Here comes Cash for Caulkers (again!); Update: Obama: “Insulation is sexy”
Photo credit: Achim Hering
Uncle Sam wants you…to get out your guns. Your caulk guns. President Obama is going to induce taxpayers to weatherize themselves out of the recession. Big Nanny is now Big Bob the Builder:
Hoping to jump-start his plans for job growth, President Barack Obama is pushing Congress to pass incentives for homeowners who retrofit their homes to make them more energy-efficient. The president planned to visit a Home Depot store in Northern Virginia on Tuesday to make the case that outfitting houses to be more energy-efficient will create jobs and save families money on their energy bills. It’s the fourth time in less than two weeks that the president will preside over a high-profile jobs event, as he calls attention to his efforts to bring down the nation’s double-digit unemployment rate…The White House hopes the appeal of the retrofitting program — which some administration officials have dubbed Cash for Caulkers — will be similar to the now-expired Cash for Clunkers program, which offered rebates for trading in used vehicles for more fuel-efficient ones. At a White House jobs summit earlier in the month, Obama told Home Depot chairman Frank Blake that home improvement companies would be key partners in this program.
The White House credited Bill Clinton and Silicon Valley liberal John Doerr with the “Cash for Caulkers” plan last month:
Mr. Clinton has sent the White House a memorandum written by his foundation staff that lays out the reasons people don’t weatherize their homes. Mr. Doerr, who sits on a board of outside economic advisers to Mr. Obama that is working on a formal cash-for-caulkers proposal, told me that his goal was to “keep it really simple so we can do it really fast.”
The Doerr plan would cost $23 billion over two years. Most of the money would go for incentive payments, generally $2,000 to $4,000, for weatherization projects. The homeowner would always have to pay at least 50 percent of the project’s total cost. About $3 billion would be set aside for retailers and contractors in the hope that they would promote the program, much as car dealerships promoted cash for clunkers. (Mr. Doerr says he owns no stake in any weatherization companies.)
The Clinton plan depends on the reallocation of clean energy money from the stimulus bill that has not yet been spent. It covers not just houses and apartments but also commercial and industrial buildings. Perhaps most intriguing is its proposal to help homeowners and building owners who are nervous they will end up selling their property before a weatherization project has paid for itself. Under the Clinton plan, they could add the project’s cost to their long-term property tax bill, effectively splitting the cost with the next owner.
But there was already a ton of weatherization funding — $5 billion worth — included in the porkulus bill. And guess what? It either hasn’t been spent yet (less than half has been allocated) or is being squandered with abysmal oversight. Hello, green boondoggle:
After examining state records and visiting five Illinois homes undergoing weatherization improvements funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, staff from the Energy Department’s Office of the Inspector General found problems so serious they issued a management alert before finishing the audit.
OIG is conducting similar audits of the Energy Department’s Weatherization Assistance Program in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The program aims to help low-income families reduce their energy bills by financing improvements that make their homes more energy efficient. The program received $5 billion in Recovery Act funds and has thus far awarded $2.4 billion in weatherization grants to every state, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, according to department records.
“Because of the unprecedented level of funding and the risks associated with spending vast amounts of money in a relatively short period of time,” OIG has initiated a series of audits to evaluate the program’s internal controls at both federal and state levels, wrote Inspector General Gregory Friedman in a Dec. 3 memo to senior officials, which was released on Monday.
Auditors found both state and federal officials failed to adequately monitor and inspect work being performed in Illinois. In addition, state officials lacked an automated system for tracking problems discovered during on-site visits. Federal officials didn’t find these shortcomings because they failed to perform their own on-site monitoring and inspection visits as often as required.
The failures jeopardize more than public funds. When OIG staff visited five homes in various stages of weatherization to develop a better understanding of the program, they discovered a gas leak on a newly installed furnace. While state officials and the weatherization contractor took immediate steps to warn the homeowners and fix the leak and other installation problems, “officials did not report any plans to conduct additional monitoring, testing or tracking of the work of the involved local inspector or weatherization contractor,” the IG reported.
So: The White House wants to dump billions more into spackle and insulation subsidies while massive amounts of already existing federal weatherization money go unspent or misspent to induce people into supposedly money-saving improvements that they have chosen voluntarily not to undertake.
Gives a whole new meaning to “tool time.”
***
Update: Obama says “insulation is sexy.”
