Research Briefing

VIDEO RESEARCH BRIEFING:

THEY MESSED WITH JOE, PART FOUR

A Week Long Stimulus Anniversary Retrospective

OBAMA PLEDGED

FEBRUARY 24, 2009: Obama Pledged That Joe Biden Would Lead “Unprecedented Oversight Effort” For $862 Billion Stimulus, “Because Nobody Messes With Joe.” “Here in Washington, we’ve all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending.  And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right. That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort – because nobody messes with Joe.” (President Barack Obama, Address To Joint Session Of Congress, Washington, DC, 2/24/09)

OBAMA DELIVERED:

Multiple Cases Of Criminal Fraud Associated With $862 Billion Stimulus

CNN Highlights Individual On Trial For Bribery Involving Stimulus Funds.  CNN’s Allan Chernoff: “Kentucky construction magnate Leonard Lawson on trial this week for allegedly bribing a state official during the past decade to win big projects. But that didn't stop Lawson family companies from winning $24 million in federal Recovery Act contracts.” (CNN Money, 1/28/10)

Fox News Reports That Stimulus Checks Went To Prisoners. Fox News’ Megyn Kelly: “Thousands to a million of your stimulus dollars have gone straight to convicts. That’s right, the feds sending $250 stimulus checks to thousands upon thousands of prisoners… We’re talking first degree murders who are getting your money.” (FOX News’ “America’s Newsroom,” 8/26/09)

Stimulus Funds Went To International Company Under Criminal Investigation. “But despite such efforts, records show that one federal agency has awarded $6 million in stimulus funds to a huge international construction management company that has been the focus of two criminal investigations in the last two years and was suspended in June from bidding on and performing work at New York City schools.” (William K. Rashbaum, “Stimulus Funds Go To Company Under Cloud,” The New York Times, 9/3/09)

California Company Under Criminal Investigation Received $6.4 Million In Stimulus Funds. “Watsonville-based Granite Construction received $6.4 million in stimulus contracts to work on airport runways in Salinas and Monterey and repair roads in San Bernardino, Riverside and Butte counties. Yet the company faces three federal probes, including a criminal investigation launched after The San Diego Union-Tribune exposed questionable billing of the city for wildfire cleanup.” (Will Evans, “Questionable Firms Getting Stimulus Cash,” The San-Diego Union Tribune, 1/10/10)

Stimulus Money Funding Social Security Checks For Dead People.  “The Social Security Administration has continued to pay millions of dollars in benefits to dead Americans, and other elderly U.S. residents are at risk of losing badly needed aid because they’re improperly recorded as deceased, federal investigators warn in a new report.” (Michael Doyle, “Social Security Audit Finds Dead People Getting Checks,” McClatchy, 6/30/09)

OBAMA DENIES

Now Obama Claims That We “Have Not Seen Scandal Break Out” On Stimulus With Biden Leading Oversight Effort. “[L]et me just say, by the way, give a compliment to Vice President Biden. He and his team have overseen the Recovery Act. You have not seen scandal break out on a huge endeavor.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Town Hall Meeting, Tampa, FL, 1/28/10)