Research Briefing

Stimulus Funds Wasted In The Natural State As Job Loss Continues

STIMULUS FAILURE BY THE NUMBERS: JOBS CONTINUE TO BE LOST IN THE NATURAL STATE 

Since The Stimulus Was Passed Last February, Arkansas Has Lost Over 24,000 Jobs.  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/12/10)

Unemployment In Arkansas Has Increased By Over 20 Percent.  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/12/10)

Unemployment Rate Has Jumped From 6.4 Percent To 7.7 Percent.  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/12/10)

AND ARKANSAS IS NO STRANGER TO STIMULUS WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE

In Arkansas, One Lawn Mower Bought With Stimulus Funds Was Credited With Creating 50 Jobs. “In June, the federal government spent $1,047 in stimulus money to buy a rider mower from the Toro Company to cut the grass at the Fayetteville National Cemetery in Arkansas. Now, a report on the government’s stimulus Web site improbably claims that that single lawn mower sale helped save or create 50 jobs.” (Michael Cooper & Ron Nixon, “Reports Show Conflicting Numbers Of Jobs Attributed To  Stimulus Money,” The New York Times, 11/4/09)

Phantom Districts In Arkansas Received Stimulus Funds. “Pity residents of the 22nd Congressional District of Arkansas. The district received almost $6 million in funding from the economic stimulus package signed into law last February, and not a single job has been created there. The rush of federal funds also didn’t produce a single paycheck in the 28th District and the 8th District.  The reason is simple. Those districts, along with the 76th, the 6th, 7th, 15th, 5th and one district curiously called the ‘00’ Congressional District, don’t exist.”  (Alex Daniels, “Phantom Figures Dog Stimulus Stats,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 11/23/09)

Stimulus Funds Went To Bridge For Clinton Presidential Library. “A historic bridge at Bill Clinton's presidential center in Little Rock is slated to get $2.5 million of federal stimulus money from Arkansas's share of the funds. … Members of the Arkansas congressional delegation sought an $8 million legislative earmark for the bridge this year, without success. But after Congress authorized the $787 billion stimulus package in February, representatives of the William J. Clinton Foundation contacted Mr. Beebe's office, according to Matt DeCample, the governor's spokesman, and spoke with Mr. Beebe's recovery director and ombudsman to suggest the bridge project receive funds from Arkansas's share.” (Louis Radnofsky, “Clinton Site Gets A Taste Of The Stimulus Pie,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/30/09)

Arkansas Spent Stimulus Money On “Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs For Chicken Houses.” “Arkansas has received all $39.4 million of the State Energy Program funding allocated to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and plans to fund 13 projects with the money, the Arkansas Energy Office director reported Thursday… The projects include a grant to help buy energy-efficient light bulbs for chicken houses.” (L. Lamor Williams, “State Gets Final Stimulus Energy Cash $39.4 Million To Fund 13 Arkansas Projects, Including Loans To Schools,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 10/11/09)