The Stimulus (Spending) Package

I just love it when my government lies to me.

Oh, wait, no I don't.

What is a "Stimulus Package" to me? Well, I see it like this: If you've given money to the government, we want to give some back so you can flood it back into the economy, thus stimulating it. Seems logical then, that the best way to do that is to provide funds to people and organizations that paid taxes and will put that money back into the economy. It might be smart to send it to people or places that will create jobs, or maybe even to begin programs that will generate more revenue in the future.

Looking at this list I am astonished that this is being called a "Stimulus" package. That would be like Congress ordering 20 new Stealth Bombers, 18 new nuclear subs, countless bombs and munitions and heralding it as the "Peace Bill!" This piece of... legislation is stuffed with the very thing that McCain wanted to remove to keep the budget balanced: Pork! (I don't know who in certain cities has pictures of Obama in compromising positions Maybe toking on a bong? [Right Phelpsie?...] but some cities are slated to receive crazy amounts of money! Los Angeles $4,301,000,000, St. Louis $1,131,500,000, Fort Worth $1,063,600, Cincinnati $333,548,000.)

In an effort to assist the Obama Administration in keeping their promise of transparency, here is a breakdown of only the heavy hitters in regards to what is included in the Stimulus Package that the house Democrats passed the other day. In the interest of discussion, I've withheld my personal feelings about which of these projects might actually be worth while and which ones should probably be tossed. In reading the list, I couldn't help but feel like there were certain politicians thinking "Well, the moneys there, let's try to get some!"

I was going to list all of the line items when I saw this web page. Florida alone has 1752 projects. So, here are the heavy hitters (I'll list them by state, most money to least in the heavy hitter categories) Have fun!:

Puerto Rico ($18,510,000,000)
• $17.5 billion for 100 new acres of energy efficient industrial zones in Cidra Puerto Rico.
• $500 million for solar water heaters for families in rural areas of Cidra Puerto Rico.
• $350 million for a rail system in Cagus Puerto Rico.
• $150 million for improving the track and getting land for little league parking in Cidra Puerto Rico.
• $10 million to construct a sports arena in Camuy Puerto Rico.

California ($7,258,000,000)
• $2.16 billion for the LA Solar Program in Los Angeles California.
• $750 million for a railyards tunnel in Sacramento California.
• $500 million for Los Angeles Port "Green" jobs.
• $500 million for the Green Jacobs port in Los Angeles California.
• $500 million for major street repair in Los Angeles California.
• $500 million for SHRA in Sacramento California.
• $450 million for a new police administration building in Oakland California.
• $350 million to rebuild the rail system in Los Angeles California.
• $300 million to build an airport parking garage in Oakland California.
• $291 million to replace buses in Los Angeles California.
• $275 million for transit upgrades in San Francisco California.
• $270 million to expand, upgrade or relocate 17 libraries in Oakland California.
• $246 million in tax breaks for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.
• $55 million for water treatment plant in San Jose California.
• $50 million 280/880 interchange upgrade in San Jose California.
• $40 million to promote use of alternative fuels in Long Beach California.
• $20 million for the Oakland family land trust in Oakland California
• $1.5 million for state of the art traffic controllers in Hayward California.
• $500,000 to build a dog park in Chula Vista California.

Florida ($4,488,893,000)
• $2.463 billion for a 10.5 mile Orange line project in Miami-Dade Florida.
• $426.5 million for 2.4 mile Orange Line improvement in Miami-Dade Florida.
• $400 million for a seaport tunnel in Miami-Dade Florida.
• $352 million to construct a jail in Miami-Dade Florida.
• $300 million for SFECC extension in Miami-Dade Florida.
• $280 million for Miami Streetcar in Miami-Dade Florida.
• $267 million for a water/sewer plant in Miami-Dade Florida.
• $393,000 to buy patrol rifles in Pembroke Pines Florida.

