SUN EDITORIAL:

Bringing up the rear

Nevada slower than nearly all other states in spending stimulus money on roadwork

Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.

A major component of the economic stimulus package approved by Congress and President Barack Obama this year was to create jobs through road construction projects. The more than $201 million Nevada received from that legislation for shovel-ready projects is sorely needed by the state because of its double-digit unemployment rate and its gas-guzzling, exhaust-belching traffic jams.

Compared to nearly all other states, though, Nevada has been inexcusably slow to spend its share. That prompted Nevada Democratic Reps. Dina Titus and Shelley Berkley to fire off a letter Wednesday to Gov. Jim Gibbons expressing their disappointment.

The members of Congress have a right to be disappointed because the state ranked a paltry 46th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in its allocation so far of stimulus funding for transportation.

A report prepared for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that looked at the amount allocated for projects that were out to bid, under contract or under way as of July 31 disclosed that Nevada had allocated only 26.7 percent of its money. The national average was 41 percent.

In a story for the online version of the Las Vegas Sun, reporter Lisa Mascaro quoted Nevada Transportation Department spokesman Scott Magruder as saying that his department has put out to bid $100 million of the $140 million it has available for that purpose (with the other $61 million having gone to regional transportation commissions in Clark and Washoe counties).

That means the state is now doing much better in that category than reflected in the House report. The bad news was the department’s concession that the report accurately disclosed that the state has begun work on projects that take up only 23 percent of Nevada’s available funding.

Compared with top-ranked Wyoming, where nearly 95 percent of the state’s funding is allocated to projects under way, Nevada’s pace of spending is an embarrassment that reflects poorly on Gibbons’ leadership.

What is needed in Nevada is a sense of urgency.

Discussion: 21 comments so far…

By annienonymouse

9/20/09 at 5:38 a.m.

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???????
By longun45

9/20/09 at 6:34 a.m.

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You cannot credit card your way to prosperity. There has never been a stimulus bill that actually worked to stimulate the economy. These transitory jobs are not an answer, but a trap of prespending that fails when the jobs go away. Unskilled people cannot build roads.

Spend what you like, it will not stimulate the economy for long. You can make hamburger jump if you pump it up with adrenaline, but in the end it is still hamburger and when the adrenaline is gone it will cease to jump, and there is not an endless supply of adrenaline.

Tax cuts will stimulate the economy by removing the smothering government from cutting off the economic oxygen.

The tired democrat policies are failing yet again, just as they did in the past. (hint: some republican policies have not been either.)
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 7:22 a.m.

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Blame it on "BUSH!"
By neiman1

9/20/09 at 7:36 a.m.

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Doing it right is as important as doing it fast. Look at the trouble with the bids for paving. Politics and union cash have turned a simple bid into a court case with the exposure of bought and paid for county commissioner doing the work of their campaign contributors.

Hold the course Governor. Spend the money, but do it right.
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 8:01 a.m.

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The Democrats wants the Governor to spend like the President...
By Burrittobandit2

9/20/09 at 8:37 a.m.

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Blame it on all the pigeons that crap on everything.
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 9:34 a.m.

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Did I just read that the "Bird" has been here?

"Bringing up the rear" is a heading that the "Bird" can relate to...

Oh, I forgot, the "Bird" is with the Sarge. The Sarge took the "Bird" out last night to pimp him to a few Bikers. Sarge needed to make a couple of extra bucks to pay for the increase of his medical insurance.

So, the "Bird" will be along shortly and if he is a little throaty and walking a little funny, that a good sign that the "Bird" made enough money to pay for the Sarge's new insurance policy.
By united777

9/20/09 at 9:48 a.m.

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No wonder this state is in the shambles that it is in, since the left hand takes no blame for what the right is doing. Gibbons wanted nothing to do with the federal money several months ago, and had to be shamed into taking it. And the projects in Clark County actually going on, are moving at a pace on some roads that proves no one takes anything seriously out here, except gaming. If this money were attached to City Center, or some other dumb casino project on the strip or near the 15, heaven and earth would be moved for completion, crews working round the clock, supervision and surprise visits by our great mayor, the honorable Mayor McVodka. But since it only pertains to local roads and highways, we back burner it, work at a one foot a day pace, and tear half the city up at the same time, destroying access to most areas, and making a simple drive an exercise in futility. Keep up the good work Nevada, you are sure to be the shining becon of stupidity once again, and maybe we can 'Go for the Gold' with a ranking of 50 out of 50, rather than a lowly 46 !!!!!
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 9:57 a.m.

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united777 has become disjointed...

The Governor was not opposed to the highway funds, he was opposed to the "unemployment funds" that would change the way Nevada pays unemployment years after the Federal money has dried up...
By El_Lobo

9/20/09 at 10:40 a.m.

