by Mark Silva
In the first 100 days of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- a.k.a. the $787-billion economic stimulus act -- the White House maintains that 150,000 jobs already have been saved or created.
The GOP, whose House members unanimously opposed the act which the president signed into law on Feb. 17, calls the initiative "100 days of haste.''
"Just 100 days into the two-year economic recovery program, over $112 billion in Recovery Act funds has been obligated to stimulative programs and projects and over 150,000 jobs have been created or saved by the Recovery Act,'' the White House said in a statement issued today, as President Barack Obama touted the stimulus act in Nevada.
"One hundred days ago, in the midst of the worst economic crisis in half a century, we passed the most sweeping economic recovery act in history - a plan designed to save jobs, create new ones, and put money in people's pockets," Obama said in Nevada today. "Now, 100 days later, we are meeting our economic challenges head-on and beginning to see early signs of progress across the country."
But the Republican National Committee, suggesting that only a fraction of the funds have been spent -- and that unemployment has risen in the meantime -- dismisses the White House's 100-day report today as mere "spin.''
"In the Obama administrationm the word 'report' must be code for 'P.R.''' RNC Chairman Michael Steele says in his own issued statement just now.
"One hundred days after spending $787 billion of the taxpayers' money, President Obama is touting a second progress 'report' on the stimulus bill to convince voters his reckless spending plan is working,'' Steele said. "Let's be clear: 100 projects, nearly $1 trillion spent, and 1 million jobs lost doesn't sound like progress to me. The Obama administration may believe its own spin, but American families want jobs and to keep more of what they earn, not another 'report.'''
Here's the White House's accounting of the money:
"Today's announcement is just one of the many ways the Recovery Act is jump-starting the economy today and building a new foundation for sustained economic growth in the future. Across the country, the Recovery Act is already at work, providing essential financial relief for American families and businesses, creating and saving jobs, and spurring technology and infrastructure investments that will lay the groundwork for the new economy - and work is just getting started.''
• In Southern California, construction is underway on the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Project on the San Diego Freeway, one of the most congested highways in the nation, because of a $189.9 million Recovery Act investment.
• In Cumberland, Maine, Storey Brothers Trucking, a small family-owned business that was struggling to pay its 19 employees is now back to work and boosting the local economy because of a $2 million Recovery Act grant awarded to the Portland Water District for upgrading the town's sewer system.
• In Pearl, Mississippi, a $1.3 million Recovery Act grant award is allowing the Family Health Care Clinic to open three new branches that will offer medical and dental services to low-income and uninsured residents and provide increased job oppor¬tunities in the community by employing 70 staff over the next two years.
• At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a $17.5 million Recovery Act grant is funding the development of a solar fuels research center that will conduct research on how to use artificial photo¬synthesis to produce low-cost and efficient solar fuels.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law on February 17, 2009. Just 100 days into the two-year economic recovery program, over $112 billion in Recovery Act funds has been obligated to stimulative programs and projects and over 150,000 jobs have been created or saved by the Recovery Act.
In addition to providing immediate relief measures for American families like the Making Work Pay tax credit and a 65 percent reduction in COBRA health insurance premiums, the Recovery Act also provides new and expanded energy-efficiency and first-time homebuyer tax credits that are driving fresh consumer demand and makes multi-billion dollar long-term investments in high-speed rail, broadband access, a nationwide smart energy grid and a modern health information technology system.
Comments
How exactly have 150,000 jobs been saved or created? I do remember Obama saying that the spendulus package would mean no layoffs at Catepillar. Hmmm, haven't about 25,000 been cut since then? Obama's "stimulus" package has done squat and very little of it has been spent. Heck, if the plan was so great why is no work being done on the moon craters that is Route 12???
Posted by: John D | May 27, 2009 1:21 PM
but American families want jobs and to keep more of what they earn, not another 'report.'''
and there is nobody who knows more of what the country wants than someone who believes the "new" forward thinking republican party just needs to "saddle up" and ride like Ronnie Raygun.
Posted by: bill r. | May 27, 2009 1:38 PM
I wonder if these 25 jobs were counted as saved?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/ohio.stimulus.police.cuts/
I think BO is now about 5.0 million job in the hole now. Since BO has taken office thru April, the economy has shed about 2.0 million (plus 3.0 million BO has promised to create)
Posted by: Terry | May 27, 2009 2:38 PM
They have been working on the 405 freeway for years now. Were they going to run out of money and not complete the work without the stimulus money?
