Microsoft Bridge Tops Stimulus Myths
G. Edward DeSeve, who is coordinating efforts at the Office of Management and Budget to implement the economic stimulus package, refuted what he argued are false reports of fiscal misuse and wasteful spending in a Tuesday evening blog post. His list of "10 Recovery Act Myths" came on the heels of last week's unprecedented release of information on Recovery.gov and increased interest in the specific types of projects being funded.
Among the myths is a report that $11 million in stimulus funds are being used to build a bridge connecting two Microsoft campuses in Redmond, Wash. DeSeve argues that only about half of that amount is being used for this project, which he called "a vital transportation project strongly supported by both state and local officials in an area that supports over 44,000 jobs." It emerged as the region's top priority after a rigorous, competitive review, he said.
Here are the rest of DeSeve's favorite half-truths and falsehoods:
• Funds are being used to renovate a train station that hasn't been used in 30 years.
• Funds are being used for a snow-making facility in Duluth, Minnesota.
• Funds are being used to install a guardrail for a dry lake bed in Oklahoma.
• Funds are being used by the U.S. Forest Service to breed bugs in Connecticut.
• Funds are being used to purchase a freezer for fish sperm in South Dakota.
• Funds are being used to weatherize eight pickup trucks in Illinois.
• Funds are being used to purchase 22 toilets for use in the Mark Twain National Forest.
• Funds are being used to study how children perceive foreign accents.
• Funds are being to provide a tax credit for golf carts.
Read his detailed explanations here.
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