Dems Defend Stimulus That Outsourced Jobs
As Democrats’ Taxpayer-Funded Stimulus Sent Money and Jobs to Foreign Countries, Democrats Defended It At Every Turn
- President Obama bragged recently that his economic policies “worked,” but the truth is the Democrats’ signature stimulus boondoggle has been a massive failure.
- Besides not “stimulating” the economy, the Democrats’ failed stimulus actually funded the outsourcing of American jobs. Even some Senate Democrats who supported the stimulus were alarmed.
- Despite knowing that American stimulus dollars were being used to outsource jobs to foreign countries, House Democrats have voted repeatedly against cutting off stimulus funds.
President Obama bragged recently that his economic policies “worked,” but the truth is the Democrats’ signature stimulus boondoggle has been a massive failure:
OBAMA: “WE TRIED OUR PLAN—AND IT WORKED”: “Just like we’ve tried their plan, we tried our plan — and it worked. That’s the difference.” (“Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event,” The White House, 7/25/2012)
AP: “US ECONOMY LOOKS WEAKER, BUSINESS CONFIDENCE DIMS”:(Christopher S. Rugaber, “US Economy Looks Weaker, Business Confidence Dims,” Associated Press, 7/26/2012)
CBS NEWS: “THIS IS THE WORST ECONOMIC RECOVERY AMERICA HAS EVER HAD.” (CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley, 7/17/12)
Besides not “stimulating” the economy, the Democrats’ failed stimulus actually funded the outsourcing of American jobs. Even some Senate Democrats who supported the stimulus were alarmed:
REMEMBER THE ONE ABOUT DEMOCRATS SAYING THEY OPPOSE OUTSOURCING?:
OBAMA VOWED HIS STIMULUS WOULD ENSURE “THE JOBS AND INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE ARE CREATED RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”: “OBAMA: ‘Fourth, we’ll use our clean energy fund to invest over $1 billion a year to re-tool and modernize our factories and build the advanced technology cars, trucks and SUVs of the future – so that the jobs and industries of the future are created right here in the United States of America.'” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Dayton, OH, 7/11/2008)
DEMOCRAT LEADER NANCY PELOSI HAS ALSO OFTEN SLAMMED OUTSOURCING: “Republicans have failed to put forward a plan to create jobs or end the outsourcing of American jobs, and continue to waste valuable time on bills to nowhere.” (“Pelosi Statement on President Obama’s Call to Extend the Middle Class Tax Cuts,” Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, 7/9/2012)
YEAH, NOT SO MUCH:
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY STUDY: “60% OF THE 40 LARGEST WIND FARMS” RECEIVING STIMULUS FUNDS “RELIED ON FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS FOR THEIR CENTRAL COMPONENTS”: “According to some critics, a galling example of the Obama administration fostering overseas work came as part the 2009 stimulus program. They point to millions of dollars meant to develop a domestic clean-energy industry that instead landed in the hands of foreign businesses. An April 2010 study by the Energy Department found that 60 percent of the 40 largest wind farms then financed by the stimulus relied on foreign manufacturers for their central components, including turbines.” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post, 7/9/2012)
EVEN SOME SENATE DEMOCRATS SLAMMED THE STIMULUS THEY SUPPORTED FOR OUTSOURCING: “In the wake of a new report revealing that a clean-energy grant program in the stimulus has paid out more than $1 billion to foreign manufacturers, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jon Tester (D-MT) urged the Obama administration Wednesday to suspend the program indefinitely until the law can be fixed so that funds only flow to projects that will create jobs in the United States.” (Press Release, “Schumer, Casey, Brown & Tester Urge Obama Administration To Suspend Stimulus Program Funneling Billions Overseas,” Office Of Sen. Charles Schumer, 3/3/2010)
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING WORKSHOP: 79% OF FIRST $2 BILLION WENT TO FOREIGN COMPANIES: “Administration officials have said they do not have the authority to prevent that payment. If the aid goes through, it would be just the latest example of a larger trend, according to an independent report conducted last month. The Investigating Reporting Workshop found that 79 percent of the $2 billion in grants doled out by the clean-energy program in the stimulus so far went to foreign companies.” (Press Release, “Schumer, Casey, Brown & Tester Urge Obama Administration To Suspend Stimulus Program Funneling Billions Overseas,” Office Of Sen. Charles Schumer, 3/3/2010)
GRACIAS, STIMULUS –STIMULUS MONEY HIRED WORKERS IN EL SALVADOR AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
IN DEC. 2009 OHIO GOT $11 MILLION STIMULUS GRANT TO PROVIDE REBATES FOR GREEN APPLIANCES: “Ohio will use $11 million federal stimulus money to provide rebates to people who buy energy efficient appliances for their homes. The U.S. Department of Energy approved the state plan Thursday.” (“Ohio Stimulus Plan Gives Rebates On New Appliances,” The Associated Press, 12/4/2009)
OHIO CONTRACTED WITH TEXAS-BASED PARAGO TO RUN THE PROGRAM. “Ohio’s Department of Development contracted with Texas-based Parago to run the appliance rebate program for roughly $500,000.”(Patrick Preston, “Ohio Rebate Program Created Jobs In Texas, Central America,” NBC4I, 7/27/2010)
STIMULUS GOES TO EL SALVADOR: PARAGO HIRED HUNDREDS OF WORKERS IN EL SALVADOR UPON RECEIVING THE CONTRACT: “A Texas company hired to administer Ohio’s popular appliance rebate program used hundreds of workers in El Salvador to process applications and to answer customers’ calls.”(“Strickland Upset With Stimulus Work Outside U.S.,” The Associated Press, 8/01/2010)