Posted by: Lloyd S Parker | May 27, 2009 3:09 PM
Wonder if all of this Stimulus Spending has boosted Political Donations.
Posted by: Inky | May 27, 2009 3:16 PM
Here comes the spin trying to validate the hasty spending package that nobody read. If the Obama Administration is going to use figures that are impossible to verify, like jobs "saved", why stop at 150k? Why not claim millions?
This economy is going to recover regardless of any stimulus package. Obama's "we have to act now before it's too late!" was the kind of fear mongering that I thought he opposed. There is no historical precedent for his claims that if we don’t act now we will never recover. The real question is whether we have the right to saddle our future generations with debt to make our recovery a little smoother. I say no. This country was caught in a malaise of entitlement and living beyond its means. That needs to stop, not be artificially kept alive by govt. borrowing and spending.
Posted by: Herbie H. | May 27, 2009 3:52 PM
If the Republicans were in charge istead of Obama the Dow would be at 17,000, Unemployment would be at 1%, homes would have regained all their lost value, taxes would have been cut by 50%, the government would be running a surplus, lions would lay down with lambs, the land would flow with milk and honey, unicorns would play in the flowers under a perpetually sunny sky.
Posted by: Terry's dream world | May 27, 2009 4:09 PM
but American families want jobs and to keep more of what they earn, not another 'report.'''
and there is nobody who knows more of what the country wants than someone who believes the "new" forward thinking republican party just needs to "saddle up" and ride like Ronnie Raygun.
Posted by: bill r. | May 27, 2009 1:38 PM
Excellent remark- But Obama wants more taxes, sales tax for instance---------
Posted by: Inky | May 27, 2009 4:45 PM
Excuse Me, President Hussain have you taken notice of the unemployed numbers lately?. I would not pat myself on the back anytime soon. The situation in America is critical and your wild spending is not helping. Please go back to the drawing board. Stop taxing and spending and get a little more physical responsibility. In case you and your cohorts don't know it your ruining American as we have know it for the past 200+ years.
Posted by: Paul | May 27, 2009 5:38 PM
Dream World,
The unicorns are a stretch.
Posted by: Terry | May 27, 2009 7:26 PM
Dream World,
Besides, it was BO that said he would create/save 3,000,000 jobs and so far the economy has lost about 2,000,000 (not counting May's number). The problem isn't with my analysis. The problem is that you liberal Messiah can't back-up his promises.
Posted by: Terry | May 27, 2009 7:29 PM
Terry, I believe the President said the stimulus would create or save the jobs over the next two years. If you can find anyplace where he promised to create 3 million jobs in 4 months, I'll buy you a pony. I know your fantasy world is filled with instant solutions and problems solved before the commercial break, but the rest of us live in the real world.
Posted by: Terry's Dream world | May 27, 2009 10:38 PM
Obama's 150,000 new jobs -- and recovery.gov -- are like LBJ's body count in Vietnam. Just like back in the day it's proof positive we are 'winning.'
And then there's Bush's continuing saga in Iraqipakighanistan that will add another 150,000 economy-boosting green jobs by the end of next year.
If only High Plains Drifter Obama had drawn both hog legs to fire $1.574 trillion in new federal debt at the economy, instead of a measly $787 billion, we would have created 300,000 new jobs by now instead of only 150,000.
No, not High Plains Drifter. In relation to trillions in new federal debt, Obama reminds me more of the guy in Predator, blindly firing that belt-fed machine gun into the jungle -- drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr -click-click-click - EMPTY!
Posted by: dom youngross | May 28, 2009 12:32 AM
If you are uninsured and does not have insurance, you should check out the website http://UninsuredAmerica.blogspot.com - John Mayer, California
Posted by: JohnMayer | May 28, 2009 6:41 AM
Pauly the parrot.....I guess father rush forgot to spell fiscal for you on the radio. Your post gave me the best laugh of the week so far. Keep posting though, you help to increase the dems numbers with every post.
As for the economy situation....the bottom is still a LONG ways off and we have not found it yet. If anyone knows how the great depression worked in a series of waves over a period of 20 years or so, they would know that this is just the begining. I would expect a slowing of the unemployment numbers this time of year due to all the seasonal work starting up in agriculture and construction. The fact that the unemployment numbers are still increasing at this time in the year shows us how bad it really is.
