Of the $787 billion appropriated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 94% is still in the till in Washington, D.C. Federal agencies have released a mere $45.6 billion, mostly in Medicaid payments to states and checks of $250 apiece to Social Security recipients. A mere $11 million has been released so far on highway projects, though promises of $10.5 billion in federal highway funds may have spurred states to start cutting checks to contractors for more than that $11 million.
It is clear the federal cash is flowing slower than molasses in January, though it's already the middle of May. Worse, more bureaucrats want a piece of the oversight pie. In a speech Tuesday to the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Christine Varney promised to "train officials at key agencies to look for 'red flags of collusion' before awarding stimulus grants and contracts." You mean, they don't already know how to do that?!
It is clear the federal cash is flowing slower than molasses in January, though it's already the middle of May. Worse, more bureaucrats want a piece of the oversight pie. In a speech Tuesday to the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Christine Varney promised to "train officials at key agencies to look for 'red flags of collusion' before awarding stimulus grants and contracts." You mean, they don't already know how to do that?!
