Stimulus in Hand, States Race to Start Projects

NE, CA, MO, and MD all moved immediately with federal dollars

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Mar 17, 2009 10:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – Four states—Nebraska, Missouri, California, and Maryland—claim to be the first to use their federal stimulus money, the New York Times reports. "Our project is definitely the first one to use shovels," said an official in California, where forest trail work started yesterday. But shovels aside, Missouri might win the prize. A spokesman there said they started bridge repairs “within a few minutes of President Obama signing the bill.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A worker with the California Conservation Corps clears hiking trails with other CCC workers in the San Bernardino National Forest in Hemet, Calif., on Monday. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Eight of the 18 CCC workers were hired by the US Forest Service as part of the recently approved federal stimulus plan. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Within a few minutes of President Obama signing the bill, the highway department approved that project,
and construction started on the project. - Shane Peck, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation

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COMMENTS

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

Guest

Mar 19, 2009 4:02 AM CDT

It's spending, not stimulus! Only private enterprise can create jobs. I have no clue what government employment is. Apparenlty not jobs though. Are government contractor employees in jobs? It's spending, not stimulus! (Sorry, I just really like saying that)

Guest

Mar 17, 2009 8:57 PM CDT

BS, nothing in government happens that fast.

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Just a reminder: This is not the Great Depression.
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'Shovel-ready' is a slippery term
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Politics • US

California • Maryland • Nebraska • Missouri • infrastructure • economic stimulus package

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Stimulus in Hand, States Race to Start Projects