Questionable Job Figures From the White House
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Job Hunting
The Obama administration has reportedly overstated thousands of jobs it claims were saved or created by the $787 billion stimulus bill. Accounts in the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today give examples of questionable job figures.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Journal estimates at least 2,000 of the 640,000 jobs the administration claimed to have saved or created do not exist.
USA Today reports that a Texas public housing authority manager told the government he had hired six people with the $26,000 in stimulus aid he was given. The government told him that was not correct. When he reported the total hours worked, 450, that figure ended up in the "jobs created" column.
The AP says 9,500 jobs claimed by the Health and Human Services Department weren't saved at all, but were included when existing employees were given pay raises and benefits. HHS spokesman Luis Rosero defended the practice saying, "If I give you a raise, it is going to save a portion of your job."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Many Head Start preschool programs also counted workers who got raises, as jobs saved. An administration spokesman says the problems with the Head Start numbers probably would be balanced out by other errors that under report jobs.
Pigging Out
The Capitol Police have told the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that its plan to bring live pigs, tons of manure and gallons of swine urine to the Capitol stinks.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Hill newspaper reports Capitol Police have rejected PETA's request, citing health concerns. Capitol Police say they welcome future demonstrations "absent the inclusion of swine waste and live swine."
Birthday Wishes
We told you last week about the House of Representatives taking time to honor the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arizona Republican Congressman Jeff Flake also took a moment to offer his own philosophy, explaining why he voted against the House resolution. Flake says: "He who spends time passing trivial legislation may find himself out of time to read health care bill."
— Fox News Channel's Lanna Britt contributed to this report.