MA spends $4B of stimulus aid

[0:00] ..." So most of its money and published its Massachusetts guest. How much has been a quiet and sped. And is there any left in the kitty well an analysis. By the"...

[0:45] ..." cuts in areas like education and health care. Also they were direct tax benefits individuals. And higher benefits for people employed. And low income people who need food stamps and all of those are ways both"...

[1:48] ..." what's the bottom line in terms of the amount of stimulus funds Massachusetts is or -- in total will receive."...

[1:59] ..." dollars. In stimulus funding for wide range of different things from -- tax benefits to direct benefits spending on roads and bridges. And need to state governments to support education health care public safety and the"...

[2:35] ..." By prominent economists -- in the administration of about 27000 jobs. In Massachusetts. Right now this state is in the process of gathering data the first reports we're doing the last few days. And by"...

[2:53] ..." Is as you know Massachusetts. Came under some criticism by a member of the congress. For its slow approach to the meetings stimulus funds for infrastructure repair"...

[3:53] ..." Shovel ready in this projects -- infrastructure in general. -- important part Massachusetts appears to be. Following a strategy -- not simply looking at which projects -- the first -- ready to ago but trying to coordinate that spending with broader economic development. Priorities in terms of finding projects that have -- economic impact and that's a tough call -- whether the priority should be. On simply getting money out as quickly as possible which is important in action or try to coordinate water long term economic development strategy. "...

[4:25] ..." Really play devil's advocate here and entered from the perspective of a Massachusetts working family this is wait a -- we already have these huge budget. Cutbacks and the governor is preparing to make more of the state of Massachusetts. Just is not bring in as much money as it should our unemployment rate is continuing to rise. Mike taxes have gone up they've. Increased taxes. Sales taxes and other taxes over the last year. Who"...

[6:10] ..." local. Tax increases. Other amounts of the stimulus is coming in direct tax benefits to individuals next April and file. On more infrastructure spending that we've begun to see in some direct aid for things like"...

[6:30] ..." and policy center they've done analysis of the stimulus package coming to Massachusetts and how it's been spent and what's ahead mister Broder thanks for being us WBZ."...

[0:00]" So most of its money and published its Massachusetts guest. How much has been a quiet and sped. And is there any left in the kitty well an analysis. By the budget and policy separate nonprofit research group here in Boston. Has come up with some numbers nor Berger is the executive director and I'd guess one of the most surprising things to be. Mr. Berger is that this was sold to the public as among other things being way too. Hit shovel ready projects and only about two and a half percent of the billions involved -- eventually targeted for roads and bridge repair."

[0:38]" they were -- act was always intended to do a number of different things large chunk of their lives. -- to state government to avoid budget cuts in areas like education and health care. Also they were direct tax benefits individuals. And higher benefits for people employed. And low income people who need food stamps and all of those are ways both help real people in the Miller recession. And to stimulate the economy by increasing spending just when he knows so I think that those tracks in any case some of the strongest ways. To invest in the economy and spur economic development. This stimulus money for infrastructure. By nature takes a little bit longer to get out there into the economy because projects have to. Selected. Yesterday did and yet to begin building and thought process is just really kicking in now. But we do still have very high right now and planets and absolutely still in need. At this point for those kinds of infrastructure investments that both keep people employed. In working productive jobs. And make our state and our nation's infrastructure stronger more active able to support."

[1:47]" But it's about what's the bottom line in terms of the amount of stimulus funds Massachusetts is or -- in total will receive."

[1:55]" Overall the people not -- you move -- over seventeen billion dollars. In stimulus funding for wide range of different things from -- tax benefits to direct benefits spending on roads and bridges. And need to state governments to support education health care public safety and the other state governments do. And how much is -- thus far about four billion of that seventeen has been spent in. Would it approximately in the first two days after that was enacted not."

[2:31]" Are we don't yet know for sure -- an abstinence. By prominent economists -- in the administration of about 27000 jobs. In Massachusetts. Right now this state is in the process of gathering data the first reports we're doing the last few days. And by the end of this month should have additional hard data. Vote on on the project supported. And on the numbers of jobs created."

[2:53]" Is as you know Massachusetts. Came under some criticism by a member of the congress. For its slow approach to the meetings stimulus funds for infrastructure repair Rosen and bridges and as I mentioned earlier. Of the total of seventeen point seven billion dollars only about two and a half percent is for those. Bridges and roads to be repaired out of the total infrastructure. A package of -- hundred billion dollars. Is that just the most prominent in terms of it's a political radioactivity. Of these these targets."

[3:27]" I think because of summit language around the -- dispel all the talk until we're ready projects infrastructure got a lot of these -- went back to write a lot of the more important. On mention the equally important where -- for things like. Education and health care and job training and other services that people need such as expanded unemployment benefits that time. Was very hard to define the job so. Shovel ready in this projects -- infrastructure in general. -- important part Massachusetts appears to be. Following a strategy -- not simply looking at which projects -- the first -- ready to ago but trying to coordinate that spending with broader economic development. Priorities in terms of finding projects that have -- economic impact and that's a tough call -- whether the priority should be. On simply getting money out as quickly as possible which is important in action or try to coordinate water long term economic development strategy. "

[4:25]" Really play devil's advocate here and entered from the perspective of a Massachusetts working family this is wait a -- we already have these huge budget. Cutbacks and the governor is preparing to make more of the state of Massachusetts. Just is not bring in as much money as it should our unemployment rate is continuing to rise. Mike taxes have gone up they've. Increased taxes. Sales taxes and other taxes over the last year. Who wears a stimulus money it was my share."

[5:57]" that money is in a broader array of things from. On the additional stated although the money to state government is running out which is going to be a problem for a lot of states and one possibility would be for congress to extend that to avoid further budget cuts in local. Tax increases. Other amounts of the stimulus is coming in direct tax benefits to individuals next April and file. On more infrastructure spending that we've begun to see in some direct aid for things like pell grants unemployment benefits and food stamps."

[6:26]" That's the latest -- boardroom executive director of the budget and policy center they've done analysis of the stimulus package coming to Massachusetts and how it's been spent and what's ahead mister Broder thanks for being us WBZ."