George Mason University’s Mercatus Center has compiled data on first quarter ARRA stimulus spending.
For our 4th Congressional district, the summary shows $86.4 million spent in ARRA funds for the first fiscal quarter of this year. The figure is well below the average dollars awarded per district of $519 million spent per district nationwide.
The data also shows 182 jobs and 111 grants and contracts for our 4th district, compared with a national average of 159 contracts.
The information is here.
McClintock’s letter “supporting” county broadband bid — where he was highly critical of ARRA — is here.
Thanks to Russ Steele for pointing to this report.
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To be fair, you should point out the political bent to the ARRA funds distribution. The House was comprised as follows: 59% Democrats and 41% Republicans, yet distribution of ARRA funds were distributed 74% to Democrat districts and 26% to Republican districts.
People should be outraged that these funds were distributed more to Democrats than Republicans by such a wide margin. Partisan politics should have been left at the door in the distribution of these funds, yet partisan politics have tainted the entire process.
The imbalance in the distribution is a partisan systemic problem that we should all get together to oppose.
If the Republican congressmen worked as hard to get the funds as the Democratic congressmen, then I agree, Barry. I don’t know if that is the case. In Mr. McClintock’s case, the criticism is that he did not; that his ideology stood in the way of serving his constituents in this particular arena.
Of course, the most conservative Republicans were damned if you do, damned if you don’t – take the $ and be called hypocrites, or reject it and be called uncaring of their constituents. I think they painted themselves into their own corner.
Also called “cutting off your nose to spite your face”.
McClintock and all conservative republicans wailed like scalded cats when offered ARRA–Barry. They sniffed and whined and looked at the funds like it was some fancy, exotic cheese that they weren’t used to. They obfuscated, prevaricated, and did nothing to ensure their constituents benefit AT ALL. Including small businesses, including cops and firefighters and teachers and constiuents in general. Don’t stand there and tell us the GOP congressman didn’t sniff, put on their whiney, babyfaces and stamp their collective feet like Rumpelstiltskin on an arrogance jag–they did. Those were the facts…the party of No sold out their countys while snickering at our president AND the unemployed. It was and is reprehensible…so McClintock, et al…don’t try the de-nile. Its not in Egypt anymore EITHER Barry…
(Note: Comment updated w/Lungren and Herger’s figures)
Barry,
You need to be careful there: Staunch conservative Wally Herger’s 2nd district scored $190 million, landed 185 contracts and created 486 jobs, for example — far better than us.
BTW, here’s the figures for conservative Dan Lungren’s 3rd district:
$273.9 million, 69 contracts and 617 jobs — also besting our 4th district.
What’s wrong with Tom? For starters, he’s a Congressional rookie and has a big ideological mouth (as witnessed by his statement in his letter of “support” for broadband). He doesn’t listen to his constituents, he talks to them. He’s a “carpetbagger” who doesn’t understand our district issues. In fact, he doesn’t even live here.
We need a guy who can “bring home the bacon.” Maybe it’s Wally Herger. LOL.
Those choosing to replace McClintock best make intention known soon and calling McClintock out daily with every hurtful vote or comment from what is starting to be referred to in more and more ways as a knowitall.
Any $$$ McClintock was at photo op for that he opposed would be interesting to know.
Good for Herger and Lundren! Kudos…neither one were involved in the tea party were they? That might be the difference. Even Arnold didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth as I remember….
Instead of the term “knowitall”, I prefer the term “uppity”…;)
Hi Sharon! Glad to hear from you and I hope all is well with you. I understand that your young man may be going to Antarctica soon! Very cool.
Wally Herger’s numbers are way below the national average also. I would argue that it is not for lack of trying, but because Herger and McClintock are Republicans.
Tom is doing a great job. He heads the water and power subcommittee and on the budget committee. This is unheard of for a second term congressman.
Further, Tom knows the issues of this district better than any of us. In fact, I am impressed with his depth of knowledge. During the townhall, he was asked a question about the mustang population on the BLM, and he answered the question. That is a narrow issue, yet Tom knew about it.
I would suggest that you attend a townhall and see for yourself his depth of knowledge in connection with the issues affecting our district. Listening to the congressman may change your views and get them more in line with the vast majority of this congressional district.
