Feds put foot down, said it wouldn't look good for state to buy Robert Kraft a bridge

Associated Press details why the state suddenly withdrew its application for $9 million in federal stimulus funds for the project.

Comments

so in other words, they bald-faced lied

So this was a bunch of complete bullshit. Every single word of it. They said it was because of "timing", and now we find out it's actually because the Feds told 'em it looked really bad.

Oh, how I wish 'lying to the press' was a criminal charge...

The Patrick administration

The Patrick administration manages to top themselves every single week.

Math

Money saved by not building bridge - $9 million

Money wasted on building Wonderland garage - $46 million

Net loss - $37 million

How the housing constuction market looking?

While I do agree that projects that benefit the public good should always get precedent, especially over something like this that was so narrowly focused that it was questionable, let's not pretend that this would have created quite a few construction jobs. It would have also brought money to area businesses from those workers, and generated economic activity due to buying the supplies needed (most of which would be local or regional).

That's exactly the sort of project these funds should be going towards, as they have the highest multiplier effect according to the CBO.

There's nothing wrong with discretionary spending in a recession; in fact it's once and again proving to be prudent.

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