Stimulus Away

It's almost certain that the White House had this timed to coincide with the signing of the stimulus bill by President Obama, but it is refreshing to see at least one promise project actually underway.

Associated Press

Mo. bridge project touted as first under stimulus

TUSCUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Construction crews have started working on a replacement for a rural Missouri bridge within minutes of President Barack Obama's signing the $787 billion stimulus package.

Officials expected the Missouri bridge project would be the first in the nation to get started under the stimulus plan.

As Obama signed the bill Tuesday in Denver, Missouri transportation officials met at the bridge and quickly approved construction of its replacement.

The 1,000-foot-long bridge being replaced spans a Missouri River tributary about 30 miles southwest of the state Capitol in Jefferson City. It was built in 1933 but was closed to large trucks in 2007 because of structural concerns.

The state also planned to begin work Tuesday on three other highway projects.

It's fantastic political theatre. Hopefully more of the promised projects for needed infrastructure as well as tax relief will be in the pipeline soon as well. After all, it is law now.

However, there still could have been at least 48 hours to review the compromise stimulus package before shoving it through Congress. Was the administration afraid that it would not pass had that been the case?


The pertinent point comes 1:05 from the start.

Do we know what our government is doing?