Michelle Malkin » Stimuluspalooza! Alabama town puts in $375 million bid

Stimuluspalooza! Alabama town puts in $375 million bid

By Michelle Malkin • January 9, 2009 09:17 AM

For the last year, I’ve written of the inevitable lard-up phenomenon inextricably linked to the stimulus-palooza pushes in Congress.

It’s a fact of Washington life — and nothing Barack Obama promises will stop it.

Over the holidays, I spotlighted California’s plans to get its $30 billion-plus high-speed rail to nowhere built with federal stimulus dollars. Yesterday on Fox&Friends, I noted that the vaunted jobs in Obama’s Generational Theft Act of 2009 would largely consist of make-work “green” jobs.

Now, check this out: A tiny Alabama town wants a $375 million chunk of the stimulus pie to build things like a “renewable energy museum, scenic railroad, and vineyards.” The bid works out to $2 million per resident! (Via US News, hat tip – Andy Roth)

At first glance, the town of Edwardsville, Ala., with a population of 194 people, might raise a few eyebrows with its bid to receive $375 million from the economic stimulus package being assembled by Barack Obama and lawmakers in Congress.

The tiny town, located near the Georgia border and 26 miles from the nearest “big city” of Anniston (population: 24,276), added 33 proposals—about two thirds of them related to “green” energy—to the list of “ready- to- go” projects assembled by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Total sum: $375,076,200.

That comes out to nearly $2 million per Edwardsville resident, although E. D. Phillips, the town’s representative to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, says the projects would affect a wider region that comprises about 80,000 people. That number includes residents of nearby rural areas that aren’t already incorporated into towns, along with the residents of Talladega Springs (population: 124), which partnered with Edwardsville and local municipal utilities on the projects.

There’s certainly no denying that Edwardsville has big ambitions. Through the various proposals, which include a renewable energy museum, scenic railroad, and vineyards, these small Alabama communities envision themselves becoming a cutting-edge demonstration project for energy sustainability and a hub for tourism.

Tip of the iceberg.

Posted in: Enviro-nitwits, fiscal stimulus

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#587230

On January 9th, 2009 at 9:35 am, Socky said:

And the same people who whined about Halliburton “profiteering” by providing needed supplies to troops in wartime will now cheer when companies sign onto this boondoggle.
#587231

On January 9th, 2009 at 9:35 am, abstractmind said:

Here’s hoping some of that money they are asking for goes for other projects…like the following:

Toothpaste.

Paper and pens in schools.

Hiring law enforcement that doesnt starve those serving in the jail anymore

Or, maybe they can use some of those funds to decry fake racism and racebaiting by idiots in their midst.

I’m just hoping for good dental plans for those folks.
#587235

On January 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am, sonofdy said:

The town of sonofdy needs 500,000 dollars STAT!!!!
#587253

On January 9th, 2009 at 9:55 am, jsr said:

The district of jsr also has at least a dozen shovel-ready projects that we should be able get done for only $100,000. Best deal money can buy.
#587266

On January 9th, 2009 at 10:02 am, southsideironworks said:

Bailout, pork, tomato, potato, blah blah blah. Our government was created to serve the will of people. They’ve flipped it over on us and now we exist to service the whims of the government. Drunk with power they are.

When will it end?
#587269

On January 9th, 2009 at 10:04 am, Dexter Alarius said:

I need about half a billion to build a theme park based on ‘the America that was’.

It will feature such anachronisms as a Nuclear Family living within their means, paying their bills and saving for ‘the future’.

There will be Capitalism Town where companies compete and fail if their business plan isn’t successful.

Libertyville where people are free to do things like smoke, carry a concealed weapon, use fireworks on holidays, and say “Jesus” in public.

Watch a show where a person spills hot coffee in her lap then slaps her forehead saying “Gosh, that was stupid of me!”
#587273

On January 9th, 2009 at 10:06 am, BrianG1979 said:

abstractmind, nice stereotyping.
#587275

On January 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am, Socky said:

It is stereotyping, and it is unworthy, but I feel awkward complaining about it because my insurance is through BCBS of Alabama (because the company I work for has its HQ in Huntsville) and… yeah, the dental coverage totally sucks.
#587302

On January 9th, 2009 at 10:21 am, Henry said:

With an “Oink Oink” here and an “Oink Oink” there. Here an “Oink”, there an “Oink”, everywhere an “Oink Oink”….
#587350

On January 9th, 2009 at 10:56 am, abstractmind said:

On January 9th, 2009 at 10:06 am, BrianG1979 said:
abstractmind, nice stereotyping.

I give it a good shot.

I was kidding, if it makes you feel better.
#587368

On January 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am, Socky said:

Pat Toomey at Club for Growth: “The fact is, most of this is about new government spending, and governments can’t spend our way into a recovery. We can’t spend our way out of a recession. If that was all it took, we wouldn’t be in one now. I mean, federal government spending, government spending is at an all-time record high.”
#587413

On January 9th, 2009 at 11:33 am, Jbgood said:

I guess I can’t say too much. I live in a community just outside Tulsa, Ok. and they are doing the same thing. I haven’t seen the total being asked for yet, but I am rather confident it will be as large or larger. Even though I live in this area, I hope they don’t get it.
#587472

On January 9th, 2009 at 12:18 pm, DanVanSmak said:

Hell, I’ll ask for only half of that. In return, I’ll use it to:
a) buy a yurt (and build my own outhouse)
b) buy a photovoltaic array
c) buy a SmartCar
d) build a greenhouse so I can grow my own food
e) build a smokehouse so I can cure the game I hunt
f) build a slush fund out of what’s left so I’ll have some jack on hand when this stupidity storm clears.

Hell, I should even get tax credits for my new *green* lifestyle. And the best part is that I won’t have to worry about my mortgage or putting gas in my tank! Right now, I’d start singing Donald Fagen’s IGY, but I can’t remember the lyrics. Bummer.

*out*
#587517

On January 9th, 2009 at 12:46 pm, conservative in europe said:

If we are just printing money and giving it away, I’d as soon give it to a little town in Alabama as any Democrat union official. They can use it to resurrect the Airstream corporation and build some trailers that look cool..
#587668

On January 9th, 2009 at 3:10 pm, Member-VRWC said:

On January 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am, sonofdy said:
The town of sonofdy needs 500,000 dollars STAT!!!!

Response from government representative:

We regret to inform that your request to be bailed out to the tune of $500,000 is hereby denied. We are unable to fulfill requests for less than $10,000,000. Please increase the amount and resubmit so your request under the Income Redistribution Act of 2009 can be given full consideration.
#587757

On January 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm, Stubby said:

Michelle..

Just saw you on Neil Cavuto. Great job. You’re correct when you ask, ” where are the Republicans to stand up?”

Don’t we have anyone to represent the will of the people anywhere? Does someone new, like Palin, have to spring on the scene and take all the garbage from the media?

Maybe “Joe”, the new news correspondent, can rise to the occasion.
#588164

On January 10th, 2009 at 11:36 am, mikepatr said:

I need $20,000,000 to study moonshine as an alternative fuel source. It will definitely burn and if you get stranded you’ll have something to drink.