NH INSIDER

Franklin Center In The News
In Case You Missed It

Yesterday, Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity was once again mentioned as a trustworthy watchdog for the American people during a spotlight on Fox News’ Glenn Beck Show. Citing our investigative work on Recovery.gov, Glenn Beck’s plug for us is only one of the thousands of mainstream media outlets that have recognized the Franklin Center and our network of non-profit journalists as a non-partisan and trusted source of news and information. 

We wanted to share the clip with you in case you missed it. For more information on the work of Franklin Center please visit us at www.FranklinCenterHQ.org.

 
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November 18 – Watchdog.org has prepared the nation’s first state-by-state investigation into the phantom districts that have received more than $6.4 billion in stimulus funds.

Jim Scarantino of New Mexico Watchdog first alerted the nation of the troubling findings on Recovery.org. His investigation into stimulus payments courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 found that millions of dollars were poured into congressional districts that did not exist to “create or save” jobs that were created out of thin air.

Similar reports began pouring out of every state. Watchdog.org reporter Bill McMorris has gathered all the information discovered by journalists across the nation and conducted his own investigation into the information found on Recovery.org. His research will take the reader through phantom districts in all 50 states, four territories and Washington D.C.

Findings of Interest:

·         A non-existent district in Tennessee received nearly $41 million in stimulus funds and used that money to produce 0 jobs. District 00 received all but $13 million that was sent to the seven phantom districts in the state, but produced fewer jobs than the non-existent 11th district, which created or saved 3 jobs using $39,000. 

·         More than $2 million was given to the 99th District of North Dakota, a state which has only one congressional district. In order to qualify for 99 districts, North Dakota would have to have a population of about 60 million people, almost 24 million more people than California.

 “Your Guide to the Stimulus, District by (Phantom) District” provides a state by state overview of federal stimulus funds  sent to phantom congressional districts and the number of jobs “created or saved” as a result of the spending. This latest story, found on Watchdog.org, provides links to articles and state analysis reported by a network of watchdog journalists.

Click here to read “Your Guide to the Stimulus, District by (Phantom) District” by Bill McMorris and go to Watchdog.org to get the latest news and updates about your state and local government.

Govt. Watchdog uncovers stimulus spending and job creation in non-existent congressional districts

November 17th, 2009 —Watchdog news sites from across the country are reporting that billions in federal stimulus funds have been used to create or save jobs in non-existent congressional districts.

In a story first reported by New Mexico Watchdog (http://newmexicowatchdog.org), the Obama administration reported millions in spending and job creation in congressional districts that do not exist. Information provided by Recovery.gov showed that stimulus funds went to New Mexico’s twenty-second, thirty-fifth, forty and fourth congressional districts.  The state only has three.

The NM Watchdog story inspired a national investigation by watchdog news groups into the stimulus tracking site.  In all, nearly $6.4 billion was used to “create or save” nearly thirty-thousand jobs in non-existing districts – 440 to be exact.

Watchdog.org, a project of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity (www.franklincenterhq.org), is keeping a running tally of stimulus spending and jobs created/saved in non-existing congressional districts, as reported by each state watchdog news organization.

Mainstream media organizations such as the Washington Examiner have picked up the Watchdog.org story and ABC News has launched its own investigation.

Watchdog.org news groups are continuing their investigation into the billions spent to “save or create” jobs in non-existing congressional districts.  To read the complete story by Bill McMorris click here and go http://watchdog.org/news/ to check out the latest news on this developing story as well a state by state breakdown expected to be published later today.