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Categories: Enviro-nitwits,fiscal stimulus
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Could somebody explain to me why “normal” economics (not government economics) is necessary to incentivize presumably good behavior. If weatherizing a house is good economic sense, wouldn’t people do it anyway? Why should I the taxpayer pay extra to encourage my neighbor to save? How come they don’t pay me for saving all along?
My next door neighbor leaves every light in their house on 24 hours a day. But yet it’s mandated that I use a more expensive light bulb to save electricity.
Get the government out of the decision making business.
Winter is already upon us. It’s kind of late to weatherize now, don’t ya think, Barry?
How do you spell the word “Fail”?
I say we give Him the cold shoulder and he can keep the caulk for himself.
(It’s not your job, Barry.)
http://danielmcandrew.com
Fixed.
Illinois. That is in Chicago – right? Home of corruption? Yet another formula for failure. So, what, we get a rebate on a $4 tube of caulk? That should cost tax payers $10 – right?
TwoThree words: Epic failure againWasn’t it Bob the Builder who gave Barack Obama his campaign slogan in the first place?
“Barack Obama! Yes we can!”
“Can we tax it? Yes we can!”
“Can we spend it? Yes we can!”
(For those of you who have no clue as to what I’m talking about…)
Send_Me
I think the best song title to describe this bill is:
Another on bites the dust.
Maybe Barry, Harry, Nancy and B.J. should watch an episode of HGTV’s Renovation realities before they squander billions on this idiotic, potentially life-threatening, program.
Will this stupidity ever end?
A “caulker” is Key West Pirate-speak for that last, stiff drink imbibed before the end of the night.
Before this spending spree is over, we are all gonna need caulkers!
Yes, in 2012, if not 2010. Hopefully 2010 will net enough conservatives to spackle Bob the President’s mouth shut.
They must’ve got the Home Depot Discount!
Better grab all the caulking guns you can before Pelosi starts injecting her face again!
hot air is escaping from dear leader’s mouth…quick someone get the duct tape and caulk and seal the leak…
Here is a novel idea, why not use the 23 billion for tax cuts to small businesses. You know the people who actually created jobs.
Hey, how about cash for mattresses!:
The good news?
Errah, “Cash for Caulk” That’s a program some of Tiger’s friends can get behind! Did I miss something here??!!!
I think we need a staple gun to make sure the job is done right.
This stupidity will never end until people stop holding their hands out expecting the government to fill them. Politicians have created a monster with government handouts and we, the people, have been conned into going along with it. Nothing in life is free. Nothing.
My husband and I winterized our house for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with Barry the
BuilderDestroyer: to keep warm, to keep our bills in a range we can afford and because we (and not Uncle Sam) own it.While it is true that caulking around your windows is a job, it doesn’t pay very well.
Or is he saying there will be a huge boom at the caulk factory? Either way, it’s stupid.
Everybody eat toast with jam. It’s tasty and will create jobs.
Remember when the United States government did great things like lead the fight against communism and put men on the moon? Now it has been reduced to trying to get people to caulk their house and turning this country into a giant assisted living care center. If the Dems can’t be ousted by 2012 it won’t be long before our enemies won’t even bother with us and will go look for a more worthy adversary. (This is the liberals way of fighting terrorism.)
Does this mean that ACORN will finally fess up to being in the caulking business? Or are we supposed to hire SEIU to do the job?
Dab a little K-Y on the end of that caulking gun, and it’ll fit nicely where it should go.
Or not.
this is just another reparations payment, after all, the smart and industrious americans recognize the benefit and savings. but slum lords could care less about drafty windows and gaps under doors. so the poor complain and obama the messiah offers gubmint payment for slum lords to do what they are supposed to do with their money, keep their property habitable. ps. in england, the nanny state drives around with thermal imaging vans and ticket people who’s house leaks too much heat.
You forgot the warning label about removing any fists first. You know how easily confused they can get.
Somebody tell me how jobs will be created if I go up a ladder and caulk around my windows, etc.
I’m curious. Or is it I’m supposed to hire the job done by a union worker? Purchase caulking guns from China? I give up.
I’d rather go out and buy myself an AR15 high-capacity assault caulking gun and a snub-nosed .38 special concealable caulking gun.
8 in total
5 in the non-union Chinese ladder factory
2 in the non-union Chinese caulking gun factory
1 in the non-union Chinese caulking tube plant
Make sure you hang out the flag when you go up the ladder.
