From the Fact Check Desk: The 2,000th Stimulus Project
EmailABC News’ Lisa Chinn reports:
President Obama today touted the approval of the 2,000th transportation project under the aegis of the Recovery Act .
At an event at the US Department of Transportation in Washington, DC, Mr. Obama said he was "proud to utter the two rarest phrases in the English language – projects are being approved ahead of schedule, and they are coming in under budget.”
We fact checked that statement and found a couple of problems.
While it is true that there are 2,000 transportation projects that have been approved by the Department of Transportation, there are not 2000 projects underway, as the president’s remarks might lead you to believe.
That of course, begs the question: how many Recovery Act transportation projects actually have begun?
The administration isn’t saying.
And furthermore, states aren’t required by law to post what they’ve actually started until October, so we won’t really know until then.
As for projects ‘coming in under budget’ – that doesn’t mean that projects have been completed, as the phrase would suggest. Instead, the Department of Transportation explains it this way: "Bids are coming in consistently under engineering estimates due to incredible competition for this work."
Which means, in plain speak, that the contractors are bidding cheap….but anybody who ever had work done knows the bid isn’t always what the cost turns out to be.
– Lisa Chinn
Please Note: Secretary LaHood will be a guest on ABCNews.com’s "Top Line" Tuesday at noon ET.
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If the president was trying to lead us to believe that 2000 stimulus projects were underway, why did he say “2000 stimulus projects have been approved”?
The president’s remarks lead ME to believe exactly what he said.
You admit that what he said was accurate; then YOU change his wording and claim that something he DID NOT say was problematic. Seems like you’re the one trying to mislead.
Posted by: CarolinaGirl | April 13, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
In other words….another day, another big O Lie and exaggeration. So much for transparency and a new dawn in Washington politics.
But….the O supporters will continue to be blind to his lies, and see that everything he does and says and touches is just oh so perfect, and deem him a hero in every regard, the greatest president ever, and name schools and streets after him, with his face on mt rushmore.
Yeeeeahhhhhh right. After an embarassing trip to Europe where he insulted his own country, this is the greatest we have?
LOL
Posted by: decentAmerican | April 13, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Lisa should have specified it is the Vice President who said 2000 projects are “underway” and “underbudget”
Obama is careful at least when his teleprompter is working, Biden spouts off with exaggeration. Sound familiar????
Look behind you, Joe, everyone is FOLLOWING …your words and checking them against reality!!!
Posted by: robert b | April 13, 2009, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Untethered capitalism will kill democracy deader than socialism or even communism ever could because it will make us all so POOR that we’ll be fighting over scraps of food in the street and defending our homes from roving bands of armed robbers.
Alright, maybe that’s hyperbole. Or maybe not. That’s what’s happened in Mexico in the past five years.
But this IS true: In order for democracy to flourish, capitalism must be tethered with:
Regulation. If you let capitalism get away with murder it WILL start murdering everything in sight.
Separation of Bank and State. Once the capitalists and their bankers are in control of the Treasury and the Executive Office, they WILL do all they can to become richer and more powerful.
National Borders. A global world run by a very few rich men is NOT good for democracy. Our president should be prosecuting a foreign policy of Us VERSUS Them because that’s what will KEEP US SAFE and PROSPEROUS.
And excuse me for being so bold, but isn’t that what we elect the president to do? To keep US safe and to keep US prosperous? No offense to foreign countries — I think most of you are great and would love to visit. And I wish you all the best of luck with all your efforts to elect presidents who will work to keep YOU safe and prosperous. Heck, I want our governments to work together and help each other where and when they can because most forms of peace and prosperity really AREN’T zero-sum propositions. But I gotta say that the president of the United States is supposed to be doing everything he can to ensure that the American people (not the people of Earth) are the healthiest, richest, best educated, and most safe citizens in the world.
I have heard ENOUGH of New World Orders and Global Citizens. I want to hear a hell of a lot more about a New American Order and American Citizens.
For goodness’ sake — when did all the grownups become so stupid?
Posted by: Poorme | April 13, 2009, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
“.the O supporters will continue to be blind to his lies, and see that everything he does and says and touches is just oh so perfect, and deem him a hero in every regard, the greatest president ever, and name schools and streets after him, with his face on mt rushmore.”
Just because its fun!
Gallup Daily: 63% Job Approval
Also:
Over two-thirds of Americans — 71% — have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in President Obama to do or recommend the right thing for the economy, a much higher level of confidence than is given to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, or the Democratic or Republican leaders in Congress.
Americans are not overwhelmingly positive about either the Democratic or the Republican leaders in Congress. Still, the Democrats fare better on a comparative basis. Fifty-one percent of Americans have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in the Democratic leaders, compared to 38% in the Republican leaders.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 13, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
“While it is true that there are 2,000 transportation projects that have been approved by the Department of Transportation, there are not 2000 projects underway, as the president’s remarks might lead you to believe.”
He did not say 2000 projects were underway.
He said 2000 projects have been approved.
We have enough double speak and weasel wording from our government and political entities, do we really need fake controversy created by the press?
