watchdog the stimulus-1

8/14/2019 Watchdog the Stimulus-1

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National Reporting Project:National Reporting Project:Watchdog the StimulusWatchdog the Stimulus

Covering the American RecoveryCovering the American Recoveryand Reinvestment Actand Reinvestment Act


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About that $787 billionAbout that $787 billion

Components of the Stimulus:Components of the Stimulus:

Tax credits: $288 billionTax credits: $288 billion

Entitlements: $224 billionEntitlements: $224 billion Grants, contracts, loans: $275 billionGrants, contracts, loans: $275 billion

Were focusing on the bottom twoWere focusing on the bottom two

Total spending: $499 billionTotal spending: $499 billion


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Where has the money gone so far?Where has the money gone so far?

$16 billion in federal contracts$16 billion in federal contracts data already releaseddata already released

$280 billion going to state and$280 billion going to state and

local governmentslocal governments data available tomorrowdata available tomorrow

Who can determine if thisWho can determine if this

money is spent wisely?money is spent wisely?


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Stimulus money funds projects inStimulus money funds projects in

your communitiesyour communities

Only local papers canOnly local papers cancover these projectscover these projects

They know theirThey know their

communitiescommunities They know theThey know the

prioritiespriorities

This is communityThis is communityjournalism at its finestjournalism at its finest


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APME, AP & Sunlight will helpAPME, AP & Sunlight will help

AP will provide RecoveryAP will provide Recoverydata and its expertisedata and its expertise

Sunlight Foundation can doSunlight Foundation can do

a Newstrain, Webinarsa Newstrain, Webinars APME will collect theAPME will collect the

stimulus stories so you canstimulus stories so you can Follow stories your colleaguesFollow stories your colleagues

have publishedhave published Get ideas from your peersGet ideas from your peers Have stories youve publishedHave stories youve published

shared with othersshared with others Give your peers ideasGive your peers ideas


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Types of stories you can findTypes of stories you can find

WeatherizationWeatherizationprogram fromprogram fromDOEDOE

$5 billion spent$5 billion spentoveralloverall

Local programLocal programgot $132 milliongot $132 million

Who got half theWho got half themoney?money?

Politically activePolitically activebuilders groupbuilders group


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Looking at who benefitsLooking at who benefits

What they found:What they found: Program 11 timesProgram 11 times

larger than normallarger than normal

Half goes to IndianaHalf goes to Indiana

Builders AssnBuilders Assn

IBA a big donor toIBA a big donor to

Gov. Mitch DanielsGov. Mitch Daniels Daniels decided whoDaniels decided who

gets Recovery fundsgets Recovery funds


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What projects are approvedWhat projects are approved

A bridge in Town ofA bridge in Town ofArena, Wis.Arena, Wis.

10 cars a day use it10 cars a day use it

Spending $426,000Spending $426,000to replace itto replace it

All paid withAll paid withstimulus dollarsstimulus dollars


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Whos getting contracts?Whos getting contracts?


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How many jobs were created or saved?How many jobs were created or saved?

Major purposeMajor purpose

of stimulusof stimulus

Hard to countHard to counta saved joba saved job

Can we reallyCan we reallytrust thesetrust thesenumbers?numbers?

Who will checkWho will checkthem?them?


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Weve only just begun to cover thisWeve only just begun to cover this

Low traffic border crossings get upgradesLow traffic border crossings get upgrades

worth $420 millionworth $420 million


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but have already found problemsbut have already found problems

$272 million in stimulus grants from FAA$272 million in stimulus grants from FAA

to low priority projectsto low priority projects


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Getting started isnt hardGetting started isnt hard

You begin with the best federal data on local spendingYou begin with the best federal data on local spending

ever available from Recovery.govever available from Recovery.gov


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Some very detailed descriptionsSome very detailed descriptions


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AP cleans it upAP cleans it up

Data from AP comes readyData from AP comes readyto useto use

AP makes it available toAP makes it available to

member papers quicklymember papers quickly


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So you can find local informationSo you can find local information

Find all the bridges getting stimulus funds in your readership areaFind all the bridges getting stimulus funds in your readership area


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And explore itAnd explore it

InteractiveInteractivemap from APmap from AP

See jobsSee jobscreatedcreated By stateBy state

By industryBy industry By countyBy county


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But what can you do with the data?But what can you do with the data?


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Drill down to recipientsDrill down to recipients

Joint venture of Jacobs Engineering & StantecJoint venture of Jacobs Engineering & Stantec

Awarded a $220,535 contractAwarded a $220,535 contract

Precisely 0.63 jobs created or savedPrecisely 0.63 jobs created or saved


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Background Jacobs EngineeringBackground Jacobs Engineering

PACER searchPACER searchfor the companyfor the company

Turns up lots ofTurns up lots ofcourt casescourt cases

Lets take a lookLets take a lookat oneat one


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Multi-million dollar lawsuitMulti-million dollar lawsuit

Class action suitClass action suit

Workers sue for:Workers sue for:

Unpaid overtimeUnpaid overtime Unpaid wagesUnpaid wages

Other violationsOther violations

Proposed $4.25Proposed $4.25million settlementmillion settlement

Still pendingStill pending


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Are they politically active?Are they politically active?

OpenSecrets.orgOpenSecrets.orgtells us:tells us: They have a PACThey have a PAC

Top contributor toTop contributor to

38 members38 members

Theyve hiredTheyve hired

lobbyistslobbyists


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Jacobs Engineerings PACJacobs Engineerings PAC

See who they giveSee who they give

to usingto using OpenSecrets.orgOpenSecrets.org

FEC.govFEC.gov AppropriatorsAppropriators

among recipients:among recipients:

Sen. Kit BondSen. Kit Bond Rep. Jo AnnRep. Jo Ann

EmersonEmerson


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Their federal lobbyingTheir federal lobbying

Data available from Senate & House and OpenSecrets.orgData available from Senate & House and OpenSecrets.org

Jacobs spent $180K while ARRA was being consideredJacobs spent $180K while ARRA was being considered


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PAC gives to state & local polsPAC gives to state & local pols

Sources:Sources: State ethics committeeState ethics committee

sitessites

Natl Inst. on Money inNatl Inst. on Money in

State PoliticsState Politics Gives to St. Louis MayorGives to St. Louis Mayor

Francis SlayFrancis Slay

Gives to lots of stateGives to lots of state

races around countryraces around country


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Do a lot of this legwork onlineDo a lot of this legwork online

Lots of disclosureLots of disclosureon the Webon the Web

GovernmentGovernmentsources availablesources available

NonpartisanNonpartisannonprofits toononprofits too

Most informationMost informationfreefree


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Sunlight puts data on your iPhoneSunlight puts data on your iPhone

App that lets you see stimulus recipientsApp that lets you see stimulus recipients


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But only your papers can tell usBut only your papers can tell us

Is the stimulusIs the stimulusworking?working?

Is it wellIs it wellmanaged?managed?

Is it helping?Is it helping?

WhatsWhatsworking?working?

Whats not?Whats not?


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When you get back to the newsroomWhen you get back to the newsroom

youll have this datayoull have this data

availableavailable

youll know what toyoull know what tostart looking forstart looking for

Webinars will beWebinars will becoming Nov. 5coming Nov. 5

Stay tuned to APMEStay tuned to APME

watchdog the stimulus-1

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