Florida
Money Is Going To Projects That Will Leave Little Imprint, Such As A Bridge That Allows Turtles And Other Wildlife To Safely Cross A Highway
“A theme of Coburn’s work is that money is going toward dubious projects that will leave little imprint. One project mentioned is the $3.4-million construction of a 13-foot tunnel near Tallahassee, Fla., that will allow turtles and other wildlife to safely cross U.S. Highway 27. The report said the area ‘has the highest road-kill mortality rate for turtles in the world.”
(Peter Nicholas, “Senator’ Report Casts Doubt On Stimulus Projects,” Los Angeles Times, 6/16/09)
The Administration Often Counted Pay Raises As Saved Jobs
“[S]ome recipients of stimulus money used the cash to give existing employees pay raises but reported saving dozens of jobs with the money, including one Florida day care that claimed 129 jobs were saved.”
(Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Revised Stimulus Job Tally Due Today,” The Associated Press, 10/30/09)
Palm Beach County Hired 57 Meter Readers, But The Administration Counted The Total Jobs As 114
“The water department in Palm Beach County, Fla., hired 57 meter readers, customer service representatives, and other positions to handle two water projects. But the total job count was incorrectly doubled to 114.”
(Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Revised Stimulus Job Tally Due Today,” The Associated Press, 10/30/09)
A Report Released By Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) And John McCain (R-AZ) Contends The Stimulus Program Is Filled With Waste And Incompetence
“A report due to be released today by a Republican senator contends the Obama administration’s stimulus program is fraught with waste and incompetence—evidenced by a turtle crossing in northern Florida that will cost more than $3 million and a snafu in which thousands of Social Security checks went out to people who had died. Modeled after a release from the White House describing 100 stimulus projects that were in the works, the report put out by Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma looks at the same number of projects but reaches starkly different conclusions. The title is ‘A Second Opinion on the Stimulus.’”
(Peter Nicholas, “Senator’ Report Casts Doubt On Stimulus Projects,” Los Angeles Times, 6/16/09)
Coburn’s Report Showed Money Is Going To Projects That Will Leave Little Imprint, Such As A Bridge That Allows Turtles And Other Wildlife To Safely Cross A Highway
“A theme of Coburn’s work is that money is going toward dubious projects that will leave little imprint. One project mentioned is the $3.4-million construction of a 13-foot tunnel near Tallahassee, Fla., that will allow turtles and other wildlife to safely cross U.S. Highway 27. The report said the area ‘has the highest road-kill mortality rate for turtles in the world.’ But it also suggests other uses for the money, and mentions Florida State University’s plans to lay off 200 faculty and staff members in hopes of saving millions of dollars.”
(Peter Nicholas, “Senator’ Report Casts Doubt On Stimulus Projects,” Los Angeles Times, 6/16/09)
“Florida Atlantic University In Boca Raton Used $15,551 In Stimulus Funds To Pay For Two Summer Researchers To Help Gauge How Alcohol Affects A Mouse’s Motor Functions.”
(Robert Nolin, “Stimulus Cash For Research,” Orlando Sentinel, 2/16/10)
The University Of Florida Is Spending $325,394 In Stimulus Money To Determine How Environment Affects The Mating Decisions Of Females
“The cactus-bug project at the University of Florida is more ambitious, spending $325,394 in stimulus money to determine how environment affects the mating decisions of females. According to the project proposal, it also should answer the question of ‘whether males with large weapons are more or less attractive to females.’ That project has led to one new hire: a research technician.”
(Robert Nolin, “Stimulus Cash For Research,” Orlando Sentinel, 2/16/10)
The President Has Been “Boondoggled” By Florida’s $128 Million Indian Street Bridge Project
“The most expensive item on Florida’s list of economic stimulus projects is drawing fire from some residents and at least one public official, all questioning whether it’s needed at all. The proposed $128 million Indian Street Bridge across the St. Lucie River has been debated in Martin County, Florida, for more than 20 years. But now that it has been cleared to receive money from the federal government’s nearly $800 billion economic stimulus effort, the debate may be over. […]The president should know that this is a boondoggle, and he is getting swindled,’ said Odias Smith, who has been fighting the bridge for decades and is suing the state Department of Transportation to try to stop it.”
(Abbie Boudreau and Jessi Joseph, “Stimulus-Funded Florida Bridge Draws Criticism,” CNN, 5/4/09)
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