The federal government's own website, which is set up to track stimulus money, has millions of dollars going to places that don't exist throughout the Inland Northwest. Local lawmakers say the website is a disaster.
Recovery.gov is supposed to show you where 750-billion dollars in stimulus money is going, state by state. But there are holes in the tracking system as tax money is issued to places which don't exist.
Spokane is in legislative district five. But according to the federal government, there is 39 extra districts that we don't have. Washington only has nine legislative districts. But recovery.gov says money has been given out all the way to district 39.
Here's the breakdown: In Washington, the 10th district saved 60 jobs with $1 million dollars. The 38th, no jobs, but $1.5 million dollars. And in the zero district, three jobs and $2.5 million dollars.
It's the same story in Idaho, which has only two districts. Recovery.gov says there is 35. Districts that don't exist, like the 5th, 8th, and 28th, got more than two million dollars.
Washington and Idaho legislators say they found out about the site in the last few days, but they're not surprised. Recovery.gov says it was just human error. But now legislators want to find out where that money actually went and why no one was keeping a closer eye on your tax dollars.
The recovery.gov website was updated late Wednesday afternoon. But it still includes money and jobs not attributed to any legislative district.
