Nebraska Bipolar on Stimulus Spending
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On the one hand when it comes to the federal government’s stimulus money the State of Nebraska is barely breathing.
According to the Web site ProPublica out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Nebraska ranks 46th in stimulus spending.
At the same time though ProPublica says Nebraska ranks number 1 in stimulus money per person in a single county. ProPublica reports:
The biggest winner so far — at nearly $12,000 per resident — is Thomas County [8], an area of 583 people in the Nebraska Sandhills. Unemployment there is 4.8 percent, about half the national rate.
Judy Taylor, chairwoman of the Village Board in Thedford, said the majority of residents consider the main stimulus project, a $7 million viaduct over the railroad tracks, a waste of money.
“Out here, there seems to be plenty of work for people,” said Janice Hodges, whose family owns a gas station nearby. “It probably could have been better used somewhere else.”
Overall Nebraska has received $1.2 billion or $715.00 per person. The national average is $858.08.
Nebraska Watchdog’s analysis of Nebraska’s stimulus spending finds among other things:
- Nebraska has the second lowest unemployment rate in the country, at 4.9%. North Dakota which has the lowest jobless rate, 4.2%, has received nearly twice the stimulus money per resident as Nebraska. North Dakota has pocketed $876 million or $1,367.07 per person.
- All six states that border Nebraska have received more stimulus money than Nebraska. Wyoming, which has an unemployment rate of 7.4%, is the highest ranking border state at $1,319.68 per person.
- Nebraska’s most populous county Douglas County (which includes Omaha) has received the 2nd most stimulus money in the state, $154 million. The unemployment rate in Douglas is 4.9%. Out of Nebraska’s 93 counties Douglas ranks 37th with $308 per person.
- The second most populous county, Lancaster County (which includes the State Capitol in Lincoln) has received nearly 4 times more money than Douglas County despite having a lower unemployment rate. The jobless rate in Lancaster is 4.3%. Lancaster has received the most stimulus money in Nebraska, $593 million. That’s $2,130 per resident, ranking Lancaster 5th out of 93 counties.
- Four Nebraska counties Arthur, Blaine, Hooker, and McPherson have not received any stimulus money.
Finally Thurston County which has the highest jobless rate in the state at 13.7% has received $4 million from the stimulus plan. That’s $592 per person and ranks Thurston 23rd out of 93 counties.
Editor’s note: to see ProPublica’s full report click here.
Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org
Posted under News, State Politics.
Tags: Douglas County Nebraska, Lancaster County Nebraska, Nebraska Sandhills, North Dakota, ProPublica, Thurston County Nebraska, Wyoming
4:05 pm on December 11th, 2009
People have to realize “stimulus” money is just money borrowed that will have to be paid back someday by the taxpayers. Nothing in life is free.
8:21 pm on December 11th, 2009
Part of the problem with our state’s road fund shortfall is the push for overbuilding and unnecessary roads. The $7 million overpass at Thedford that appears unnecessary. A $9 million bypass around Schuyler. A four-lane expressway between Nebraska City and Auburn, population 2,500. Improvements may have been needed in those spots, but improvements to that extent?
12:22 pm on December 13th, 2009
Pretty clear display of political hackery. Lincoln getting four times the stimulus than Omaha? Might that be because that’s where the politicians hang out? Absurd doesn’t even begin…
3:23 am on December 14th, 2009
Sounds like Homeland Security spending, Part 2. I’ve lived all over the country. Texas and Nebraska spend ridiculous amounts of money on roads to nowhere. Would rather see it used on light rail in Omaha and Lincoln.
4:53 pm on December 17th, 2009
Joe,
People need to call Ben Nelsons office and tell him to Kill The Bill and Stop Government Takeover. Please Do IT!!!!!!
5:01 pm on December 17th, 2009
Soloman
1. Stimulus
2. Tarp
3. Denmark
4. More Speeches
5. Feds Printing Money
6.Guantanamo Prisoners Moving to a Neighborhood Near You!
7. Open Borders
8. Copenhagen
9. Oh God, another speech stop stop stop stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a Takeover
5. There is something fundamentally wrong and we all know this is a “TAKEOVER” Merry Christmas,
Keep the Heat on Ben Nelson
Physicians United for Patients.org
5:09 pm on December 17th, 2009
http://frontpagemag.com/2009/12/17/iranian-endgame-by-p-david-hornik/
8:58 pm on December 18th, 2009
New credit card will charge 79.9% interest.
Bankers get bail outs, Americans get the shaft. This is a credit card for people that have terrible/no crredit.
Health Reform bill corrupt.
Environmentalists in Copenhagen, it’s all about the money. Not about anything except robbing Americans of jobs.The heads of these agencies are writing laws that are not constitutionally viable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOw1FHW0iiE