Posted by: Ryan C | April 13, 2009, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Look, these cats pointed out the 2000 projects have probably already done a great deal of services to the poor communities which otherwise would have not afforded it for projects including ones that fill in the pot holes of your neighborhood streets.
Besides, Pb0 has made a great start in less than 100 days, already creating 900 jobs! There are only 2,999,100 jobs to go.
What more could you ask for?! Another $T deficit?
Posted by: two cats | April 13, 2009, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
He did not say 2000 projects were underway.
He said 2000 projects have been approved.
Posted by: Ryan C | Apr 13, 2009 2:45:20 PM
=====
Ryan C is absolutely right. Words do matter and our Greatest Lead has been so good at it. You can look at in any ways, up and down, left and right, in and out. They all are covered.
Posted by: fat guy | April 13, 2009, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
What world are these guys (obama and biden) living on?
Posted by: John Cruikshank | April 13, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
With all of the billions floating around and those who brought us here are getting handsomely rewarded, where is our bailout money?
steve
Posted by: steve | April 13, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
I think I now understand what the administration means by ‘Shovel Ready’!!
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 13, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Lisa Chenn writes:
As for projects ‘coming in under budget’ – that doesn’t mean that projects have been completed, as the phrase would suggest. Instead, the Department of Transportation explains it this way: “Bids are coming in consistently under engineering estimates due to incredible competition for this work.”
1. Can’t somebody just muzzle the touter-in-chief?
2. Who’s doing the “engineering estimates”?
Posted by: Pants on Fire | April 13, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
Jake you’re good but sometimes it’s benefecial to take a little self inventory. You’re starting to get a bit petty on your white house reporting.
Posted by: watching | April 13, 2009, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
The MSM/supporters are so happy that Obama no longer looks like Jimmy Carter(for the moment)…
they don’t even care that his orders caused three Muslim teenage thugs
to be blown away.
If Bush had done this he would be called a murderer and warmonger.
Posted by: nick | April 13, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
This IS Obama and Biden we are talking about.
Not exactly two people that you can rely on for hard facts. Whatever looks and sounds good–their supporters will believe it.
Remember–Obama didn’t bow.
Believe him not your own eyes.
Posted by: bailey | April 13, 2009, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
Doesn’t matter what BO says.
It only matters that he said it.
It’s gospel.
Posted by: tyler | April 13, 2009, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
More double-speak smoke-and-mirrors slippery rhetoric.
Which is what we all expect from the Washington pols.
But wait… didn’t Obama run as the “new” politician? Ah yes… no more partisanship, absolute transparency, a new day is dawning.
Oh well. I didn’t think the Easter Bunny hopped around delivering all those eggs and Easter baskets either!
Posted by: marylou | April 13, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
“Remember–Obama didn’t bow.”‘
Righty-oh! He just let His backbone slip.
Posted by: Pants on Fire | April 13, 2009, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
“But wait… didn’t Obama run as the “new” politician?”
Yeah, but He turned out to be a … pirate. (And not with the no-kill prohibitions which, until yesterday — when Der Won bowed to the foreign-policy advice of er Geraldo Rivera and crooked cop Bernard Kerik — constrained the activities of those comparatively penny-ante players in Somalia.)
Posted by: Pants on Fire | April 13, 2009, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
President Obama had corn flakes for breakfast…he is destroying America!!
Posted by: godblessusa | April 13, 2009, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
Your “Fact Check” needs a “Fact Check” -
“Some thought it would take months to get to this point,” Obama said, speaking at the Department of Transportation with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “But we approved these 2,000 projects in just 41 days.”
(US News & World Report) & every other newspaper that was there..
Posted by: Ranger | April 13, 2009, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
Much ado about nothing again. Maybe it is time to start reporting news instead of making it up. This administration is working very hard as is eveident by the amount of issues being faced simultaneously. What did Bush do in his last 100 days?
Posted by: Lou-NH | April 13, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Hmm. Sounds like someone is trying to declare Mission Accomplished
Posted by: DJ | April 13, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
No offense to the navy snipers (who did an excellent job), but the pirate’s heads look like dinner plates at 30 meters, when they’re looking through their scopes. They managed to bring them in close, and get 3/3.
All in a day’s work for these boys.
I didn’t vote for Obama, but I’ll give him credit for giving the thumb’s up on wasting these losers.
Posted by: J House | April 13, 2009, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
By the same semantic analysis, CarolinaGirl, why did he say “…they are coming in under budget” rather than “…bids are below our estimates”? The standard meaning of “coming in under budget” is that the actual expenses incurred for a project were below the amount planned for the project.
Posted by: Publius | April 13, 2009, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
According to Biden’s remarks…
Biden will today say, according to his prepared remarks, that “the Recovery Act is being implemented with speed, transparency and accountability. Don’t take my word for it – just look at what’s happening today. We have the 2,000th transportation project now under way — that’s going to help create jobs, make it easier for folks to get to the jobs they have and improve our nation’s infrastructure all at the same time.”
This administration is fundamentally dishonest.
