February 25, 2009 7:44 AM

Biden Vows To "Follow The Money"

By
Stephen Smith
Topics
White House
(CBS)
The implementation of President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan will be transparent and vigilantly monitored to ensure the administration can effectively "follow the money," Vice President Joseph Biden told CBS' The Early Show Wednesday.

"This is a matter of discipline and getting it right," Biden said. "That's what we intend to do."

Biden said all information relating to the implementation of the package's dollars would be put "transparently on a Web site" – although he stumbled (
watch video here
) when asked to name the Web site – which is recovery.gov.

Anchor Maggie Rodriguez told the vice president that a businesswoman who watched Mr. Obama's speech last night wanted to know exactly how the stimulus package is going to help small businesses.

Biden cited improvements in transportation, energy and cost of operations – and even suggested that the viewer call his office so he could "guide her as to what pieces of this package would be directly helpful to her."

When Mr. Obama explained Tuesday night why he chose Biden to oversee the implementation of his stimulus plan, the president said, "Nobody messes with Joe."

Biden said he has been busy getting a team together to orchestrate the unprecedented oversight effort.

"I called for a Cabinet meeting where I'll preside over it so we know exactly what each Cabinet member is doing, what resources available, how they will distribute those sources, how they will follow the money," Biden said. "I am meeting with governors and mayors. I'm meeting with private industry and private business. We want to make sure we don't do what the last administration did when it tried to help the banks."

Watch the full interview here:





  • Stephen Smith

    Stephen Smith is a news producer and sports editor for CBSNews.com

Add a Comment See all 24 Comments
by lambor59 May 18, 2009 11:18 AM EDT
Sure, they will follow the money just like Bush did.
Reply to this comment
by Margee20 February 26, 2009 2:43 PM EST
Biden lied in his comments on Jindal's speech. Louisiana is NOT losing 400 jobs a day. In December, the number of jobs went UP. From January 17 to January 24, the number of jobless went DOWN by 400.

But what can you expect from someone who thinks a website URL is a number...
Reply to this comment
by wingnut611 February 26, 2009 12:50 PM EST
If the depth of reasoned thought, grammar and spelling of these posts are an indication of the intelligence of the American public, then I fear greatly for our future.

Public education at its finest.
Reply to this comment
by sikurian February 25, 2009 4:13 PM EST
joe, joe, joe....get with the program!
Reply to this comment
by grabandgo February 25, 2009 12:12 PM EST
When is he going to start?
The banks have already thrown parties and getaways with our money. They have also given themselves big bonuses while our government sits back and says they are going to watch.
I am mad...Let the banks and Wall Street go down.
Reply to this comment
by scb1111_1 February 25, 2009 11:55 AM EST
The economy started falling two years ago? What happen? Oh, that correct, the DumboCraps took control of Congress, oh that 's right?
Reply to this comment
by perceptions5 February 25, 2009 11:49 AM EST
You can sure tell who the people are that watch Fox News and think they are making educated and informed posts today.

Fox News is just a waste if you want real news and coverage its CBS News or CNN only.
Posted by colt8881

===============================
Yeah.......CBS News generates fake National Guard memos on Bush....................Crimminals

And CNN was voted a liberal news outlet by most Americans in a recent poll.

Talk about getting contaminated by liberal propaganda.

SAD
Reply to this comment
by specialty8 February 25, 2009 11:47 AM EST
Bidden will follow the money along with Pelosi and Reid all the way to Nevada to build their new Dinky Railroad.
Reply to this comment
by perceptions5 February 25, 2009 11:47 AM EST
Biden..........what a joke!

I doubt if he even know the ABC's without singing them...............great choice Obama............
Reply to this comment
by colt8881 February 25, 2009 11:23 AM EST
SpankySpankster

The economy was in FREE FALL 2 years ago and headed down.

And it was from the first 6 years of the Republican Controled Congress that was gave Bush Blank, Rubber Stamped, Super Spending Checks for Billions of dollars for IRAQ.

SpankySpankster please get your FACTS in ORDER before you make thes Uneducated and Mindless Factless Posts.
Reply to this comment
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