Barry,
“Vast majority”? LOL. Our county is going “purple,” Prop. 23 lost, the same CABPRO/tea party/NCRCC contingent could not get a county-wide candidate elected to any local office this past year (except longtimer Sue Horne), and the vote between McClintock and Curtis/Emery combined was about evenly split in our county. A county that crows about electing GOP candidates to state-wide office in California (a deep blue state) raises more concerns about “isolationism” than working together. “Stubbornly backwater” is how one reader here puts it.
We were scared away from the “nonpartisan” townhalls after watching that one on health care I posted the other day. I saw you in it (looked like you were furiously chewing some gum) while you held a mike up to a woman who made a highly partisan “we versus they” comment.
Tom needs to work a lot harder for the many people in our district who don’t agree with his extreme right views. As it turns out, both Herger and Lungren are bringing home more money than Tom to their districts, according to this study, first touted by Russ Steele’s blog, no less.
LOL! I was furiously chewing gum! Kim scolded me for that too…
Tom has also brought $50 million into the district in non-ARRA funding.
As I stated before and which you did not address, McClintock’s, Herger’s, and Lungren’s districts received far less than the national average. The national average for Democrat districts was $643 million while the national average for Republican districts was $340 million. The partisan disparity is striking, yet you do not have a problem with the partisanship in the distribution of ARRA funds. It is a problem with which you should be concerned as well.
Wrong pole, Barry, he was chosen to attend the training camp in Switzerland for the N. Pole expedition, but you’ve got the basics right. Thanks for expressing interest – how did you hear about it?
In general I much prefer to get my political news and opinions from written words – I find most political meetings to be rife with ideology, vagueness of facts and emotional skewing. In any case, I absorb facts better from reading than from listening. And I really have not liked McClintock’s emailing (spamming) me and his dinner-time phone calls, so I’m not terribly sympathetic to much coming from him. If it were coming from Ben (for whom I voted) I wouldn’t like the unsolicited calls and emails either. The emails stopped after I personally emailed Kim… for a while, now they’ve started up again – straight into my junk mailbox.
On another note, I am really appreciative of the more respectful tone you have been taking on this blog of late. Oh – and I loved your FB profile pic where you pursed up your mouth and frowned mightily after the silly Union comment about your offensively wide smile.
Sharon: William told me at his diving practice about the N. Pole! Very cool.
Tom is very direct at the townhalls and will answer your question. As I said before, you may not like his reasoning, but you will get an answer.
I do not recall being disrespectful in Jeff’s sandbox, but I am glad that you feel that way. BTW, uou could have called me during the election, and I would have told you anything that you wanted to know. I am the same person today as I was when I coached your son…
P.S. That picture is my favorite! Erin Pardini told me to look as if I was scolding my youngest daughter. She is so cute that my scolds do not last long…as you can tell from the picture!
Re: “furiously chewing gum!”
When driving long distance, I’ll drink a few Red Bulls and I’m the same way.
There is no bacon I can put finger own but the Obama $$$ sure has been put to good use by GV AND NEVADA COUNTY.
MCCLINTOCK….Not so much.
Just so you know, the women in my family have a family motto of sorts: It’s “I’m a mess–and I don’t know sh%#….
Barry, what and who exactly would that “other” funding be for? Wireless Broadband? Unemployment benefits? Medical Care for the Working and middle class? Um…J-O-B-S? If Jobs, whose exactly? Did he kick down for the lumberjack statue in GV? Did he get together with the new Nevada City Market and help that? Amgen maybe? The Arts Council? Do tell us what and who the “other” funds were “for”…including backing the Tea Party Patriots lil concerns…
I believe its time for Mr. McClintock to tell us all about his bacon bits….
Yep, bits is about right. More like bacon grease at the bottom of the pan. Something you chunk out, for the most part.
God gave us two ears and one mouth. Grams used to say use the ears twice as much as you use your mouth. Might learn something. Nobody wants to hear his right wing hogwash. Folks want action on jobs and roads and, yes, health care.
Out of the money that was received, how much made it to Nevada County?
Does anyone know that?