|
September 16, 2009:
Washington, DC (WSYR-TV) – The U.S. Senate voted today on an amendment which, if passed, would have prohibited the spending of stimulus money on road signs informing the public it was driving through a stimulus project.
The amendment, number 2361, called these signs “self-congratulatory signage.”
Both New York State senators Schumer and Gillibrand voted in favor of the amendment, but it was defeated 45-52.
“At all times, and especially when times are tough, Washington should be using every dollar available on projects that will create or save jobs, not on signs. Washington must be focused on putting people to work, not cosmetics,” said Senator Chuck Schumer.
Grouped by vote position
| YEAs ---45 | | Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC) | Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kyl (R-AZ)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Lincoln (D-AR) | Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Schumer (D-NY)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Wicker (R-MS) | | NAYs ---52 | | Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Burris (D-IL)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI) | Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kaufman (D-DE)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD) | Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Specter (D-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR) | | Not Voting - 2 | | Byrd (D-WV) | Rockefeller (D-WV) | |
July 17, 2009
State issues stop-work order on federal stimulus road signs
Albany (WSYR-TV) - New York State has issued a stop-work order on about $900,000 worth of temporary road signs that let you know where your stimulus dollars are being used. This comes just days after a series of NewsChannel 9 reports exposed how Governor Paterson had his facts a bit mixed up on whether these signs are mandated, and why they were going to cost so much. “From where you're standing, which way is Washington? Ask them, that is a federal requirement and we are in compliance with them,” Paterson told consumer investigator Jennifer Lewke earlier this week. That's not actually true. These signs aren't mandated, just suggested, and at $4,000 to $5,000 apiece, New York would have spent more than most states to make them. When the governor got his facts straight, his stance changed a bit. “Since other states are apparently doing this differently, we have asked the Federal Highway Administration for guidance, and have suspended the use of new signs in the meantime, and I will reiterate that we will continue to examine alternative ways to accomplish signing and that could include fewer signs, smaller signs or even no signs,” says State DOT spokesman Skip Carrier. The stop-work order, issued Friday, directs DOT employees to take the appropriate action to exclude or remove American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signs from construction contract bids. Signs that are already in the process of being built will still be built. A DOT spokesman says the Bartel Road Bridge and 690 East highway stimulus projects will most likely be getting the stimulus signs.
If you want to know what road projects your stimulus dollars are being used for, the Department of Transportation has set up a website.
To read the stop-work order, click here.
July 14, 2009:
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – With billions of dollars being shelled out in federal stimulus money, it's hard to keep track of just where and how it's being spent. Not just for all of us, but apparently for Governor David Paterson too. He's the one who's actually tasked with handing much of it out here in New York. But he didn't quite have his facts right when we asked him why nearly a million of your tax dollars are being spent on road signs, that'll just be torn down in a year or two. When Governor Paterson was in town Monday, Consumer Investigator Jennifer Lewke asked him about the road signs. They’re going up in work areas where stimulus money is being spent. Their sole purpose is to tell us that stimulus dollars are being used, but the signs themselves will cost us $900,000. The first question Consumer Investigator Jennifer Lewke asked was: "Governor Paterson, do you think spending $900,000 on temporary signs is a wise investment of taxpayer dollars?" “I’m not even going to discuss with you whether or not I think it's a good idea, I’m just going to do it the way they said so that the money keeps coming,” Paterson responded. Consumer Investigator Jennifer Lewke then asked the Governor, “Why are we spending $5,000 a sign, when other states are spending $500?” “From where you’re standing, which way is Washington? Ask them, that is a federal requirement and we are in compliance with them.” Paterson responded. Although Paterson said the signs were required, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Dan Maffei and the U.S. Department of Transportation all say these signs are "highly encouraged" but not mandatory. “We certainly never encouraged the signs to cost $5,000 a piece -- that's a real problem, since other states are much much less,” says Maffei. Even if the Governor wasn't clear on whether the signs are a must, there's no mandate on how much you've got to spend. A day after his interview, the Governor's office suggested we speak with someone a little more versed on the situation who says they're now looking at new ways to reduce the cost of the signs. “We think there may be some other things we can do with the panel material that would be lighter weight -- any time you reduce the weight, you reduce the cost -- you don't need as sturdy posts to which to place the sign with, so we're still looking at ways to reduce our costs,” says State DOT spokesman Skip Carrier.
The Department of Transportation says it has already made changes to the design of the signs and will continue working with contractors to reduce the price.
July 13, 2009:
NY spends $900,000 on stimulus signage: The Real Deal
Brewerton (WSYR-TV) - We've all heard plenty about the federal stimulus money -- where it's going, what it's paying for, how it's supposedly helping the economy. But in case you forget, there will soon be signs up on the roadways reminding you. The state will shell out nearly $1 million to construct signs to put up near stimulus-funded projects, just to tell us it's a stimulus-funded project. Forty-five construction sites in New York will get giant signs, which will cost somewhere between $4,000 and $5,500 apiece. Then, hundreds of smaller signs will be ordered for smaller projects that'll cost about $1,000 each. Is this really a wise use of our taxpayer dollars? Consumer investigator Jennifer Lewke asked Governor David Paterson that very question. “I'm not even going to discuss with you whether or not I think it's a good idea, I'm just going to do it the way they said so that the money keeps coming,” says Paterson. The federal government says the signs are actually "strongly encouraged" and not mandatory, but Gov. Paterson made it clear to us Monday it's not even up for discussion. “From where you're standing, which way is Washington? Ask them, that is a federal requirement and we are in compliance with them,” Paterson says. At least a few states see it differently: Texas, Florida and Virginia have just flat out said no, they're not spending tax dollars to pat lawmakers on the back. Taxpayers here seem to think those three states have the right idea. “I think it's ridiculous,” says taxpayer Joan Toro. “I think they could print something about it in the newspaper, mention it on TV and save all that money and put it to better use.” David Goetae says, “I think people should know, but spending millions on a sign is a little extravagant and unnecessary.” “It's totally ridiculous,” says Carol Barnes. “I think they could save that million dollars and put it toward the stimulus to rebuild stuff -- houses, school funding -- but not signs.” The signs were supposed to be up at the Bartel Road Bridge in Brewerton and on 690 east of the city of Syracuse weeks ago, but they're actually on back order; when they do finally get placed, you won't be able to miss them. And in grand Empire State fashion, New York is going to spend $4,000 to $5,000 for signs that other states are paying $500 for. Contrary to what the governor says, Congressman Dan Maffei's office just told us he thinks the cost of these signs seems excessive, and that last week, he sent a letter to Albany asking for more specifics about why New York is paying so much more than other states for a very similar sign.
| 
