Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08

**busyLivin** · 07-09-2009, 10:42 PM

WASHINGTON — Billions of dollars in federal aid delivered directly to the local level to help revive the economy have gone overwhelmingly to places that supported President Obama in last year's presidential election.
That aid — about $17 billion — is the first piece of the administration's massive stimulus package that can be tracked locally. Much of it has followed a well-worn path to places that regularly collect a bigger share of federal grants and contracts, guided by formulas that have been in place for decades and leave little room for manipulation.

"There's no politics at work when it comes to spending for the recovery," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says.

Counties that supported Obama last year have reaped twice as much money per person from the administration's $787 billion economic stimulus package as those that voted for his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, a USA TODAY analysis of government disclosure and accounting records shows. That money includes aid to repair military bases, improve public housing and help students pay for college.

The reports show the 872 counties that supported Obama received about $69 per person, on average. The 2,234 that supported McCain received about $34.

Investigators who track the stimulus are skeptical that political considerations could be at work. The imbalance is so pronounced — and the aid so far from complete — that it would be almost inconceivable for it to be the result of political tinkering, says Adam Hughes, the director of federal fiscal policy for the non-profit OMB Watch. "Even if they wanted to, I don't think the administration has enough people in place yet to actually do that," he says.

"Most of what they're doing at this point is just stamping the checks and sending them out," Hughes says.

The stimulus package Obama signed in February includes about $499 billion in new spending, and to date, the Obama administration has allocated about $158 billion to specific projects and programs. Most of that money has gone directly to state governments, which then disperse the money to prevent school layoffs, repair roads and fund social services. That contrasts with the $17 billion that Washington distributes directly to local communities.

Including the larger chunk of money given to state governments, the aid favors states that voted for Obama, which have received about 20% more per person

Not all of the money favors places that supported Obama. About a third of the $17 billion, or $5.5 billion, in contracts that the federal government has signed for projects ranging from repaving runways to cleaning up nuclear waste has gone overwhelmingly to counties that supported McCain.

Jake Wiens, an investigator with the non-profit Project on Government Oversight, says it's too soon to draw meaningful conclusions about whether the type of aid in the stimulus favors Obama's constituents.

But, he says, "it will be important to pay close attention as the data come in to ensure that political favoritism plays no role."

The imbalance didn't start with the stimulus. From 2005 through 2007, the counties that later voted for Obama collected about 50% more government aid than those that supported McCain, according to spending reports from the U.S. Census Bureau. USA TODAY's review did not include Alaska, which does not report its election results by county.

Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08 - USATODAY.com

**maxpro2** · 07-09-2009, 11:34 PM

Did you even read the article? lolz

Investigators who track the stimulus are skeptical that political considerations could be at work. The imbalance is so pronounced — and the aid so far from complete — that it would be almost inconceivable for it to be the result of political tinkering, says Adam Hughes, the director of federal fiscal policy for the non-profit OMB Watch. "Even if they wanted to, I don't think the administration has enough people in place yet to actually do that," he says.

**maniclion** · 07-10-2009, 05:17 AM

**I Are Baboon** · 07-10-2009, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by maniclion

The cat is walking away rather suspiciously.

**Dale Mabry** · 07-10-2009, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Investigators who track the stimulus are skeptical that political considerations could be at work. The imbalance is so pronounced — and the aid so far from complete — that it would be almost inconceivable for it to be the result of political tinkering, says Adam Hughes, the director of federal fiscal policy for the non-profit OMB Watch. "Even if they wanted to, I don't think the administration has enough people in place yet to actually do that," he says.

I find it hard to believe that Obama's system isn't sophisticated enough to dole money out to those who supported him while a newspaper can easily find that same info.

Besides, that is a weak excuse, "They couldn't have done it because it would have been difficult." Gimme a break, he is the leader of the free world, you would figure he would keep track of the people who got him there. Regardless, not a big issue, I know he inferred the change he promised was about Washington not running as usual, but that was never gonna happen. I'm just happy we're not jumping into costly wars with countries that don't mutually benefit us. That and our foreign policy is eons better now than it was even just a year ago.