Posted by: Ariel | April 13, 2009, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
thanks jake for sharing this with us. it keeps these lefty loons with something to do besides talk about a dog wearing a lei. these people have been so scared about big boy until he let the navy shoot some pirates. they all know his policy is about what a four year would come up with. barry needs to focus on his ‘prompter and repeat what TOTUS tell him to say
Posted by: nat | April 13, 2009, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
Translation: Obama is a liar!
Posted by: jas | April 13, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Good piece of reporting. Thank you.
Posted by: tjp612 | April 13, 2009, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
Now I remember why I stopped paying attention to ABC…
Posted by: Chapman | April 13, 2009, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
I really find it amazing that we can release Terrorist into our Country that have SWORN to destroy the United States We will cloth them, feed them and give them Health Care. Nothing is mentioned by any of the main News Casters. We can send our troops to Iraq and they are called murderers. They can decapitate our Troops and you hear hardly anything about it on the main news channels. Now 3 Pirates are shot and killed and you would think that we just won World War 3. Those jerks deserved to die and I have no problem with that, however, if Bush would have made that decision I would be willing to bet that we would have had poles to see if he over reacted if the “16 year old child” was carrying a weapon and if so are there photos showing that he was. Now our new President gives the order to do what is necessary and that is all you can hear on the news. Unreal
Posted by: Don Park | April 13, 2009, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Yes, Don Park, it is unreal…
Posted by: tjp612 | April 13, 2009, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
THIS IS THE SO STUPID. IF THE DOT HAS APPROVED 2,000 PROJECTS THEY ARE IN FACT ON THE WAY. I DID NOT INTERPRET IT THE WAY ABC DID. WE HAVE ENOUGH SENSE TO KNOW NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE STARTED. IT MOST BE A SLOW NEWS DAY FOR YOU. THE RIGHT WING NUTS ARE HAVING FIELD DAY OVER NOTHING.
Posted by: Tonya | April 13, 2009, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
The thing is that these projects had to already be in the pipeline in order for them to be requested & approved… meaning that they were already in the states’ budgets & were going to happen anyway. Otherwise, there would not have been plans in place for approval. It takes years to develop highway improvement plans. We have a highway contractor in our town, who will get some of the contracts. He’s not hiring anyone additional – just using the employees he already has.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | April 13, 2009, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
Lisa Chinn wrote: “While it is true that there are 2,000 transportation projects that have been approved by the Department of Transportation, there are not 2000 projects underway, as the president’s remarks might lead you to believe.”
When did “are being approved” suddenly mean “are under way”?
Posted by: tanarg | April 13, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
Like many projects out there, the 2000th project was engineered several years ago but the plans were shelved because there wasn’t enough money in the state transportation budget for the project. But because of the stimulus funds, the project is being built years sooner than the Michigan DOT had planned.
A lot of the local construction companies began laying off many of their workers last year because there was zero work. Now, there will be ample opportunities for those guys to get their old jobs back.
And with all highway construction projects, there are sub-contracts for safety signage, tow-trucks, concrete work, steel work, pavement, surveying, engineering/inspection, electrical, earth work, and much more.
So looking at everyone who has a hand in a project of this magnitude, it shouldn’t be a stretch to see where 900 jobs can be recreated.
Posted by: Marcel | April 14, 2009, 12:07 am 12:07 am
The article states:
While it is true that there are 2,000 transportation projects that have been approved by the Department of Transportation, there are not 2000 projects underway, as the president’s remarks might lead you to believe.
*************************************
In my business and probably most businesses a project is considered “underway” when it gets approved so I fail to see the issue here. In addition, that is not what Obama said.
Posted by: Splitting Hairs | April 14, 2009, 12:54 am 12:54 am
Marcel – IF, and I mean IF, the projects were shelved, they couldn’t have been shelved too long ago or they wouldn’t be up to current codes & standards. The ones that are up & running are ones that hadn’t begun before the bill was approved, but were going to happen anyway. Example: our school district is doing a renovation project on the high school. It started back in October. If they had waited to start construction until after the bill was passed, it would have been covered in the money for schools, even though the district was planning to do the work anyway.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | April 14, 2009, 6:43 am 6:43 am
It doesn’t matter what Obama said, what matters is that when the money runs out, OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, these same construction companies will be where they were last month…laying off employees! The Government DOES NOT CREATE ANYTHING, not jobs, not economic recovery, NOTHING. Government SPENDS OUR MONEY!
See me when all of these 2,000 projects are completed, and we’ll discuss the unemployment rate again…!
Posted by: Thomas Dockery | April 14, 2009, 10:51 am 10:51 am
Obama is a joke and more states are realizing it.
Posted by: Former Lib | April 14, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Transparency??
Posted by: Jack | April 14, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
Transparency??
Posted by: Jack | April 14, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
all you people stop disliking the president because of his race. dam, the man can’t clean up what bush messed up in a few days. give him some credit.
Posted by: marshell | April 20, 2009, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
Marshell, why do you assume that if a person does not like Obama or his policys it is because of his race. I am so tired of people thowing around the race card. There were many things that Bush did that I did not like, but no one accused me of being racist, but If I disagree with Obama, than I most be a racist. The race card is used way to much, and it is old and tiresome.
Posted by: Jaye | April 23, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm