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As Middle Class Struggles, Dems Use Stimulus To Send Taxpayer Money to China

September 20, 2012

As Middle Class Struggles, Dems Use Stimulus To Send Taxpayer Money to China

Government Officials Broke Stimulus Rules and Used Taxpayer Money To Buy Solar Panels From China

  • As Americans struggle to find work, new documents show that Obama administration officials disregarded stimulus rules and spent more than $200,000 taxpayer dollars to buy solar panels from China.
  • While the stimulus has delivered Americans 43 consecutive months of unemployment over 8%, it has also wasted stimulus money on creating jobs in countries all over the world.
  • Four years of failed Democrat spending sprees have done nothing to create jobs and have only exploded our national debt to more than $16 trillion, $1.15 trillion of which is owed to China.

As Americans struggle to find work, new documents show that Obama administration officials disregarded stimulus rules and spent more than $200,000 taxpayer dollars to buy solar panels from China.

OBAMA OFFICIALS BROKE STIMULUS LAW PROVISIONS AND PURCHASED CHINESE SOLAR PANELS: “Government officials blame unfair competition from China for the collapse of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, but such concerns didn’t stop the federal government from breaking stimulus program rules to use Chinese solar panels atop a federal building housing the offices of a senator, congressman and several agencies.” (Jim McElhatton, “Feds Ignore Rules And Use Stimulus Cash To Buy Chinese Solar Panels,” The Washington Times, 9/17/12)

$200,000 TAXPAYER FUNDED STIMULUS DOLLARS WENT TO CHINA FOR THE PROJECT: “The inspector general’s memo said the overall roof work was performed under a $1.8 million task order awarded to J.R. Conkey & Associates, though Mr. Conkey said a portion of the project involving stimulus funding for the panels at issue involved about $200,000.” (Jim McElhatton, “Feds Ignore Rules And Use Stimulus Cash To Buy Chinese Solar Panels,” The Washington Times, 9/17/12)

BUT IT WASN’T AN ACCIDENT, CONTRACTOR FOR THE PROJECT QUESTIONED IF PANELS WERE AGAINST THE “BUY AMERICAN” PROVISIONS: “Even the contractor questioned whether Chinese-made panels could be used under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus program that mandated use of U.S.-made products. His query in early 2010 was dismissed and the General Services Administration moved forward with using the Chinese panels on the Sen. Paul Simon Federal Building in Carbondale, Ill., records show.” (Jim McElhatton, “Feds Ignore Rules And Use Stimulus Cash To Buy Chinese Solar Panels,” The Washington Times, 9/17/12)

EVEN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID PANELS COULDN’T BE PURCHASED: “Still, the inspector general’s memo stated that the panels violated the provisions of the stimulus program, according to the memo. ‘The photovoltaic panels installed were assembled in and shipped from China,’ the memo stated. ‘Under the ARRA, the Chinese panels cannot be purchased with ARRA funds.’” (Jim McElhatton, “Feds Ignore Rules And Use Stimulus Cash To Buy Chinese Solar Panels,” The Washington Times, 9/17/12)

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS TOLD THEM TO CONTINUE BUYING THE CHINESE PANELS ANYWAY: “The contractor on the Illinois building project, J.R. Conkey & Associates, initially questioned GSA officials on whether solar panels assembled in China could be used under the stimulus program, but a procurement officer told the company to proceed, according to records … ’Here, the panels themselves are not a contract item’ the service’s [GSA’s] response stated.’”(Jim McElhatton, “Feds Ignore Rules And Use Stimulus Cash To Buy Chinese Solar Panels,” The Washington Times, 9/17/12)

PROJECT SPENT $1.8 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO INSTALL SOLAR PANALS ON OFFICE OF TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS: “The inspector general’s memo said the overall roof work was performed under a $1.8 million task order awarded to J.R. Conkey & Associates …The three-story Simon building houses local offices of the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Rep. Jerry F. Costello and Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrats. It’s named after Paul Simon, the late U.S. senator from Illinois.” (Jim McElhatton, “Feds Ignore Rules And Use Stimulus Cash To Buy Chinese Solar Panels,” The Washington Times, 9/17/12)

While Americans remain in their 43rd consecutive month of unemployment over 8%, it’s clear the only place the stimulus has succeeded is creating jobs everywhere, but the United States.

FACTCHECK.ORG: “CORRECT TO SAY THAT THE STIMULUS LAW CREATED JOBS FOR CHINESE WORKERS”: (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,”FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)

FACTCHECK.ORG: CHINESE COMPANIES GET $2.6 BILLION: “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: … China, $2.6 million. … Choma wrote: ‘…we can’t say for sure how much of this stimulus money went to create jobs in China. Some money definitely did…” (Eugene Kiely, Lara Seligman, Lauren Hitt and Melissa Siegel, “Stimulus Jobs in China?,”FactCheck.org, 10/29/2010)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Four years of failed Democrat spending sprees have done nothing to create jobs and have only exploded our national debt to more than $16 trillion, $1.15 trillion of which is owed to China.

PRICE TAG FOR FAILED STIMULUS: $833 BILLION: (Congressional Budget Office, 8/23/2012)

“CBO: STIMULUS HELPED ALMOST DOUBLE U.S. DEBT”: (Conn Carroll, “CBO: Stimulus Helped Almost Double U.S. Debt,” The Washington Examiner, 6/22/2011)

US OWES $1.15 TRILLION TO CHINA: (“Major Foreign Holders of Treasury Securities,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, 9/18/2012)

$5.38 TRILLION INCREASE IN NATIONAL DEBT SINCE OBAMA TOOK OFFICE: (“The Daily History of the Debt Results,” Bureau of the Public Debt, Accessed 9/18/2012)

NATIONAL DEBT CURRENTLY STANDS AT $16.01 TRILLION; SIZE OF NATION’S ECONOMY AT $15.61 TRILLION: (“The Daily History of the Debt Results,” Bureau of the Public Debt, Accessed 9/18/2012; Bureau of Economic Analysis, Accessed 8/30/2012) 

YET FAMILIES STILL STRUGGLE WITH, 23 MILLION UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED AND DISCOURAGED WORKERS: (“The Employment Situation—August 2012,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9/7/2012

DEMOCRAT ECONOMY: UNEMPLOYMENT ABOVE 8% FOR 43 STRAIGHT MONTHS, MORE THAN 11 PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS COMBINED:  (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9/7/2012)

368,000 AMERICANS GAVE UP LOOKING FOR WORK IN THE OBAMA ECONOMY:  (Jeff Cox, “New Jobs at 96,000, Missing Expectations; Rate Hits 8.1%,” CNBC, 9/7/2012)