in all 50 states are providing expanded health care to 500,000 patients, 200,000 more than forecast.

Biden also will say that several planned projects are on schedule.

with a freelance writing assignment or a part time job. Sigh.