Each morning on the Stimulus Watchdog blog, we'll be rounding up all the economic stimulus coverage. Consider it your morning espresso shot of stimulus.
Recovery.gov just got its first major face-lift since going live two weeks ago. It now has a state-by-state breakdown of transportation funding and a new column of news releases. According to the government Web site, today is the day that federal agencies will begin to report what they've been doing with stimulus money.
"The first contract will be awarded to American Infrastructure, a family business in Pennsylvania that will be resurfacing a road in Maryland," President Obama said this morning. "More than 100 other people will begin receiving funds today, as well. Over the next few weeks, we will launch more than 200 construction projects across this country, fueling growth in an industry that's been hard hit by our economic crisis."
He also unveiled the Recovery Emblem, a red-white-blue-and-green seal that will be stamped on highway and bridge projects.
The president announced yesterday that $155 million in recovery funds will go to 126 new health centers across the country. Among them are these six clinics in Pennsylvania. Texas had a testy hearing over whether the state is violating the stimulus act by not prioritizing road and bridges projects in economically distressed areas. And Terre Haute, Ind., will use some of its stimulus dollars to buy four new hybrid buses.
Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing called, "Follow the Money: Transparency and Accountability for Recovery and Reinvestment Spending," where several inspectors general are expected to testify. Also tomorrow, the Federal Trade Commission will hold a news conference to expose bogus Web sites and other scams trying to take exploit the stimulus.
If you've seen an interesting story or have a tip about anything we've posted, e-mail me here.