Over at The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, Walter Alarkon is reporting that the Obama Administration is set to announce that the $787 billion stimulus package “saved or created approximately 650,000 jobs.”
This comes a day after The Associated Press reported “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)
Two weeks ago, CNN reported that the government can’t track how many jobs have been saved, much less “created by the massive $787 billion” stimulus package.
“Gaffes In Federal Reports This Week About Stimulus Have Called Into Question The Government's Ability To Accurately Track How Many Jobs Are Being Created By The Massive $787 Billion Recovery Act.” (David Goldman, “On Stimulus Jobs Reporting, A Big ‘Oops,’” CNN, 10/18/09)
“The Data In Thursday's Reports Were Filled With Mistakes. . .” (David Goldman, “On Stimulus Jobs Reporting, A Big ‘Oops,’” CNN, 10/18/09)
“‘The Data Is Rife With Mistakes,’ Said Craig Jennings, Senior Federal Fiscal Policy Analyst At OMB Watch. ‘When You Put Out Data That Hasn't Yet Been Checked, It Undermines Transparency, Because You Are Putting Out Wrong Information.’” (David Goldman, “On Stimulus Jobs Reporting, A Big ‘Oops,’” CNN, 10/18/09)
The Obama Administration's imminent announcement of all these jobs saved or created also comes on the heels of a report by the House Ways & Means Committee that found “49 States And The District Of Columbia Have Lost Jobs Since Stimulus Was Enacted.” (House Ways & Means Committee, Press Release, “7 Months After Stimulus 49 Of 50 States Have Lost Jobs,” 10/21/09)
And this jobs saved or created "achievment" comes in light of some very, very bad unemployment figures.
Unemployment Rate Stands At “26-Year High Of 9.8%.” “The U.S. labor market weakened in September as 263,000 payroll jobs were lost and the unemployment rate rose a tenth to a 26-year high of 9.8%, the Labor Department reported.” (Rex Nutting, “U.S. Job Losses Accelerate To 263,000 In September,” Market Watch, 10/2/09)
Real Unemployment Rate At 17%. “An alternative gauge of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers and those forced to work part-time, rose to 17% from 16.8%.” (Rex Nutting, “U.S. Job Losses Accelerate To 263,000 In September,” Market Watch, 10/2/09)
Somebody over at The White House must be using some Enron-style book-cooking.
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