The Associated Press is reporting that “President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan overstates by thousands the number of jobs created or saved through the stimulus program. . .” (Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” The Associated Press, 10/29/09)
In One Instance, Jobs Created Or Saved Data Inflated By At “Least 5,000 Jobs.” “The government's first accounting of jobs tied to the $787 billion stimulus program claimed more than 30,000 positions paid for with recovery money. But that figure is overstated by least 5,000 jobs, according to an Associated Press review of a sample of stimulus contracts.” (Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” The Associated Press, 10/29/09)
“Some Counts Were More Than 10 Times As High As The Actual Number Of Jobs.” “The AP review found some counts were more than 10 times as high as the actual number of jobs; some jobs credited to the stimulus program were counted two and sometimes more than four times; and other jobs were credited to stimulus spending when none was produced.” (Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” The Associated Press, 10/29/09)
• “A company working with the Federal Communications Commission reported that stimulus money paid for 4,231 jobs, when about 1,000 were produced.” (Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” The Associated Press, 10/29/09)
• “A Georgia community college reported creating 280 jobs with recovery money, but none was created from stimulus spending.” (Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” The Associated Press, 10/29/09)
• “A Florida child care center said its stimulus money saved 129 jobs but used the money on raises for existing employees.” (Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” The Associated Press, 10/29/09)
Obama’s “Recovery” Website Still Making False Claims. “As of early Thursday, on its recovery.org Web site, the government was still citing 30,383 as the actual number of jobs linked so far to stimulus spending, despite the mistakes the White House has now acknowledged and said were being corrected.” (Brett J. Blackledge and Matt Apuzzo, “Stimulus Jobs Overstated By Thousands,” The Associated Press, 10/29/09)
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