BINGO!! That is exactly what this is about!! And where is all the stimulous money that hasn’t been spent? I have a feeling that money is earmarked to go to similar reparations, but under the guise of “stimulating jobs”. They will find some way to disguise it as it is spent. These people simply refuse to do it the old “tried and true” way, that is, cut taxes and let the private sector take care of business. That has worked every time in the past. But for some reason, the liberals don’t want to do anything that even hints of a “conservative” plan or principle. These temporary jobs they are “creating” will disappear just as quickly as the idiots in Congress in November 2010. Then maybe we can get back to actually doing something that works!
Apparently. Note the warning labels on milk cartons: “Allergy warning: contains milk”
how about getting giverment out of our lives completely with the rare exception as stated in the Constitution.
Fly -
Which flag, the red one?
That would be everyone, cheapseat, (except the ‘Windsors’); England used to rule most of the world, but still can’t figure out central heating…
In Obama’s mind, as far as his experience (Chicago), America is a slum.
After the OPEC oil embargo of 1973 energy scams went wild in this country. Solar water heaters were sold at 3 and 4 times the pre embargo price and installed by people who did not have a clue how to install them. After the different Utility company/government rebate programs they only cost two or three times of the pre embargo cost–usually at a 12-16% rate. If there was never any wind damage/freeze damage or breakdown the people might get their money back in two or three generations. If you have an electric water heater a timer will save you more.
Caulking windows and replacing weather stripping should be among a homeowners routine duties–renters won’t bother. At home Depot a 17 foot 1/2 X 3/4 foam strip cost $3.49. A twelve pack of silicone caulk is less than $13.00.
With a Tax credit you can probably do it for less than $500! Toast with jam: priceless.
…Dentistry, National Security, GDP…
FDR’a economic policies failed, so to “help” the economy today, Congress has decided to expand on those failures on a huge scale. Expect industry takeovers, massive layoffs, and the dollar worth little in the world.
Off topic, but this is just too good to pass up:
On December 15th, 2009 at 7:31 am, Send_Me said:
I’m surprised that Michelle didn’t include “Yes we can!” along with her picture of Bob the Builder.
But “Yes we can!” actually pre-dates Bob the Builder. Believe it or not, that slogan traces its roots to Alinsky and his followers. And I personally believe that it is no accident that it’s being used in children’s programming. I’ve noticed a lot of “green” and other socialist propaganda in children’s programming. The Socialists want to “get them while they’re young”. Kids who grow up chanting “Yes we can!” are much more likely to grow up into 18 year old voters chanting “Yes we can!”
“Yes, We Can!” –> “¡Sí se puede!” –> Alinsky Radicals –> Lucifer
So, he says the “figures are fresh”, and then we find out he got the information in a private conversation several years ago, and the figures are “estimates”. This is the kind of “irrefutable data” that ManBearPig pulls out of his butt on a daily basis. He is a total buffoon. Al Gore has no soul. Look into his eyes (if you dare). There is nothing behind them.
I foresee the “cost of existing” rising to the point where many will be forced into commune-style living to get the most out of food and shelter dollars, if there is any left after taxes.
Obama’s mantra:
…at the back wall of his skull.
The program makes very little sense in terms of homeowners. If it was worth doing, the homeowner would already do it without the program.
However, for rentals where the tenant pays for the heating, it often might be a ‘good idea.’
The landlord has little incentive to make the apartment as thoroughly insulated as if he were paying the heating bill, while the tenant isn’t really interested in paying for an improvement where the tenants after him are likely to be getting the most benefit.
The market ‘fails’ in this case because a new tenant thinking of renting a place isn’t likely to sit down and pencil out just how much he’s losing because the insulation hasn’t been improved since back when energy costs were much less.
However, the chances a Big New Government Program is going to primarily focus on paying landlords to upgrade the insulation in their rentals is zero.
That’s politics. And it demonstrates one more time why Big Government is almost always counterproductive for the society at large no matter how nice sounding the Big New Project Big Government proposes.
Bring it on. I’ve been trying to insulate myself from the hypocritical spew of Gore and his enviroturds…
Bend over Al… there’s another orifice that needs caulking.
Unless my public screw-all education failed me again, I think Chicago is in Illinois – not the other way around…
By the way, the long nightmare is finally over!! The old numbering system is back. Mega thanks!!!