Kudos to Obama for being proactive about things. I laugh at the pugs saying that the bottom has past and that we did not need the stimulus money....little minds know little things. Curse Obama for the stimulus and curse him for the bad economy....I guess the party of hate is really showing us what they do best.
Posted by: Xcellentform | May 28, 2009 11:33 AM
Dream World,
Never expected BO to create 3 million jobs in four months. That is because teh gov't doesn't create jobs.
Be that as it may, now BO has 20 months to create 5 million jobs? Do you think he can create 250,000 per month? Since the gov't is going to start laying off auto workers and closing car dealerships, these unemployment numbers are not going to turn around soon no matter how much he spins them
Posted by: Terry | May 28, 2009 10:26 PM
Terry, is the real world beginning to come into your happy fantasy world? What a sad day for you. By the way little Terry, Obama didn't ever promise that more jobs would be created than were lost in that period. He's always been quite clear that unemployment would rise, do to the economic crisis. I know that in you Republican fantasy world that would never ever happen with a Republican in charge, bu that's just your silly little dream world. not the real one. Obama has repeatedly said that we need the jobs that the stimulous would create to limit the rise in unemployment. So your 5 million number is just pure fantasy, like all the rest of your posts. Stick to Mother Goose in the future. The newspaper is too much for you to comprehend.
Posted by: Terry's Dream World | May 29, 2009 9:22 AM
Dream World,
You taking math lessons from little Johnny E?
This is straight from Mark Silva's mouth
"...the president-elect said an analysis of his proposals shows that between 3 million and 4 million jobs could be saved or created by 2010, nearly 90 percent in the private sector.
That would be a welcome number in a week in which unemployment was posted at 7.2 percent in December,..." 7.2% unemployment - the good old days. Technically, he said "by 2010", one could interpret that it would be done by January 1, 2010. But I won't hold him to that.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/01/obama_4_million_jobs.html
Posted by: Terry | May 29, 2009 8:09 PM
Oh Little Terry, it's really kind of sad how your education has failed you. Yes, child, Obama said that jobs would be created. But Terry, he doesn't say that tother jobs wont be lost. Let me give you an example that you might understand. I'll use little words and numbers so you can follow along. Let's say little jimmy has a company. We'll call it GM. Little Jimmy needs tom fire 10 workers at GM because little jimmy isn't very smart. Now, little Sally has a company too. Her company adds 5 jobs because she gets a contract from the governement. That didn't make up for little Jimmy and his friends being stupid, but those 5 added jobs make it less bad, right little Terry? Those were 5 jobs created. That's what the President was saying. I think maybe you work with little Jimmy at GM if you couldn't understand that.
Posted by: Terry's dream world | May 30, 2009 11:27 AM
Dream World - John E,
"Obama said that jobs would be created. But Terry, he doesn't say that tother jobs wont be lost." Using your words - if BO creates/saves 3 million jobs, but th economy loses another 7 million, he can victory?
Any moron can print money, borrow money, or confiscate money and "create 3 million jobs". If that is what you think BO is doing and calling that a success - go right ahead.
His $800 billion spendulus package to create 3,000,000 jobs works out to $267,000 per job. He's a real financial wizard.
If you or your parents paid any money for education, go demand a refund.
Posted by: Terry | May 30, 2009 8:05 PM
Ohh No, Little Terry is getting upset. Just because you don't know what you are talking about is no reason to be sad. You do your best, but you just aren't very bright. We'll give you a gold star for effiort. Maybe you should go back to your happy little dream world, where everything was just perfect before big bad Obama came. It was just perfect before January wasn't it little Terry? Wasn't the economy just great then?
Posted by: Terry's Dream world | June 1, 2009 12:48 PM
Dream World,
Absolutely nothing in your above statement except taunting. And when that's all a liberal has, I know I have won the arguement.
Please tell me what Bush policy caused the recession?
Posted by: Terry | June 1, 2009 7:56 PM
150,000 jobs have been created, huh? Too bad that millions of people are out of work. Where I live, Zero jobs were created times four ( the new rate of creation) still equals nothing...The government isn't very good at math.
Posted by: Lis | June 8, 2009 4:33 PM