Texas ($3,811,896,000)
• $600 million to improve Loop 820 within the North Richand Hills city limit in North Richand Hills Texas.
• $471 million to improve the T Rail in Fort Worth Texas.
• $386 million to construct a convention center hotel in Dallas Texas.
• $383.5 million for flood control in Fort Worth Texas.
• $350 million to build a convention center in Irving Texas.
• $350 million to build an office tower in Irving Texas.
• $350 million to build a new strip mall in Irving Texas.
• $246.54 million to build a bridge in Dallas Texas
• $200 million for the IH-35/IH-820 interchange in Fort Worth Texas.
• $190 million to expand the MetroRail Red line in Austin Texas.
• $127.5 million for the Waller Creek Tunnel project in Austin Texas.
• $40 million to upgrade the public safety radio system in Dallas Texas.
• $20 million to build a pedestrian bridge over a railroad in Dallas Texas.
• $18 million for a pipeline in Dallas Texas.
• $18 million to build a boardwalk around Lady Bird Lake in Austin Texas.
• $18 million for phase II of a Latino Cultural Center (design and construction) in Dallas Texas.
• $9 million to improve the Spinks Airport and Fire Station #42 in Fort Worth Texas.
• $6 million for vehicle detection stations in Austin Texas.
• $6 million for CW Ditto Golf Course Renovations in Austin Texas.
• $5 million for a water tower replacement in Allen Texas.
• $5 million to capture landfill gases and turn them into hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG) in Beaumont Texas.
• $3.5 million for fire station #5 in Allen Texas. ($500 million nationwide for fire stations)
• $2.5 million for bike and pedestrian paths in Austin Texas.
• $2.278 million to build a two and a half mile trail in Dallas Texas.
• $2.278 million to build a two mile trail in Dallas Texas.
• $1.5 million to hire 20 new police officers in Dallas Texas.
• $180,000 for a full time Director for the Drug Task Force in Winnsboro Texas.
• $100,000 for the continuation of the bus program from Arlington Texas to Fort Worth Texas.
• $20,000 to purchase tasers in Winnsboro Texas.

Illinois ($2,974,500,000)
• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.
• $950 million to replace the I-74 bridge in Moline Illinois.
• $22.7 million for upgrades between Chicago and Moline in Illinois.
• $1.8 million for runway repair in Schaumburg Illinois.

New Mexico ($1,500,300,000)
• $532 million for a solar plant in Albuquerque New Mexico.
• $418.3 million for a New Mexico Events Center in Albuquerque.
• $300 million to reduce congestion on I-25 interchange in Albuquerque New Mexico.
• $250 million for a Neighborhood Energy Generation Pilot in Albuquerque New Mexico.

Alabama ($1,318,800,000)
• $600 million for a solar plant in Anniston Alabama.
• $360 million for school renovations/construction in Mobile Alabama.
• $358.8 million for citywide infrastructure expansion in Prichard Alabama.

Missouri ($1,131,625,000)
• $900 million for the North/South Metro Link connection in St. Louis Missouri.
• $50 million to cover the transit system operating deficit in St. Louis Missouri.
• $45 million for maintenance/prevention on light rail in St. Louis Missouri.
• $35 million for fixed lane trolley development in St. Louis Missouri.
• $35 million for a bridge replacement in St. Louis Missouri.
• $33 million for streetscape in St. Louis Missouri.
• $16.5 million for Grand Avenue station and bridge in St. Louis Missouri.
• $15 million for I-70 bridges in St. Louis Missouri.
• $2 million for preparation for business park site in St. Louis Missouri.
• $125,000 to hire 5 police officers and buy 3 police cars for Wellston Missouri.

Ohio ($818,048,000)
• $250 million for a water waste treatment plant in Lorain Ohio.
• $200 million for a Light Rail system in Columbus Ohio.
• $132 million to create a streetcar network in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $67.18 million for water works infrastructure replacement in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $60 million for a City Street Network Rehabilitation program in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $25 million for Children's Hospital improvements in Columbus Ohio.
• $20.5 million for water works enhancement in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $10 million for flood control bank stabilization in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $8 million for Central Riverfront Street Grid in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $8 million for water works back up power and storage in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $7 million for White Pond Drive in Akron Ohio.
• $6.8 million to build an industrial building in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $4.5 million to build the Corryville Parking Structure in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $4.267 million to renovate the Crosley Building in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $3.5 million for interconnected traffic control system in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $2.46 million to plant trees in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $1.5 million to reduce prostitution in Dayton Ohio.
• $1.5 million for roadway improvements in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $1.2 million for the upgrades to roofs (including green roofs) in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $1.145 million for the 12th & Vine Streetscape in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $1 million for traffic and pedestrian improvements at Liberty Street in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $1 million for power generators on landfills in Lorain Ohio.
• $796,500 for "green" storm water management for public schools in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $600,000 for a streetscape in Cincinnati Ohio.
• $100,000 for LED traffic lights in Cincinnati Ohio.

