» News
White House holds ‘We Can’t Wait’ funds for almost four years
The administration has waited three years and seven months to implement a new “We Can’t Wait” project that redirects unspent appropriations to fund new construction projects.
The wait delayed the spending announcement until 11 weeks prior to the November election.
The announcement is part of the administration’s “We Can’t Wait” effort, which highlights the president’s authority to change spending, law enforcement priorities and regulations, independent of Congress and the courts.
The redirected $473 million includes funds from appropriation laws passed up to 10 years ago, Josh Easton, the White House’ deputy press secretary, announced Aug. 17.
“Instead of seeing these funds sit idle… we’ll use them to put Americans back to work,” he said. “Some of them are nearly 10 years old,” he announced.
However, even though the money is being released, it is unlikely to have any impact on the economy for several months. That’s because federal funds come with many regulatory and paperwork requirements that need to be processed.
Those requirements greatly reduced the economic impact of the $787 billion 2009 stimulus bill.
Diann
August 18th, 2012
“We can wait until it helps our reelection chances” fund.
tripseven
August 18th, 2012
Another desperate move…going Backward to early Bush years scrounging for Change.
Stranded in Sonoma
August 18th, 2012
I hope that this money goes to states with Republican governors and they stall until the election. Then tell Obama to go pound sand.
bitterclinger
August 18th, 2012
This is classic FDR. Buy off all the states that have the regime jittery. Some pundits were claiming this would be the case when the porkulus was newly minted.
Romney could make hay out of this for weeks! Notice how Zero is not applying this to the debt or to medicare — only his vote-counting buddies.
skh.pcola
August 18th, 2012
Another example of why letting the federal (or any) government take more money from the productive is counterproductive. Bureaucrats have one, and only one, state of mind: spend, Spend, SPEND! Instead of withering on the vine, we need to throttle big government until the redundancy and supra-constitutional elements are choked to death. There are myriad departments and programs that have no practical value and exist as jobs and pension programs for filthy appartchiks.
bexbo
August 18th, 2012
Why does Obama always say construction workers build roads & bridges? I thought it was houses & such.
vetgal1970
August 18th, 2012
So all of a sudden he has a way to help unemployment? Gee what a surprise. After 3 long years of listening to the left griping about the condition of our roads and bridges, and there they were saving the money until it would be most beneficial to HIM. The long term unemployed should be absolutely livid that he held this until right before the election, and I hope they are smart enough to look past their desperation and recognize that HE created it by sitting on those funds. I can’t wait to see the hoops the states will have to jump through to get access to those funds, and who he will try to blame for the delays that will result.
66chevelle
August 18th, 2012
@bexbo–Why does Obama always say construction workers build roads & bridges? I thought it was houses & such.
Because to Obama, “construction workers” means union workers employed or contracted by fed, state or local govts. Houses and commercial structures are built by Mexicans, who get their portion of stimulus funds via other avenues.
Bexbo
August 18th, 2012
@66chevelle Are there any circumstances in which a union is good? (I’m not a troll.
I’m just trying to learn.)
tripseven
August 18th, 2012
@bexbo…It’s all about balance. Back before unions, employees were taken advantage of (textiles etc). Then came unions and “fairness”. Now unions have become too powerful and reign over job creators. They have become PC for cashola…AKA, sell-out to the Constitution! Ask yourself this very simple question…why would Barry give this new-found-cash-stash to union entities rather than the public sector, deficit reduction, medicare etc? Answer: for their fucking vote and to make it look like he actually did something for this country other than complete destruction! This is the next step Forward towards Marxism.
What we are witnessing now is true-freedom-loving Americans are opening their eyes to the degradation of our republic and rule of law, mostly thanks to the “new media” such as iOTW websites!
Lets pray it’s not too late…
PS sorry for the f-bomb…Im pissed!