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Faster stimulus for Massachusetts

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor June 8, 2009 08:50 PM

By Alan Wirzbicki, Globe correspondent

WASHINGTON -- The White House pulled out all the stops today, seeking to reassure Americans that the $787 billion economic stimulus package is working and outlining plans to save or create 600,000 jobs in the next three months by speeding up the program.

It launched a new website, it offered specific figures on the projects nationwide where spending will be accelerated, and top economic adviser had a PowerPoint presentation, including maps filled with dots pinpointing the projects.

But getting an actual list of projects turned out be heavy lifting. The White House didn't provide one, but referred reporters to various departments.

Some agencies had state-by-state rundowns, but others didn't. Curiously, for instance, the White House said that work would begin or be sped up on 20 Superfund sites, but the Environmental Protection Agency could not identify them. (Three sites in Massachusetts -- New Bedford Harbor, Hatheway & Patterson in Mansfield, and Silresin Chemical in Lowell -- are eventually scheduled to receive between $45 million and $85 million in stimulus funding.)

Here's what the Globe was able to compile about Massachusetts:

Agriculture: Start 200 new rural wastewater and water systems nationwide.
Massachusetts: Manchaug water district in Sutton, $1.4 million in grants and loans.

Defense: Initiate 2,300 projects at 359 military facilities nationwide.
Massachusetts: Unavailable.

Education: Fund 135,000 jobs, including teachers, principals and support staff nationwide.
Massachusetts: Unavailable.

Environment: Begin or accelerate cleanup at 20 Superfund sites nationwide.
Massachusetts: Unavailable.

Health and Human Services: Enable 1,129 health centers to serve 300,000 patients nationwide.
Massachusetts: 36 community clinics, $9.9 million total.

Interior: Begin repairs and other work at 107 national parks and historic sites nationwide.
Massachusetts: Charlestown Navy Yard, Bunker Hill Monument, Historic Longfellow House, Lowell historic mills, Saugus Iron Works, $9.2 million total.

Justice: Speed grants to hire or keep on the job 5,000 law enforcement officers nationwide.
Massachusetts: 210 agencies have applied for money for 922 jobs so far.

Labor: Create 125,000 summer youth jobs nationwide.
Massachusetts: $25 million for slots, including about 800 in Boston.

Transportation: Begin work on projects at 98 airports and more than 1,500 highway locations nationwide.
Massachusetts: Taxiway repairs at Hanscom Field in Bedford, Beverly Municipal Airport, and Orange Municipal Airport.
Also, Interstate 95 between Lexington and Reading, Route 6 in Swansea, Routes 18 and 28 in Bridgewater and Middlesborough, Route 116 in Adams, Route 6 in Bourne, $15.3 million total.

Veterans: Begin improvements at 90 veterans medical centers in 38 states.
Massachusetts: Unavailable.

Note: Dollar figures represent total funding, not necessarily how much will be spent in next three months.

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Free money! Step right up! Not yours, someone else's...

Who is really buying this stimulus idiocy?

For a lot less cost and effort, they could suspend tax collections for alternate months (INSTANT distribution), and in ten months (five of which are tax free so not cold turkey), that $800B is out there doing what it should be, but without government waste, fraud and abuse. And no buying of votes... oh shoot, there goes the secret...

Posted by BenWhite June 8, 09 09:18 PM
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Justice: Speed grants to hire or keep on the job 5,000 law enforcement officers nationwide. Massachusetts: 210 agencies have applied for money for 922 jobs so far. Northeastern University has applied for this grant as well as other University Police Departments. WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS. Private universality public money.

Posted by Steve June 8, 09 09:19 PM
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This is all borrowed money. But who cares!!!!!! Spend, spend spend. 3rd world status and a dollar crash coming to you soon - along with social unrest as a result of inflation.

Posted by homer June 8, 09 09:19 PM
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Let me get this straight, teachers are being laid off by the boat load and MA receives $9.2 million to repair monuments, and $15.3 million for taxiways and roads. Way to hit the nail on the head of what this state really needs!

Posted by Mike June 8, 09 09:24 PM
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so, more health care for poor minorities and more basketball courts in Roxbury for the bro's to deal there smack at.

OBama has done nothing but dole out 3 trillion dollars in slavery repartions.

Posted by Obama the Thief June 8, 09 09:47 PM
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change you can believe in!
Evidence: Unavailable

Posted by Onoa June 8, 09 09:51 PM
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I hope the Obumma administration does not count summer jobs as part of its job creation statistics. Of course, this would be a blatant misrepresentation and surely highlight the lack of private sector experience that its representatives (i.e. campaign workers) possess. It's becoming quite clear that this administration doesn't have a real intention of putting anyone back to work. However, they certainly appear bent on destroying the current government and its constitution.

Posted by anonymous June 8, 09 10:18 PM
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Ahhh another Boston Globe cheerleading article for Democrats. Free money come and get it! Funny how when Democrats give money away the Boston Globe never includes the other half of the story which is the high price of paying it back at 140%.

Massachusetts will get $9 billion and owe the federal government $22 BILLION. In other words... loan shark rates. What a deal from Santa Obama. Keep the money Santa... we are a Muslim country now.

Posted by GlobeOmbudsman June 8, 09 10:55 PM
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I feel once again the South Coast of MA has been forgotten. When I read about $9.2 million towards historical sites in MA I can't help but notice all but the Lowell Mills are with 10 minutes of Boston. When speaking of history, New Bedford and Fall River should rate at least a mention in that conversation. New Bedord had an important role in the development our our state with their fishing and whaling industries- those who have not been to the whaling museum are missing out. (read Moby Dick, yes I know you hate reading but try it.)
Fall River has even more history- textile mills that dwarf Lowell's "mill history", the largest collection of naval vessels in the world in Battleship Cove including the Joseph P Kennedy Jr. and battleship MA. But I guess not being inside 95 excludes them

Posted by left-my-party June 8, 09 11:34 PM
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!!! ... . . . oh. "m"illion.

Posted by Mike June 8, 09 11:48 PM
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How is Joe in charge if no one has a list of what he is in charge of? He may be trying to save restaurants in his home town that closed decades ago.

Posted by james andrews June 9, 09 07:23 AM
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It's about time assertive action is taken to rebuild the economy. I see all the Republican summer interns are hard at work, posting blog entries that offer no solutions - just complaints. This looks like a terrifically diversified plan that takes the economy by the bull horns and puts money where it's needed. The money is being invested in long term solutions. I think that in the long run, it will all be paid back ten fold. Hopefully, America learns the virtue of patience from this.

Posted by Sul June 9, 09 05:11 PM
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About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

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