Research Briefing

VIDEO RESEARCH BRIEFING:

THEY MESSED WITH JOE, PART THREE

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:

$862 Billion Stimulus Going To Signs Advertising Stimulus

ABC News Highlights Exorbitant Amounts States Are Spending On Stimulus Signs.  ABC’s Jonathan Karl: “These signs are much pricier, 500 bucks a piece in Maryland and New Hampshire, $1,700 in Georgia, $2,000 per sign in Pennsylvania and New York, and $3,000 per project in New Jersey.  New York alone is spending about a million dollars on signs.” (ABC News, 7/10/09)

Obama Administration Pushing States To Use Stimulus Funds To Advertise Stimulus. “PennDOT has spent $60,000 to create large green road signs telling motorists that funding was secured by the federal stimulus package ... The signs will cost about $2,000 each ... Lori Irving, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Transportation, acknowledged the department strongly encouraged states to use stimulus funding to develop the signs ... ‘Personally I think it is ridiculous that any of the stimulus money is used by government entities to make signs,’ said Mike Cupp of Morgantown, W.Va. ...’Explain to me how that is stimulating?’” (Salena Zito, “Road Signs Eat Up Part Of Stimulus,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 7/20/09)

Colorado Spent Almost Quarter Of A Million Dollars On Stimulus Signs. “The state has spent as much as $247,000 in stimulus money to post the signs along about 100 construction sites letting drivers know the work is being paid for with stimulus money. The signs also bear the name of Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter.” (Dems Reject Scrapping Signs At Colorado Stimulus Projects,” The Associated Press, 1/22/10)

Senate Democrats Rejected Republican Amendment To End Wasteful Spending On Stimulus Signs. “They’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars to stimulate the economy, so Senate Democrats said Wednesday they might as well spend millions putting up signs to highlight where the money is being spent. The road signs, which let motorists know the paving and construction projects they see are being paid for by the $787 billion economic stimulus program, have popped up across the country. In a 52-45 vote, the Senate decided the signs should stay … Sen. Judd Gregg, the New Hampshire Republican who tried to excise the funds, called his amendment a no-brainer. He said it’s common sense to get rid of tens of millions of dollars in spending.” (Stephen Dinan, “Millions Go To Signs Flagging Stimulus Projects,” The Washington Times, 9/17/09)

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)