**maniclion** · 07-10-2009, 01:12 PM

It makes sense to me, I mean the People who didn't support him then still aren't supporting him now and many of them keep saying they don't want his handouts. Who will spend it in the way Obama planned for it to stimulate his supporters thats who, and who will waste it just so they can say "I Told You All So!!!!"

**lnvanry** · 07-10-2009, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

I find it hard to believe that Obama's system isn't sophisticated enough to dole money out to those who supported him while a newspaper can easily find that same info.

Besides, that is a weak excuse, "They couldn't have done it because it would have been difficult." Gimme a break, he is the leader of the free world, you would figure he would keep track of the people who got him there. Regardless, not a big issue, I know he inferred the change he promised was about Washington not running as usual, but that was never gonna happen. I'm just happy we're not jumping into costly wars with countries that don't mutually benefit us. That and our foreign policy is eons better now than it was even just a year ago.

Agreed...but IMHO general foreign policy takes a back seat to a real unemployment rate of +15% and a very scary future concerning inflation...not to mention the upped FED.

**Dale Mabry** · 07-10-2009, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by lnvanry

Agreed...but IMHO general foreign policy takes a back seat to a real unemployment rate of +15% and a very scary future concerning inflation...not to mention the upped FED.

I agree, but what does Obama have to do with the unemployment rate aside from being the one who has to fix it? It certainly isn't something he did. I agree with the inflation, we can't keep printing up money.

**lnvanry** · 07-11-2009, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

I agree, but what does Obama have to do with the unemployment rate aside from being the one who has to fix it? It certainly isn't something he did. I agree with the inflation, we can't keep printing up money.

That doesn't matter....its his job.

He's the one pushing for expansion of the money supply...and his buddies at the FED and GSachs

**Prince** · 07-11-2009, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by lnvanry

That doesn't matter....its his job.

Obama is supposed to fix 8 years of damage in 6 months?

**Dale Mabry** · 07-11-2009, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Prince

Obama is supposed to fix 8 years of damage in 6 months?

No, it should be immediate. We shouldn't have to pay for our mistakes, that's bullshit.

**busyLivin** · 07-11-2009, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Prince

Obama is supposed to fix 8 years of damage in 6 months?

Thats going to be obamas favorite line in the 2012 election... "i need more time to fix what bush did"

**Little Wing** · 07-11-2009, 03:07 PM

good. if i need help and someone helps n someone doesn't who the fuck do you think i'm gonna remember when I'M in a position to help someone? STOP WHINING!!!!!

**ROID** · 07-11-2009, 08:53 PM

wait just a second. You're saying the government of america is corrupt ?

you jest my friend

**Little Wing** · 07-11-2009, 09:41 PM

**lnvanry** · 07-11-2009, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Prince

Obama is supposed to fix 8 years of damage in 6 months?

Not necessarily in 6mo, but I don't accept that just b/c Bush partook in creating the problem, Obama doesn't have to fix it....He's the president...its his duty to fix these things

**danzik17** · 07-12-2009, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by lnvanry

Not necessarily in 6mo, but I don't accept that just b/c Bush partook in creating the problem, Obama doesn't have to fix it....He's the president...its his duty to fix these things

Actually, it's not. No where in the Constitution does it mandate that the President is required to fix the economy.

The Presidents' enumerated powers are actually relatively short and straightforward, but numerous power grabs over the years have vastly expanded the Presidents' role FAR beyond what the framers of the Constitution ever intended.

It becomes more and more apparent every year that people want the government to do everything for them. I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't want to live in a nanny state.

Thread: Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08

Thread Tools

Display

Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08

Similar Threads

FBI Says Billions in Financial Crime Restitution

Buffet Gives Away Billions

Posting Permissions