Obama's stimulus numbers look promising
The Obama Administration has released its first broad report on jobs created or saved by the stimulus program. Focused on $150 billion in spending of the total $787 billion package, the report estimates that around 640,000 jobs have been created or saved nation-wide. The numbers are controversial, with Republicans already claiming that they're a bit to optimistic. But the actual impact of the stimulus dollars has proven difficult to nail down.
Probably the best reporting on the subject out there comes from our friends at ProPublica who have been tracking the stimulus program all year.
We're keeping an eye on jobs and joblessness during the recession, so these numbers are definitely of interest to us. We've seen a few personal stories from users here on Current:
User diabolical44 writes:
Anyone out there gotten work thanks to the stimulus program? Tell us your story.
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The Obama administration continued to maintain that the actual number of jobs created so far is closer to 1 million. The reports did not reflect measures such as tax cuts, boosted unemployment benefits or jobs created indirectly by stimulus spending. A total of $339 billion has been drawn down so far under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"Every dollar being spent from Recovery Act is helping put someone back to work," said Vice President Joe Biden, citing 80,000 construction jobs and 325,000 education positions created or saved by stimulus funds. "My message today is that we're on track."
Probably the best reporting on the subject out there comes from our friends at ProPublica who have been tracking the stimulus program all year.
We're keeping an eye on jobs and joblessness during the recession, so these numbers are definitely of interest to us. We've seen a few personal stories from users here on Current:
User diabolical44 writes:
I graduated college with a Bachelors degree in May of 2008. The economy went to complete shit soon there after. Now , almost a year and a half later, I still have no job. I've worked here and there, waiting tables, delivering pizza, packing boxes in a warehouse, but no real job. No career to speak of. No sign of hope either.
Anyone out there gotten work thanks to the stimulus program? Tell us your story.
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- Iran on nukes: No deal
- Honduras deal reached - Zelaya to return to power?
- The economy grows again - Champagne time yet?
- The Tamil Tigers and innovations in IEDs
- The UN Cuba vote and Sean Penn's scoop
