This marvelously blunt point comes from Instapundit via Mark Steyn.
And why might two of the right’s most respected writers say so?
This from another noteworthy online reporter, Jim Geraghty
Here are the types of spending priorities you find in an examination of the text of the Economic Recovery Bill:
An additional $300 million for roads on Indian reservations.
An additional $100 million for the Lead Hazard Reduction Program.
An additional $44 million for “construction, repair, and improvement” of Department of Agriculture buildings, and an additional amount for “Buildings and Facilities” and an additional $209 million for work on “deferred maintenance at Agricultural Research Service facilities.”
An additional $245 million to “maintain and modernize the information technology system at the Farm Service Agency.”
An additional $1 billion (with a B) to the Census Bureau for “Periodic Censuses and Programs.”
An additional $650 million for the Department of Commerce’s Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Program, to be used for “coupons and related activities, including but not limited to education, consumer support and outreach, as deemed appropriate and necessary to ensure a timely conversion of analog to digital television.”
An additional $400 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for “operations, research and facilities.”
An additional $150 million to NASA for “aeronautics.”
An additional $4.5 billion (with a B) to improve, repair and modernize Department of Defense facilities, restore and modernize Army barracks, and invest in the energy efficiency of Department of Defense facilities.
An additional $1.7 billion (with a B) for projects to address critical deferred maintenance needs within the National Park System.
An additional $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts “to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn.”
Recall that all of this is “additional” funding on top of what was appropriated to these programs last year.
Geraghty’s pork barrel pay-offs disguised as stimulus totals is $4,639,000,000 – sans the 4.5 billion that went to DOD housing upgrades! That’s right: BILLION. And that’s just what Geraghty found. It does not include the $100 million John Boehner found for condoms.
If the Democrats and Obama are sincere, then their focus is on construction, but not infrastructure. The NEA thing is clear political patronage for DEMs rich lefty pals. But why all the focus on construction of federal buildings? Why not infrasctructure -roads, bridges, airports, harbor upgrades- of which has both short-term and long-term benefits? If they’re sincere, then they are fools for not knowing the difference.
So what if its the other option and they are not sincere? Is it that its a pay-off to federal employees whom are typically DEM voters. Or is it that Robert Reich let out of the bag yesterday, and they want to target contractors of the DEMs choice for their own future benefit i.e. votes (union) and contributions i.e. well you get the rest.
“….a transfer of wealth from the politically unconnected to the politically connected”
Posted under Uncategorized
This post was written by bobsikes on January 24, 2009
