Two World Leaders Facing Same Problems

Obama and Harper, all that stimulus and nowhere to spend it Posted: May 13, 2009, 2:00 PM by NP Editor

Oh dear.

It appears President Obama is having trouble getting his stimulus money out the door.

The New York Times reports: Nearly three months after President Obama approved a $787 billion economic stimulus package, intended to create or save jobs, the federal government has paid out less than 6 percent of the money, largely in the form of social service payments to states.

Although administration officials say the program is right on schedule, they have actually spent relatively little so far.

The Harper government, of course, is in the same position. And has been coming under fire from the opposition as a result. The problem is that governments aren’t allowed to just whip out a chequebook and hand over money, much as they'd like to. There are bureaucratic and administrative hoops to leap through first. When the Conservatives proposed fast-tracking $3 billion or so a couple of months back, the opposition had conniptions. What, bypass proper process? Fie. Inevitable comparisons to Sponsorgate were made. Slush funds were mentioned.Click here to read more...