George Allen Hypocrisy Watch: Stimulus Edition
After Vehemently Opposing Stimulus, Allen Touts the Success of Firms That Received Millions of Dollars in Stimulus Grants
Paying no heed to his months of criticism of a "failed stimulus", George Allen has spent the past two weeks touring and touting the economic successes of two Virginia firms that received millions of dollars in stimulus grants. January 21st, Allen visited Ennis Electric Company, an "admirably managed" business in Manassas. Left out of Allen's praise for Ennis was the fact the firm has benefitted from nearly $14 million in stimulus funding.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Allen's hypocrisy has caught up with him on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, Allen hosted a town hall meeting at Micron Technology, a firm that solicited and received $5 million in stimulus funds. Micron CEO Steve Appleton certainly didn't seem to agree with Allen's assessment of the stimulus program--he met with President Obama to show his support for the legislation in 2009.
"George Allen can't seem to get his story straight," said Anna Scholl, Executive Director of ProgressVA. "He's spent months criticizing a so-called 'failed stimulus' but when confronted with the facts, he's happy to tout firms that are succeeding thanks to stimulus support. I'm glad to see Sen. Allen coming around on the benefits of the stimulus. Hopefully soon we'll hear him praising the 226,413 Virginia jobs saved or created by the stimulus."
According to research provided by American Bridge 21st Century, Ennis Electric received federal stimulus funds from multiple contracts between 2009 and 2011.
- April 2011: Ennis Electric Received $107,000 In Stimulus Funding From Noresco Sub-Contract. According to Recovery.gov, Noresco, LLC was awarded $11.5 million for an energy savings performance contract at the Department of Energy Forrestal Headquarters building. Ennis Electric received a $107,000 sub-contract on April, 19, 2011. [Recovery.gov, accessed1/23/12]
- January 2011: Ennis Electric Received Nearly $5 Million In Stimulus Funding From Balfour Beatty Construction Sub-Contract. According to Recovery.gov, Balfour Beatty Construction was awarded $55.5 million for a "Security Perimeter Fence and Gatehouses for the Department of Homeland Security Consolidation at the St. Elizabeth West Campus in Washington DC." Ennis Electric received a $4,950,000 sub-contract on January 5, 2011. [Recovery.gov, accessed 1/23/12]
- January 2011: Ennis Electric Received Almost $3.8 Million In Stimulus Funding From Balfour Beatty Construction Sub-Contract. According to Recovery.gov, Balfour Beatty Construction was awarded $27.2 million for "Construction of the tunnel and infrastructure work for the Department of Homeland Security Consolidation at the St. Elizabeth West Campus in Washington, DC." Ennis Electric received a $3,777,941 sub-contract on January 5, 2011. [Recovery.gov, accessed 1/23/12]
- September 2009: Ennis Electric Received Over $5 Million In Stimulus Funding From Grunley Construction Company Sub-Contract. According to Recovery.gov, the Grunley Construction Company received a $54.5 million stimulus grant to modernize wing 2 of the Department of the Interior Main Interior Building." Ennis Electric received a $5,052,542 sub-contract on September 30, 2009. [Recovery.gov, accessed 1/23/12]
Background:
Allen: "The Only Thing This Jobless Stimulus Bill Has Created Is More Debt For Our Children To Bear." In a press release, Allen said, "It is clear that only thing this jobless stimulus bill has created is more debt for our children to bear. President Obama and Washington liberals like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi need to listen to the American people -- spending sprees, tax hikes and government mandates are hurting our families and small businesses. Washington needs to stop standing in the way of job creators and work to reduce taxes, unleash our plentiful energy resources, and end excessive government regulations." [George Allen for U.S. Senate, Press Release, 2/17/11]
Allen Called The Stimulus Bill "Stealth Stimulus" And Said "If Spending Money Were Going To Help Our Economy, We Would Not Have Lost Millions And Millions Of Jobs." Allen was asked, "If the stimulus plan number one did not work, are you dead- set against any kind of new job creation program?" He responded, "Well, they may want to call it stealth stimulus. But the reality is, it will be real debt that has to be paid off. And I think we need to be strengthening America`s financial condition and our economy. And the worst thing we could be doing is putting ourselves into further debt. Even the communist Chinese leaders were lecturing President Obama on worrying about the inflation of the dollar, the weakening of the dollar. And that affects our energy prices and it affects our leadership in the world. So, if spending money were going to help our economy, we would not have lost millions and millions of jobs. And they`re projecting deficits that are doubling." [Fox News, "Your World with Neil Cavuto," 11/23/09]
Allen Accused Tim Kaine Of Supporting The "Failed" Stimulus Bill. In a press release, Allen claimed that "Chairman Kaine said that the $800 billion failed stimulus would "jumpstart the economy," but instead Americans got 31 consecutive months of unemployment over 8 percent and lost more than 1.4 million jobs since the stimulus was passed." [George Allen for Senate, "Press Release," 9/30/11]
Allen Referred To The "Failed $825 Bill Stimulus" In A Washington Times Column. In a column in the Washington Times, Allen wrote, "America has had 32 consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent, 1.5 million people have lost their jobs since the failed $825 billion stimulus and our confidence in the future is down." [Washington Times, 10/19/11]
