Rep. Issa: Inspector General Agrees, Stimulus Signs Inappropriate (PJM Exclusive)
A couple of months ago, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Earl Devaney — chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board — demanding an investigation into the cost of signs touting the so-called American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
One of those signs at Dulles International Airport cost taxpayers $10,000.
On Monday, the Washington Times reported that the inspector general tasked with investigating those signs — and the language requiring the use of those signs in nine Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs — has returned a report.
An ARRA sign in Washington (Rep. Darrell Issa's office.)
PJM reported back on July 5 that language in HUD documentation seemed to require the use of the signs, which Issa and others have termed “propaganda.”
The IG’s report states that while language requiring the use of the signs was removed from agency-wide guidance issued by HUD, the language was still pressuring:
The language used in the published guidance states that it is not a HUD requirement to post signs, [but] the tone and other information (such as examples of sign templates) were clear indicators that posting signs was preferred. Further, an earlier e-mail from the Deputy Press Secretary stated that the posting of signs was highly recommended.
Issa said this is a clear indicator the IG has agreed with his position on the signage and that the language is a “veiled threat.” The language “highly recommended” all but forces contractors to put up the signs, he said:
It’s as close to an order to do it or not get funds as you can get.
Getting the first IG report back is a start, Issa said, but he doesn’t expect any major changes out of this:
It doesn’t change a thing, just gives us an answer, which is more than we get sometimes from the administration. … You know when you’re in the minority and the administration doesn’t have to listen to you, the most that you can really do is try to convince them of the error of their ways. … In this case overtly political, bordering on illegal if not illegal propaganda is behavior we’d like to see changed. The most important thing we’re trying to do is to get the administration’s recognition that what might go on in Chicago and what might go on in the private sector, for that matter, is inappropriate and illegal in the public sector.
I say leave the signs – every time someone is stuck in traffic because a road is under construction (and there’s not a construction worker to be seen), we know who to blame.
I think they could be good for target practice whether stuck in traffic or not! I am gonna make a pic of them and blow it up and offer them to gun ranges for that very purpose, heck I might have to quit my job or at least earn a decent second income!
I salute Rep. Issa for pursuing this.
One of the most repulsive aspects of our kleptocratic state is the practice of shoveling vast amounts of tax money to partisan gangs —-unions, environmental groups, community organizers like ACORN, Planned Parenthood, NPRadio, or Sue-Your-Neighbor outfits. As Jefferson once said, there is no greater tyranny than being forced to subsidize views that you detest.
Well, now we get to pay for campaign billboards too. The only thing that surprises me is that this is actually ILLEGAL. Who could have guessed?
Well, first of all, for democrats everything is political, even pooping in the privy;all politics is personal. So what I want to know is why Maxine Walters, black and straight from LA, gets indicted by the House for ethics violations–steering special considerations from treasury to her CEO husband of a failed bank–while Barney Frank, white, male, and gay, gets a House ethics pass–for steering special congressional considerations and favors to his “spouse” and boyfriend CEO in charge of Fannie Mae mortgage loans for ten years? Does this indicate the great democratic ethical divide? If you’re female straight and black get back, but if you’re male gay and white alright? Or did Barney luck out and skate from justice because of an injustice? That common law gay marriage wasn’t recognized at the time, so the boy gets over? Or, is this just indicative of the white eastern liberal establishment boys socking it to the congressional Black Caucus?
Why are Charlie and Maxine getting hassled in spite of their correctly-aligned pigmentation, while Barney goes unmolested?
It may have to do with the fact that Charlie and Maxine initially supported Hillary.
To the writer of the article:
Use one of the $12,000 – $15,000 signs that are going up, not the paper one you showed in this article, as it cost about $50. Some of the signs are very highly detailed and can be seen at night, with lighting….
Oh, yes, I’m quite aware of this. The sign in the picture was provided by Rep. Issa’s office and was right outside their building.
Patrick
I say these illegal $10,000-$30,000 signs are the perfect size and shape to create symbols or words using white spray paint. Let your neighbors know the resistance is active in their area.
As an owner of a sign shop in the DC metro area I can assure you that the tax payers are being screwed big time on this signage. The sign in the photo is a banner sign with digital printing and retails for about $600 a pop. There are two of them. Hardly a $50 sign. The more substatial road signs that are used are .40 -.60 alum. and overlaid with vinyl. $1000 – $1500 in materials and labour. Retail should be between 4-5 grand a piece. Most of these signs being produced come from Gelberg, the sign shop Obama gave a speech from the other day touting how the economy is doing ok. ( a lie)
As an owner of a sign shop in the DC metro area I can assure you that the tax payers are being screwed big time on this signage. The sign in the photo is a banner sign with digital printing and retails for about $600 a pop. There are two of them. Hardly a $50 sign. The more substatial road signs that are used are .40 -.60 alum. and overlaid with vinyl. $1000 – $1500 in materials and labour. Retail should be between 4-5 grand a piece. Most of these signs being produced in the DC Metro area come from Gelberg, the sign shop Obama gave a speech from the other day touting how the economy is doing ok. ( a lie)
Phranc, I’d love to talk to you about that more if you’re willing. Drop a line to the editors with your email and ask them to get it to me.
Patrick
Working for a public entity(will not mention it) I can attest to the fact that the money beeing allocated for shovel ready projects are anything but that.It’s all a scam,the project that is not necesary ,has not even been started ,almost 1.5 years later.we are so screwd…
A cousin is a career employee for one of the largest North Eastern States (actual state name withheld to protect her ID) and is directly involved in metering out the federal stimulus money there. In spite of her public/government sympathies, she is absolutely aghast at the ridiculous purposes to which these funds were applied. “Better to pay people to dig holes and then to fill them in again” was how she put it.
As I see it, our standard of living is determined by the total of goods and services that we produce as a society. If this money was left in the private sector, much of it would end up employing people who would be creating things that people want and need.
I think they could be good for target practice whether stuck in traffic or not!. The more substantial road signs that are used are .40 -.60 alum. and overlaid with vinyl. $1000 – $1500 in materials and labour.
Rep. Issa has a website where you can send photos of these signs:
stimulussigns@gmail.com