Mississippi ($601,099,600)
• $600 million to create an African American Heritage trail in Natchez Mississippi.
• $1 million to construct 25 houses for first time home buyers (including land acquisition) in Friars Point Mississippi.
• $99,600 for doorbells in Laurel Mississippi.

Georgia ($581,000,000)
• $500 million for a new terminal at the Atlanta airport in Georgia.
• $81 million a midtown to downtown streetcar line in Atlanta Georgia.

Maryland ($502,650,000)
• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.
• $2.65 million for a program to train residents on how to reduce their carbon footprint in Annapolis Maryland.

Louisiana ($419,000,000)
• $288 million for I-49 North in Shreveport Louisiana.
• $76 million to expand Baton Rouge River Center in Louisiana.
• $55 million for park development in Baton Rouge Louisiana.

Indiana ($351,500,000)
• $301 million to renovate schools in Fort Wayne Indiana.
• $50.5 million for bike paths and pedestrian ways in Indianapolis Indiana.

Alaska ($75,621,000)
• $75 million for the Port of Anchorage Expansion in Anchorage Alaska.
• $621,000 for intercom upgrades in Anchorage Alaska.

Wisconsin ($4,550,000)
• $1.05 million to create a bike trail in Madison Wisconsin.
• $3.5 million to replace 100 police cars in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Virginia ($3,483,000)
• $3.45 million to repair sidewalks in Alexandria Virginia.
• $33,000 for T3 motion electric vehicles in Alexandria Virginia.

New York ($3,250,000)
• $1.5 million for streetscape and mill in Buffalo New York.
• $1 million to build an indoor soccer field in Hempstead New York.
• $750,000 for emergency bridge repairs in Buffalo New York.

Arkansas ($465,180,000)
• $465 million to renovate a terminal in Little Rock Arkansas.
• $180,000 for a flight information display system in Little Rock Arkansas.

Oregon ($61,000,000)
• $86 million for the construction of trails in Portland Oregon.
• $75 million for Streetcar extension in Portland Oregon.

Various other states ($1,504,235,000)
• $375 million to create a performing arts center in Las Vegas Nevada.
• $335 million for North Corridor Rail Line in Charlotte North Carolina.
• $290 million to construct 3.5 miles of railway in Mesa Arizona.
• $270.6 million to upgrade a tunnel in Detroit Michigan.
• $100 million to construct 4 lane divided highway in Sioux Falls South Dakota
• $16 million to subsidize upgrading the flood control system in Hartford Connecticut.
• $6 million to convert hybrid vehicles to plug in hybrids in Boulder Colorado.
• $4.3 million to build a veterans nursing home in Cleveland Tennessee.
• $4 million for renovation of historic train station in Seattle Washington.
• $1.3 million for Tunnel rehabilitation in Minneapolis Minnesota.
• $700,000 to construct a LEED certified town hall in Athens West Virginia.
• $700,000 for baseball viewing stands and concession upgrades in Salt Lake City Utah.
• $200,000 for a bathroom in Hopkinsville Kentucky.
• $150,000 for major home repairs in Lakewood Washington.
• $134,000 to purchase vehicles for Homeland Security.
• $100,000 for a traffic monitoring system in Lincoln Nebraska.
• $50,000 to build two dog parks in Lewiston Maine.

And here are some of my favorite nationwide/non state specific features ($20,234,500,000)
• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.
• $4.19 billion for neighborhood stabilization activities supporting low-income advocacy groups (such as ACORN).
• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.
• $1.2 billion for Amtrak.
• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.
• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.
• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.
• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.
• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.
• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.
• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.
• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.
• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.
• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.
• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.
• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.
• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.
• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.
• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).
• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.
• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."
• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.
• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.
• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.
• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

Remember, these are just the big ones! Illinois has over 1000 projects totalling well over $3 billion. Most of them are under $1 million. Wanna keep your own eye on the stimulus bill? You can do so here. Have fun!