[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                STIMULUS

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, the Associated Press issued an analysis 
this week that describes what many have known all along: The $787 
billion economic stimulus plan isn't getting to the people who need it 
most.
  For those who knew the Federal Government would not be able to 
effectively and efficiently distribute the money, this comes as no 
surprise.
  The May 11 story says: ``Counties suffering the most from job losses 
stand to receive the least help from President Barack Obama's plan to 
spend billions of stimulus dollars on roads and bridges, an Associated 
Press analysis has found.''
  The story continues: ``The very promise that Obama made, to spend 
money quickly and create jobs, is locking out many struggling 
communities needing those jobs. Many struggling communities don't have 
projects waiting on a shelf. They couldn't afford the millions of 
dollars for preparation and plans that often is required.''
  The Democrat spokesman for the House Transportation Committee said, 
``I think the Administration oversold the transportation aspect of 
this. It was sold as the heart and soul of the package, and it really 
just isn't.''
  That's the understatement of the year.

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