Report: Democratic districts received nearly twice the amount of stimulus funds as GO

[Revmitchell]

A new analysis of the $157 billion distributed by the American Reinvestment and Recovery act, popularly known as the stimulus bill, shows that the funds were distributed without regard for what states were most in need of jobs.

“You would think that if the stimulus money was actually spent to create jobs, there would be more stimulus money spent in high unemployment states,” said Veronique de Rugy, a scholar at the Mercatus Center who produced the analysis. "But we don't find any correlation."

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia is one of the nation's most respected economic and regulatory think tanks and has a Nobel prize-winning economist on staff. The econometric analysis was done using data provided by Recovery.gov -- the government website devoted to tracking the stimulus data -- as well as a host of other government databases.

Additionally, Mercatus found that stimulus funds were not disbursed geographically with any special regard for low-income Americans. “We find no correlation between economic indicators and stimulus funding. Preliminary results find no statistically significant effect of unemployment, median income or mean income on stimulus funds allocation,” said the report.

More Here

 

[Salty]

Politics as usual

 

[targus]

This is no surprise.

One of the biggest reasons that politicians want our money is to use it to buy votes and influence.

The stimulus bill was designed to be one big Democrat slush fund.

 

[Salty]

This is no surprise.

One of the biggest reasons that politicians want our money is to use it to buy votes and influence.

The stimulus bill was designed to be one big Democrat slush fund.

Both parties do it. Thats why incumbents continue to win.

 

[Revmitchell]

Both parties do it. Thats why incumbents continue to win.

The difference here is it was passed as economic stimulus. Anyway no one should ever do it.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Actually, infrastructure projects are where the most people are concentrated...e.g. cities. Cities tend to skew more Democratic than rural areas. Hence, the net effect may be what you report, but it may not be politics, but rather a correlation between population centers and infrastructure. But of course, the conspiracy nuts only see what they hope to find.

 

[Revmitchell]

Ah yes the famous "infrastructure" the liberal catchall for all things marxist. But that does not cut it.

A new analysis of the $157 billion distributed by the American Reinvestment and Recovery act, popularly known as the stimulus bill, shows that the funds were distributed without regard for what states were most in need of jobs.

“You would think that if the stimulus money was actually spent to create jobs, there would be more stimulus money spent in high unemployment states,” said Veronique de Rugy, a scholar at the Mercatus Center who produced the analysis. "But we don't find any correlation."

 

[KenH]

This money would have never been borrowed to spend in the first place if the federal government followed the federal constitution.

 

[Salty]

This money would have never been borrowed to spend in the first place if the federal government followed the federal constitution.

But did they "borrow" it or just print it?

either way I agree with you

 

[KenH]

It added to the national debt.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Ah yes the famous "infrastructure" the liberal catchall for all things marxist. But that does not cut it.

Your partisanship has surely taken what is left of your vision. Infrastructure is not a "Marxist catchall". It is roads, bridges, networks, utilities, etc. In the Denver area, there are much needed road repairs being done, and people being put back to work on these projects.

 

[Revmitchell]

Your partisanship has surely taken what is left of your vision. Infrastructure is not a "Marxist catchall". It is roads, bridges, networks, utilities, etc. In the Denver area, there are much needed road repairs being done, and people being put back to work on these projects.

First infrastructure is used by marxists as a catchall excuse for whatever spending you all want. Second this money is being spent in areas that largely prop up dems. And third it does nothing to stimulate the economy as has been proven thus far.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

First infrastructure is used by marxists as a catchall excuse for whatever spending you all want. Second this money is being spent in areas that largely prop up dems. And third it does nothing to stimulate the economy as has been proven thus far.

Any data to support these wild assertions? Or just more of your blathering.

 

[Revmitchell]

Any data to support these wild assertions? Or just more of your blathering.

I know you have not been around much but it has been posted over and over again. Look through Current News.

 

[targus]

Actually, infrastructure projects are where the most people are concentrated...e.g. cities. Cities tend to skew more Democratic than rural areas. Hence, the net effect may be what you report, but it may not be politics, but rather a correlation between population centers and infrastructure. But of course, the conspiracy nuts only see what they hope to find.

Infrastructure projects spending was only 7% of the 787 billion dollar scam.

It's a giant sluch fund designed to buy votes and influence.

 

[targus]

BTW - whatever happened to citizens being able to track "every dime" spent?

You know, like "the one" promised?

 

[Aaron]

But did they "borrow" it or just print it?

The government doesn't print money. The Federal Reserve prints fiat money, and the government borrows it.

 

[Salty]

The government doesn't print money. The Federal Reserve prints fiat money, and the government borrows it.

Thats like saying do you buy groceries on a maxed out credit card or with a bounce check - either way....

 

[billwald]

The Bureau of Printing and Engraving is under the Secretary of the Treasury.

About 2% of money in circulation is folding paper. Half of that is outside the country.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Most of the money supply is bits and bytes on computers, and is not physical paper money or coinage.