Allen: "It's Painfully Clear To Families That The First Stimulus Was A Failure." In a column, Allen wrote, "When the $800 billion stimulus plan passed Gov. Tim Kaine said it 'would jump start the economy' and it was 'what's needed to put Americans back to work.' That was when unemployment was at 7.8 percent. Now two and half years later, unemployment is stuck above 9 percent, 1.7 million jobs have been lost, and the national debt has soared to well over $14 trillion. It's painfully clear to families that the first stimulus was a failure." [Loudon Times, 9/27/11]
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ProgressVA is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization dedicated to engaging citizens from across the Commonwealth around issues of immediate state or local concern. www.progressva.org
George Allen Hypocrisy Watch: Stimulus Edition
After Vehemently Opposing Stimulus, Allen Touts the Success of Firms That Received Millions of Dollars in Stimulus Grants
Paying no heed to his months of criticism of a "failed stimulus", George Allen has spent the past two weeks touring and touting the economic successes of two Virginia firms that received millions of dollars in stimulus grants. January 21st, Allen visited Ennis Electric Company, an "admirably managed" business in Manassas. Left out of Allen's praise for Ennis was the fact the firm has benefitted from nearly $14 million in stimulus funding.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Allen's hypocrisy has caught up with him on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, Allen hosted a town hall meeting at Micron Technology, a firm that solicited and received $5 million in stimulus funds. Micron CEO Steve Appleton certainly didn't seem to agree with Allen's assessment of the stimulus program--he met with President Obama to show his support for the legislation in 2009.
"George Allen can't seem to get his story straight," said Anna Scholl, Executive Director of ProgressVA. "He's spent months criticizing a so-called 'failed stimulus' but when confronted with the facts, he's happy to tout firms that are succeeding thanks to stimulus support. I'm glad to see Sen. Allen coming around on the benefits of the stimulus. Hopefully soon we'll hear him praising the 226,413 Virginia jobs saved or created by the stimulus."
According to research provided by American Bridge 21st Century, Ennis Electric received federal stimulus funds from multiple contracts between 2009 and 2011.
Background:
Allen: "The Only Thing This Jobless Stimulus Bill Has Created Is More Debt For Our Children To Bear." In a press release, Allen said, "It is clear that only thing this jobless stimulus bill has created is more debt for our children to bear. President Obama and Washington liberals like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi need to listen to the American people -- spending sprees, tax hikes and government mandates are hurting our families and small businesses. Washington needs to stop standing in the way of job creators and work to reduce taxes, unleash our plentiful energy resources, and end excessive government regulations." [George Allen for U.S. Senate, Press Release, 2/17/11]
Allen Called The Stimulus Bill "Stealth Stimulus" And Said "If Spending Money Were Going To Help Our Economy, We Would Not Have Lost Millions And Millions Of Jobs." Allen was asked, "If the stimulus plan number one did not work, are you dead- set against any kind of new job creation program?" He responded, "Well, they may want to call it stealth stimulus. But the reality is, it will be real debt that has to be paid off. And I think we need to be strengthening America`s financial condition and our economy. And the worst thing we could be doing is putting ourselves into further debt. Even the communist Chinese leaders were lecturing President Obama on worrying about the inflation of the dollar, the weakening of the dollar. And that affects our energy prices and it affects our leadership in the world. So, if spending money were going to help our economy, we would not have lost millions and millions of jobs. And they`re projecting deficits that are doubling." [Fox News, "Your World with Neil Cavuto," 11/23/09]
Allen Accused Tim Kaine Of Supporting The "Failed" Stimulus Bill. In a press release, Allen claimed that "Chairman Kaine said that the $800 billion failed stimulus would "jumpstart the economy," but instead Americans got 31 consecutive months of unemployment over 8 percent and lost more than 1.4 million jobs since the stimulus was passed." [George Allen for Senate, "Press Release," 9/30/11]
Allen Referred To The "Failed $825 Bill Stimulus" In A Washington Times Column. In a column in the Washington Times, Allen wrote, "America has had 32 consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent, 1.5 million people have lost their jobs since the failed $825 billion stimulus and our confidence in the future is down." [Washington Times, 10/19/11]
Allen: "It's Painfully Clear To Families That The First Stimulus Was A Failure." In a column, Allen wrote, "When the $800 billion stimulus plan passed Gov. Tim Kaine said it 'would jump start the economy' and it was 'what's needed to put Americans back to work.' That was when unemployment was at 7.8 percent. Now two and half years later, unemployment is stuck above 9 percent, 1.7 million jobs have been lost, and the national debt has soared to well over $14 trillion. It's painfully clear to families that the first stimulus was a failure." [Loudon Times, 9/27/11]
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ProgressVA is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization dedicated to engaging citizens from across the Commonwealth around issues of immediate state or local concern. www.progressva.org