WV SLOW TO SPEND STIMULUS DOLLARS - Legislators Question Governor

(08/11/2010)

WV'S $2.3 BILLION STIMULUS MONEY SPENDING LAGGING MANCHIN HAS SPENT 40% STIMULUS MONEY Legislators want stimulus answers By Kate Long www.wvgazette.com CHARLESTON - As Gov. Joe Manchin runs for the U.S. Senate, legislators are escalating their efforts to find out how his administration plans to spend federal stimulus dollars. "It has become a time-sensitive thing," House of Delegates Majority Leader Brent Boggs said Tuesday. "Should the governor move on to other endeavors, we need that information. It would be very difficult for the person who's acting governor to come in and find all the necessary information." Since early 2009, the Obama administration has awarded $2.3 billion in stimulus money to West Virginia. The Manchin administration is responsible for spending $1.05 billion of it. Last week, Manchin officials said they have spent only 40 percent of the dollars under their control. "Then we should be able to get a list of those contracts," Nancy Guthrie, chairwoman of the House stimulus committee, said Tuesday. "We've been asking for that information since May, but they haven't given it to us. "There's no reason for this to be cloaked in secrecy," she said. "They're using the money for many fine projects, from all I can tell. But it's gotten beyond the point where 'trust us' is a sufficient answer." The administration has not spent more than $600 million, Guthrie noted. "If they have those dollars obligated, we need that information. Obligated to whom? How much? Which counties?" Beyond the $1.05 billion controlled by the Manchin administration, another $1.3 billion was awarded to West Virginia county and local government and non-profits. The governor and Legislature do not control those dollars. By early June, according to FFIS, 43 percent of that money had been spent. Read entire Gazette story Legislators want stimulus answers

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