Looks like the Obama admin. has found a new use for “Brown 25″.
Not before somebody bounces this idiot out of office. This is another perfect example of inexperienced juveniles trying to run our country. Can you imagine how happy the home improvement crooks and scammers are to hear about this chunk of cash being handed to them on a platter. I can hear the doorbells and phones ringing now around the country.
DMJewel–Brown 25 from ‘Uranus’, right? LOL–nice ‘Groove Tube’ reference.
Errah, I guess I’ll move to the north pole where ManBearPig won’t be looking for me and can’t tax me either. The only question is do I take the stone cold corpse of Roald Amundsen on my jet ski with me or take my trusty dog sled team.
Errah isn’t Chicago the 57th state O visited?
I guess no one at the White House is smart enough to know that in MOST parts of the country it is too cold to effectively apply caulking. Retards.
Speaking of cash for caulkers, now we have cash for dancers:
Now we know what GM is spending the
bailouttax dollars on.Thanks, Michelle — I read the post prepared to be upset, but came away laughing instead. Well put.
So Mrs. Champ asks what I can do to fix the window. So, I says “Well, first I want to caulk your crack”. Next thing I know The Champ catches me on the chin with an upper-cut…
The president planned to visit a Home Depot store in Northern Virginia
Is he taking Biden with him? We all know Joe knows Home Depot…
Errah if OJo go to Home Depot in VA; hope they take a translator. The Casa El Depots here in the great Peoples Republic of Maryland No habla de english
Errah,
Ba Da Bing
Spaceycakes, Great job picking up the ref. that was worth a chuckle. Guess I gotta get out of bed earlier in the morning for this crowd.
Some 20 years ago, Worcester, Mass instituted a subsidized insulation program. Local contractors cashed in, blowing insulation into the walls of many old homes.
Trouble is, when some of those homes’ walls were broken open during renovation projects, there was no insulation.
The companies had simply opened a hole, hooked a hose to it, turned on a compressor that blew nothing but air, and collected their fee from the homeowner and the city.
Sweet.
DMJewel–nah, I’ve just seen a lot of movies, and as I note everyday: I’m old.
LOL–’insulation is dead sexy’ spoken like Fat Bastard.
hahahahah.
I amuse myself.
I am such a fool. I spent $50 on weatherstripping last weekend. I should have waited for the bailout.
I also pay my mortgage, drive a paid off car, and save for a rainy day.
We are living in bizzaro world where responsibility is punished.
PS. Where are the weatherstripping jobs? My six year old and I did that last weekend so maybe that should somehow be reflected in his jobs number.
Winterization? WHY?
Global warming will solve the winter problem.
Citrus freezes nearly every winter in Florida.
AlGore; why the long face?
Insulation is sexy? Whatever turns you on Bambi. Maybe you should buy Michelle a nice fiberglass nightie for your next date night.
Use Kramp Easy Lube brand vegetable shortening as the organic solution to all your home caulking needs.
LOL Co2–the hits just keep on coming.
Is there a youtube of the VD public service announcement from the same film?
Insulation is sexy? Well then, count me in to save the world with my tire pressure gauge and caulk gun! If I’d have known it was that simple to impress the ladies …. ah, well, “Youth wasted on the young.”
Maybe they should mix in some protein and vitamins in with the caulk so that after healthcare is passed and we have no money left to buy food, we can peel it off and eat it.
Spaceycakes. there are a number of videos from TGT on YouTube but have not found the VD skit yet.
It would be great for someone on camera to ask the Prez if caulk can be installed over snow or at all given the temperatures in Va. (in the mid-40′s)
From manufacturer:WEATHER-TITETM 100 PREMIUM Siliconized Acrylic Adhesive Caulk, 60-series
Apply in good weather when air and surface temperature are above 50oF and surface temperature is at least 5oF above the dew point. For optimum application properties, material should be between 70 to 100oF prior to mixing and application.
That is 50 degrees, not 500 degrees- the degree symbol does not work with cut and paste.
I don’t need President Urkel to tell me whether insulation is sexy.
Darn it all Obama, stop being a community organizer and TRY to be president!
Let it be known, that any Obamabot who seriously considers this boondoggle appropriate of the President, I dub thee caulksucker!
I could suggest a place where Da One could put that caulk gun.
ECS