Saturday, March 28, 2009

Roadblock in Stimulus

Related: Stimulus Full of Potholes

"Stimulus rules may stymie transportation projects; Mass. officials say public works that would have the biggest impact - and create the most jobs - may be left out" by Casey Ross, Globe Staff | March 26, 2009

Governor Deval Patrick's administration has determined that dozens of worthy projects are not eligible for federal stimulus money because the US government has dictated that only certain types of public improvements can be funded, even if they have limited economic potential.

That means the initial round of stimulus spending may generate fewer jobs than Massachusetts officials had expected....

I'm so, so, so tired of those liars.

Moreover, Massachusetts officials remain hampered in their efforts to tap into another $1 billion of federal stimulus money for environmental and energy projects....

And yet, FOR WEEKS I've been READING in the Globe how great the enviro-energy part was for Mass. (never mind the state and paper overestimating the amount by $3 billion).

FLASHBACK:

"Renewable job market; Even as economy worsens, state's green companies are hiring" by Erin Ailworth, Globe Staff | March 6, 2009

.... The workforce expansions are being partly spurred by the federal economic stimulus package, which includes billions for home energy-efficiency upgrades and an extension of a tax credit for renewable energy technologies such as wind power. Within the next two years, stimulus spending is expected to create or save 79,000 jobs in Massachusetts, and an estimated 3.5 million nationwide, according to the federal government....

Related: The Fart-Misting Promises of Green Jobs

Obama Stimulus Giveaway to Corporations

Stimulus Bill is For Jewish Interests Only

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It's unclear how just how many green jobs will be created in Massachusetts by stimulus-related initiatives, though preliminary estimates put the number at thousands.

And, of course, I BELIEVE MY GOVERNMENT despite the FALSE PROMISES, LIES and LOOTINGS!!!!!!!!!

According to a spokesman for congressman Ed Markey, the Malden Democrat who chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Massachusetts is set to get $125 million in stimulus funds for weatherization projects and $55 million in state energy block grants to be used mainly for energy-efficiency programs. That money is expected to create an estimated 6,500 jobs related to weatherization and hundreds as part of the energy-efficiency programs.

Yeah, I'll deal with that crap in a minute.

The jobs are coming at a time when the US unemployment rate is at its highest in about two decades, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Massachusetts, the January unemployment rate was 7.4 percent - the highest since 1993 - and job losses for the month totaled 4,900, according to the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Kevin Shaw, a Boston partner at accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers called the injection of stimulus money into the clean-tech sector a "silver lining" in a faltering economy.

And FOR THOSE THAT FATTEN OFF the PUBLIC TEAT, it is!!!!!

According to a recently released report from his firm, the legislation contains about $83 billion for "clean-tech spending and tax plans" and positions the industry as a "key driver of economic stabilization and job growth."

Still, he was realistic about just how much the nascent industry would be able to do for an economy whose biggest sectors, including auto manufacturing, are failing.....

Sigh. Need I even type it?

looking to hire.... hoping to hire.... hopes to bring on.... wants to hire.... --more--"

Yup, adds up to about 200 JOBS, folks, not THOUSANDS!!!!!!!!

I hate to say it, but ALL THIS IS is a TAXPAYER GIVEAWAY to these CONCERNED INTERESTS -- like ALL TAXPAYER MONEY!

Back to today:


The Patrick administration had hoped to act as a conduit for these various stimulus plans, funneling money to cities and towns for projects with the greatest job-creation benefit. Now, the municipalities are frustrated by the lack of progress....

Jeffrey Simon, the state's director of infrastructure investment, spent yesterday meeting with mayors and real estate executives concerned about restrictions in the federal bill....

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