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Hmmmmmm....I bet I know who LarryVegas voted for in the last governor's race in this state......

How many different ways can you say "I love Gibby, he's my man! We don't care if he is a sham."
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 10:48 a.m.

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Give the "Wolf" an award. He's got me figured out. Yes I did vote for the Governor because he appeared to me to be the most qualified. And he was the one being attacked ruthlessly by his opponents.

But, that statement don't mean crap, because I also voted for a bunch of Democrats also.

Get off the loco weed, and remember that I told you that once upon a time, I voted for Clinton and Carter... Sorry Lord, its Sunday...
By El_Lobo

9/20/09 at 11:46 a.m.

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LarryVegas.....

No award earned or needed. I did what anybody who reads your rants can do....I figured you out.

Allow me to get this straight.....you said:

"Yes I did vote for the Governor because he appeared to me to be the most qualified. And he was the one being attacked ruthlessly by his opponents."

So do you normally vote for the candidate who is being attacked "ruthlessly?"

Hmmmmmm....With that being said, I guess I already know who you're going to vote for in the 2012 presidential election, don't I..... Obama thanks you in advance...
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 11:57 a.m.

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Wolf...

You just dropped a loaf due to it's smell, because I wrote: "THE MOST QUALIFIED."

And, at this time, I do not think that I will receive any "thanks" from the Left...
By El_Lobo

9/20/09 at 2:28 p.m.

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LarryVegas...

Yes, you said most qualified but you also said "the one who is being attacked "ruthlessly."

That's why I ask the question that I did....

Of course, your "most qualified" statement is very funny considering the horrendous job that "Gibby the womanizer" has done as governor.

He can't win his own primary the way things look. Members of his party are running very fast to get away from him.......if he's smart (which he isn't...) he won't run for reelection.

Of course, he will always get a certain number of votes from the "don't have a clue right-wingers" and those folks living in the northern Nevada "cow counties"......

Those people would vote for Ronnie "Raygun" if his name was placed on the ballot......probably many don't know that "ole Ronnie" has been dead for five years.

Information travels slowly in that part of the state and FOX NEWS is the only news station (if you want to go that far & call it news...) available to the masses...
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 3:21 p.m.

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Wofey... Yea, Yea, Yea... I don't even remember who ran against the Governor in the last election. That's just about how much I cared about the choices last time.

And why, oh why would you call the Governor a "womanizer" when that term would probably fit most male politicians including our friend W.J. Clinton.

Now let me see if I can get through your flea infested, fur covered head. I DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR... I VOTED FOR HIM BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS THE BETTER OF THE TWO. There must have been a lot of Nevadans who thought the same way, since he got elected. If the Democrats run a decent, qualified candidate for Governor, then I will promise to vote for him/she if they are more qualified then the other candidates. Are we clear? ARE WE CLEAR? Good... No more talk about the Governor then...

I will agree with you that FOX NEWS is the news channel to watch if you want all of the news, not just one side of the news.
By El_Lobo

9/20/09 at 4:02 p.m.

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LarryVegas said....

"I will agree with you that FOX NEWS is the news channel to watch if you want all of the news, not just one side of the news."

I just told you on a different thread that I believed that you had waited too long before seeing an eye doctor.

Well, allow me to add a reading comprehension specialist to that list.

At no time did I say anything about FOX NEWS being the station to watch if one wants "all of the news, not just one side of the news."

That silly statement came straight from your mouth....not mine!
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 4:07 p.m.

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Wolfy,

Do you mean to tell me that you don't watch FOX NEWS? I bet you do and just can't tell anyone because you will be banished by the left of center people.

shhh... hey wolfy, you can tell me. nobody else is here today... really...
By El_Lobo

9/20/09 at 4:40 p.m.

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LarryVegas said....

Do you mean to tell me that you don't watch FOX NEWS?"

Again you have a reading comphrension problem! This is far more serious that I thought. Now I'm beginning to understand why you're lost and stranded over there on the right!
By mikegino

9/20/09 at 6:05 p.m.

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This editorial should have been entitled "wiping up the rear." Surely, Pulitzer material.
By LarryVegas

9/20/09 at 6:08 p.m.

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No, Wolfy,

No, I am square in the middle. No Democrat or Republican parties for me.

I had to go watch FOX NEWS and catch up on the ACORN story. You have heard of the ACORN story haven't you? Well, maybe not, if you get you news from Sponge Bob Square Pants. Speaking about Sponge Bob, have you eaten a Crabby Patty, lately?

Anyway, Wolfy, if you want me to catch you up on the news, just let me know.
By El_Lobo

9/20/09 at 9:49 p.m.

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LarryVegas said....

"No, I am square in the middle. No Democrat or Republican parties for me."

Right! And "pigs can now fly" & water runs up hill! Is this statement an attempt by you to get into stand-up comedy? Apparently......