The Drudge Report had been pounding reports from Recovery.gov all day yesterday with banner headlines...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $2,531,600 FOR 'HAM, WATER ADDED, COOKED, FROZEN, SLICED, 2-LB'...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $1,191,200 FOR '2 POUND FROZEN HAM SLICED'...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $351,807 FOR 'REPLACE AND UPGRADE THE DUMBWAITER'...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $1,562,568 FOR 'MOZZARELLA CHEESE'...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $5,708,260 FOR 'PROCESS CHEESE'...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $16,784,272 FOR 'CANNED PORK'...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $1,444,100 FOR 'REPAIR DOOR BLDG 5112'...
so the Administration found it necessary to strike back...
At first glance, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's defense of Government expenditures listed on the Drudge Report yesterday morning seem reasonable but....yes there is a but. The sums of money being spent on foodstuffs for the Stimulus is mind boggling. If this is a stimulus plan then why did the Federal Government have to include so much "Pork" for food banks and shelters in this particular bidding. Secretary Vilsack responded with a statement:
"Press reports suggesting that the Recovery Act spent $1.191 million to buy '2 pounds of ham' are wrong," Vilsack retorted. His explaination was the "2 pound frozen ham sliced" was the packaging size and that the USDA in fact purchased 760,000 pounds of ham for $1.191 million which translates to approximately $1.56 a pound. The food is being distributed to food banks, soup kitchens and other local organizations that assist the needy, via the state-run Emergency Food Assistance Program.The reasonableness starts to falter when you examine all of the information provided at Recovery.com For instance,
"This program will help reduce hunger of those hardest hit by the current economic recession," Vilsack said.
He added, "While the principal purpose of these expenditures is to provide food to those hardest hit by these tough times, the purchases also provide a modest economic benefit of benefiting Americans working at food retailers, manufacturers and transportation companies as well as the farmers and ranchers who produce our food supply."
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $2,531,600 FOR 'HAM, WATER ADDED, COOKED, FROZEN, SLICED, 2-LB'...
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $1,191,200 FOR '2 POUND FROZEN HAM SLICED'...
Add up these two items and you get $3,722,800 from the Stimulus which goes to California District 34, the district served by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, first Mexican-American elected to House of Representatives. It benefits Clougherty Packing, LLC, It is a Union Shop in Los Angeles CA and is owned by Hormel Foods. It employees a large Hispanic workforce. Hormel also supports Hispanic Farms throughout Southern California and Arizona.
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $1,562,568 FOR 'MOZZARELLA CHEESE'
Rep Marcia Fudge (D) who replaced the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones in Ohio's District 11, considered the most Democratic District in Ohio, secured $1,562,568 for Miceli Dairy Products Company to provide Mozzarella Cheese to the Stimulus Program.
The population of District 11 breaks down to approximately 49% White, 49% Black, with only 2% Hispanic. The demographic becomes clearer when as look at Ohio's Hispanic population.
There seems to be a pattern developing that would suggest that
at least in these two districts there is a heavy Hispanic population in or near the district from which to draw workers.RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $5,708,260 FOR 'PROCESS CHEESE'
Joe Klien (R) Minnesota, District 2, brought home $5,708,260 in Process Cheese from Bongards' Creameries and can draw upon heavy Hispanic populations.
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $16,784,272 FOR 'CANNED PORK'
In perhaps the most well named item in the Recovery.com report was for "Canned Pork". Rep.Thomas Evert Petri (R), Wisconsin, District 6, really brought home the bacon to the tune of $16,784,272 to Lakeside Foods Inc. The District is in the most Hispanic part of the state.
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $351,807 FOR 'REPLACE AND UPGRADE THE DUMBWAITER'
Dept. of Veterans Affairs receives $351,807 in Rep. Nita Lowery's (D) District 18, Brooklyn, New York for a new dumb-waiter upgrade. In 2000 District 18 had a 16% Hispanic population. The population of New York City is approximately 8.1 Million.
RECOVERY.GOV // AWARDED: $1,444,100 FOR 'REPAIR DOOR BLDG 5112'
Texas of course has a 25% Hispanic population. One in every four possible votes is Hispanic. Rep. Charles A. "Charlie" Gonzalez (R) secured 1,444,100 to repair a door in Bldg. 5112 at Dyess AFB in Texas, District 19. That must be some door.
I don't know if this really means anything; it may all be a huge coincidence but in an era when demographics are king in politics and Hispanics are a key voter block in the 2010 Congressional elections and the 2012 Presidential race I see a disturbing pattern developing. I first thought I was going to find mostly Democratic Districts getting the money but Rep.Thomas Evert Petri from Wisconsin, District 6, has an (R) after his name. I think the bigger picture that is developing is the Administration is actively going after the support of Hispanic populations, nationwide, for future elections by literally buying votes with Stimulus money.
In every passed or proposed piece of legislation there are huge sums of money allocated for unemployment insurance, food stuffs for shelters and food pantries. There seems to be a distinct desire on the part of this administration to destroy as many jobs as possible so were going to need those benefits. I guess we are going to need that unemployment unless of course we are Retired. The Government has a plan for us too that has already been funded. It is for counselors for us to get used to the idea of "Death with Dignity". Guess we Seniors won't need any unemployment or commodities. Yep! The Government has a plan. Unfortunately, we Seniors won't benefit unless we are illegal Hispanic immigrants.
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