It appears that many states are supplementing federal stimulus dollars with state stimulus programs of their own. Predictably things are going poorly...
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - How much are politicians straining to convince people that the government is stimulating the economy? In Oregon, where lawmakers are spending $176 million to supplement the federal stimulus, Democrats are taking credit for a remarkable feat: creating 3,236 new jobs in the program's first three months.But those jobs lasted on average only 35 hours, or about one work week. After that, those workers were effectively back unemployed, according to an Associated Press analysis of state spending and hiring data. By the state's accounting, a job is a job, whether it lasts three hours, three days, three months, or a lifetime.
"Sometimes some work for an individual is better than no work," said Oregon's Senate president, Peter Courtney.
3,236 jobs * 35 hours = 113 260 man hours. That's not a lot of work for $176 million. In fact if that's all they got for their money those jobs cost would have cost Oregon taxpayers $1,554 per hour. However buried deeper in the story is the fact that not all of the $176 million has been spent so far.
According to its latest progress report, 8 percent of the money has been spent and hundreds of projects have yet to be completed. More paychecks are bound to be written as construction continues.
Since the AP report appeared the Oregon Department of Administrative Services has released another report [PDF] that has more current numbers.
Go Oregon! has infused a total of $26.7 million into the Oregon economy to date. This is roughly 15 percent of the total $175 million scheduled to be spent on this program. Here's a quick summary of the total amounts "spent by" each report date:Report #1 (May 1st) $ 2,131,333
Report #2 (June 17th) $ 13,463,996
Report #3 (July 17th) $ 26,749,655
They've now spent $26,749,655 for 144,000 hours of work. Do the math, that's $185 an hour.
That means that every full-time job "created" by Oregon's stimulus programs costs taxpayers nearly $371,000 a year.
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Comments (20)
So explain again why govern... (Below threshold)1. Posted by justpassingthrough | July 30, 2009 1:41 AM | Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
So explain again why government run health will as efficient.
1. Posted by justpassingthrough | July 30, 2009 1:41 AM |
Score: 11 (11 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 01:41
2. Posted by justpassingthrough | July 30, 2009 1:43 AM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
So explain again why government run health care will be as efficient.
OOPS!
2. Posted by justpassingthrough | July 30, 2009 1:43 AM |
Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 01:43
3. Posted by epador | July 30, 2009 1:46 AM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
I live here, for now, but these fools are taxing the Hell out of the poor economy, and wondering why businesses aren't flocking here.
3. Posted by epador | July 30, 2009 1:46 AM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 01:46
4. Posted by epador | July 30, 2009 1:47 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Hell, the Beer tax alone is higher than anywhere else in the country. Good thing the beer here is good.
4. Posted by epador | July 30, 2009 1:47 AM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 01:47
5. Posted by 914 | July 30, 2009 2:04 AM | Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
SIGN ME UP!
RSVP A concerned Demoncrat....ha ah ha ah ..You stole my money but I got Your soul.
AS A BEER DRINKER...Get ME A F***ING BEER.. And get the ---- out of MY Way
Your so screwed up
5. Posted by 914 | July 30, 2009 2:04 AM |
Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 02:04
6. Posted by 914 | July 30, 2009 2:52 AM | Score: 5 (9 votes cast)
Ok, Now that I actually looked at thar numbers?
It all makes sense now! Get Me another beer thank You!
And.. I will do it for half that price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im serious..
Whatever Government cant do? I can do better..
6. Posted by 914 | July 30, 2009 2:52 AM |
Score: 5 (9 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 02:52
7. Posted by iwogisdead | July 30, 2009 7:29 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
I fully support a second stimulus plan aimed exclusively at creating free beer.
I am also announcing that I am available for the position of beer czar.
7. Posted by iwogisdead | July 30, 2009 7:29 AM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 07:29
8. Posted by iwogisdead | July 30, 2009 7:31 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
And, since this thread apparently requires double posts from everyone, here is my second one.
