FACT CHECK: GOP joins murky math on stimulus jobs

[Lone_Star_Dem]

WASHINGTON – House Republicans on Friday declared the nation's economic stimulus efforts a "dismal failure." But the convoluted math they used to disparage the recovery is as murky and meaningless as the White House formula championing the stimulus.

Led by the senior Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., committee members argued simultaneously that the government was spending too much money and not spending it fast enough.

They argued that projects are mired in red tape, that the slow pace of transportation spending is to blame for rising unemployment, and that the stimulus was not targeted to areas that needed jobs the most.

A look at their claims:

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MICA SAID: Transportation money is slow to get out because of "red tape" slowing things down.

THE FACTS: Republicans are correct that only a small percentage of the $48 billion in transportation money has been spent. But red tape is a red herring. In fact, stimulus projects have to be ready to begin quickly. Projects that have yet to clear permitting, environmental review or other bureaucratic hurdles won't get funded because they won't meet the law's deadlines.

Much more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_stimulus_murky_math;_ylt=AoHd.hAUChhSeJr1G.8.byys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTJjc3RmZmNjBGFzc2V0Ay9hcC91c19zdGltdWx1c19tdXJreV9tYXRoBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9oZWFkbGluZV9saXN0BHNsawNmYWN0Y2hlY2tnb3A-