WORKERS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ALSO CASHED IN ON THE STIMULUS: “The Texas company that outsourced stimulus-funded call center jobs to Central America also hired workers in the Dominican Republic. Ohio Department of Development spokesperson Katie Sabatino confirmed that Lewisville, Texas-based Parago used call centers in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic on Friday, the same day that ODOD released documents detailing how Parago won the state contract to run Ohio’s Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.” (Patrick Preston, “Columbus CEO Speaks Out Against Texas Company in Charge Of Ohio Appliance Rebate Program,” NBC4I, 7/30/2010)
XIE XIE, STIMULUS — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO CHINA:
FACTCHECK.ORG: STIMULUS DOLLARS “DEFINITELY” WENT TOWARDS CREATING JOBS IN CHINA, CHINESE COMPANIES GOT $2.6 MILLION: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'”(Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,”FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
DANKE, STIMULUS — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO GERMANY:
FACTCHECK.ORG: “SAFE TO SAY” STIMULUS CREATED JOBS IN GERMANY, GERMAN COMPANIES GOT $474.4 MILLION: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'” (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,” FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
OBRIGADO, STIMULUS — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO PORTUGAL:
FACTCHECK.ORG: “SAFE TO SAY” STIMULUS CREATED JOBS IN PORTUGAL, PORTUGUESE COMPANIES GOT $333 MILLION:: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'” (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,” FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
HEY STIMULUS, THANKS MATE — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO AUSTRALIA:
FACTCHECK.ORG: AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES GOT $178 MILLION FROM STIMULUS: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'” (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,” FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
ARIGATO, STIMULUS — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO JAPAN:
FACTCHECK.ORG: JAPANESE COMPANIES GOT $130.5 MILLION: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'”(Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,”FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
GRAZIE, STIMULUS — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO ITALY:
FACTCHECK.ORG: “SAFE TO SAY” STIMULUS CREATED JOBS IN ITALY, ITALIAN COMPANIES GOT $84.2 MILLION: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'” (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,” FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
MERCI, STIMULUS — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO FRANCE:
FACTCHECK.ORG: “SAFE TO SAY” STIMULUS CREATED JOBS IN FRANCE, FRENCH COMPANIES GOT $69.5 MILLION:: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'” (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,” FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
CHEERS,STIMULUS — DEMS’ STIMULUS WIND PROJECTS TOOK JOBS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM:
FACTCHECK.ORG: “SAFE TO SAY” STIMULUS CREATED JOBS IN THE UK, BRITISH COMPANIES GOT $42.2 MILLION:: “As we know from Choma’s exhaustive research, it is true that foreign-owned companies have received $2.4 billion in grants to build wind farms in the U.S. Choma gives this breakdown: Spain, $1.1 billion; Germany, $474.4 million; Portugal, $333 million; Australia, $178 million; Japan, $130.5 million; Italy, $84.2 million; France, $69.5 million; United Kingdom, $42.2 million; China, $2.6 million. Choma said wind turbines have 8,000 components and he found proof that some of them were manufactured in China and other countries. … In a blog post on Sept. 27, Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did, but it is safe to say more money went to creating jobs in the U.S. and Europe.'” (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,” FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)
Despite knowing that American stimulus dollars were being used to outsource jobs to foreign countries, House Democrats have voted repeatedly against cutting off stimulus funds:
STRIKE 1: 171 CURRENT HOUSE DEMS VOTED FOR A TAXPAYER-FUNDED “STIMULUS” THAT ENDED UP OUTSOURCING JOBS: (Roll Call 70, Clerk of the U.S. House, 2/13/2009)
STRIKE 2: 96% OF HOUSE DEMS VOTED AGAINST CUTTING OFF TAXPAYER FUNDING THEY KNEW LED TO OUTSOURCING: (Roll Call 147, Clerk of the U.S. House, 2/19/2011)
DEMS COULD HAVE RECINDED ALL UNSPENT STIMULUS DOLLARS, BUT CHOSE NOT TO: “DIVISION C–STIMULUS RESCISSIONS
“Sec. 3001. (a) There are hereby rescinded all unobligated balances remaining available as of February 11, 2011, of the discretionary appropriations provided by division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).” (Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, H.R. 1, passed/agreed to in House 2/19/2011)
STRIKE 3: AND THEN THEY DID IT AGAIN: 96% OF HOUSE DEMS VOTED AGAINST CUTTING OFF TAXPAYER FUNDING THEY KNEW LED TO OUTSOURCING: (Roll Call 270, Clerk of the U.S. House, 4/14/2011)
DEMS COULD HAVE RESET THE FISCAL CLOCK TO BEFORE THE FAILED STIMULUS, BUT CHOSE NOT TO: “This budget starts to restore spending discipline to a government that badly needs it by returning non-security discretionary spending to below 2008 levels.” (Concurrent Resolution on the Budget – Fiscal Year 2012, House Report 112-58, 4/11/2011)