8. Posted by iwogisdead | July 30, 2009 7:31 AM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 07:31
9. Posted by JLawson | July 30, 2009 7:47 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Here's my first post...
9. Posted by JLawson | July 30, 2009 7:47 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 07:47
10. Posted by JLawson | July 30, 2009 7:54 AM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
(Figured I'd mix things up a bit and have the content in the second...)
Man, it'd be interesting to track the accounting for this pathetic waste. How much money has been funneled to 'friends' who've promised they'll create jobs? And how could this DOLT think that such misappropriation could escape notice?Is this where we're headed, creating a third-world style kleptocracy where the prime reason to get into public office isn't to do good works or improve the general welfare, but to set yourself up to receive bribes and hellacious kickbacks, from both above and below?
10. Posted by JLawson | July 30, 2009 7:54 AM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 07:54
11. Posted by Grace | July 30, 2009 8:15 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
The democratic party is already a thugocracy - just look at the behind closed doors meetings with Rahm and the blue dogs. It is already a kleptocracy - look at the many examples (Charles Rangel, Chris Dodd, Jim Johnson, Wm. Jefferson, John Murtha), of thievery which doesn't seem to get much or any punishment.
The recent sweep in New Jersey may become an exception, but no mainstream media reports the political crooks are, with one exception, democrats
11. Posted by Grace | July 30, 2009 8:15 AM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 08:15
12. Posted by Hank | July 30, 2009 8:37 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Re: "Is this where we're headed, creating a third-world style kleptocracy where the prime reason to get into public office isn't to do good works or improve the general welfare, but to set yourself up to receive bribes and hellacious kickbacks, from both above and below?"
Well, that would explain the Cap & Trade environmental Bill.
12. Posted by Hank | July 30, 2009 8:37 AM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 08:37
13. Posted by sodak | July 30, 2009 10:18 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
why is there a law against pumping your own gas in Oregon? Are the Oregon citizens that incompetent or what?
13. Posted by sodak | July 30, 2009 10:18 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 10:18
14. Posted by bobdog | July 30, 2009 11:00 AM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Why, it's to prevent spills, doncha know. It takes a professional minimum wage worker to have the skills to pump such a toxic chemical.
Some states outlaw trigger locks on gas pumps, too. Others, like California, require high tech fume suckers on pump nozzles.
Now, if only there was a federal law banning texting from cell phones in cars. And Federal Compliance Checkpoints all over the country. Lots of checkpoints. Why, 250% of all traffic accidents are caused by truckers texting on cell phones! Chuck Schumer's going to put a stop to it!
If it wasn't for such forward thinking legislation, we'd all be dead by now, probably.
14. Posted by bobdog | July 30, 2009 11:00 AM |
Score: 2 (4 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 11:00
15. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 30, 2009 11:42 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Someone's clearly getting stimulated here. Sadly it's not the productive workers and entrepreneurs who were responsible for America's former prosperity, may it rest in peace.
15. Posted by P. Bunyan | July 30, 2009 11:42 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 11:42
16. Posted by Conservachef | July 30, 2009 12:10 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I'm a bit surprised that Hoosen hasn't shown up to pontificate (at length) on the subject. He's usually all over any news re: Oregon.
Probably trying to figure out how to spin this as good news for unions, which translates into good news for America!
16. Posted by Conservachef | July 30, 2009 12:10 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 12:10
17. Posted by Oyster | July 30, 2009 12:35 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
"And how could this DOLT think that such misappropriation could escape notice?"
Because it usually does?
17. Posted by Oyster | July 30, 2009 12:35 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 12:35
18. Posted by glenn | July 30, 2009 12:45 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Ah, socialism, that wonderfully humane and decent way of distributing resources that works until you run out of other peoples money.
18. Posted by glenn | July 30, 2009 12:45 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on July 30, 2009 12:45
19. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | July 31, 2009 8:24 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Where's Hooson to chime in? Isn't this his backyard?
19. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | July 31, 2009 8:24 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 08:24
20. Posted by Les Nessman | July 31, 2009 12:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I guess this is another form of 'Cash for Clunkers'. Shovel out some serious cash for a clunker of a 'job'.
20. Posted by Les Nessman | July 31, 2009 12:05 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on July 31, 2009 12:05