"In short, the nation has not, to date, realized the potential economic benefits of the $5 billion in Recovery Act funds allocated to the Weatherization Program," Inspector General Gregory H. Friedman wrote. "The job creation impact of what was considered to be one of the department's most 'shovel ready' projects has not materialized."
Also, low-income residents "have not enjoyed the significant reductions in energy consumption and improved living conditions promised as part of the massive Recovery Act weatherization effort," Friedman wrote.
No jobs, no results.Oh, wait. There ARE results: national debt.
UPDATE: Stuff that the JS article didn't mention: (HT: Just One Minute)
The Recovery Act required that recipients of weatherization funds pay laborers at least the prevailing wage as determined under the Davis-Bacon Act. This requirement was not previously applicable to weatherization activities, and as such, grantees lacked information on which to base wage rates. In response, the Department asked the Department of Labor (Labor) to provide necessary wage determinations for each of the geographical areas expected to receive weatherization funds. Labor then began to conduct wage surveys across the country to determine the appropriate wage for weatherization work.
That meant an 8-month delay on projects for most of the country.
Nothing like a little Big Labor screeching to obtain no jobs and no results.
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