Political Hotsheet
February 25, 2009 7:44 AM

Biden Vows To "Follow The Money"

(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 () 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:




Tags:
biden ,
stimulus ,
early show
Topics:
Joe Biden
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx
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
by colt8881 February 25, 2009 11:19 AM EST
SpankySpankster

The Economy was NOT OK 2 years ago. It was in Free Fall from the Repbulican Controled Congress that was giving Bush a Blank, Rubber Stamped Check or 6 years.

Get your FACTS in Order SpankySpankster and stop watching Fox News.
Reply to this comment
by colt8881 February 25, 2009 11:17 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.
Reply to this comment
by SpankySpankster February 25, 2009 11:03 AM EST
Look what the Democrat-controlled 110th Congress accomplished these last two years! The economy was doing OK when they took over. They got nothing done. What a bunch of idiots America is for giving the Dems even more power after they completely screwed up since January 2007. They got nothing done. It's no wonder the economy tanked.
Reply to this comment
by oklagirl3 February 25, 2009 11:01 AM EST
I can't believe the ignorance and arrogance of these GOP members, in office and out. If THEY had a clue as to how to fix things, why haven't they? Mmm maybe because it's the way they want it? The GOP has played the tax cut angle till it smells, If you're not collecting taxes from people who have money then the government doesn't have any money. I think to coin a phrase the GOP "protests too much". They had eight years, all of which they fiddled while Rome burned. I've had enough of them.

Bobby Jindal's speech last night was sophomoric. But of course the GOP loves him, just like they did that great political mind "Sarah Palin".
Reply to this comment
by SpankySpankster February 25, 2009 11:01 AM EST
Since Biden didn't know the "website number" for recovery.com, here it is: 64.95.172.77

What a pair of emptysuit hustlers.
Reply to this comment
by newslady2 February 25, 2009 10:58 AM EST
Oh Good, We Have The Stupid Fox watching the Hen House!!!
Reply to this comment
by colt8881 February 25, 2009 10:55 AM EST
Biden Vows To "Follow The Money"

FOLLOW THE MONEY !

Thats a HUGE DIFFERENCE Bush and His Administration and cronies > pocketed the money or lost the money or un-accounted the money.
Reply to this comment
by pensacola8-2009 February 25, 2009 10:37 AM EST
Some bloggers here who don't believe Joe Biden's claim that money can be followed need to recall some financial terms like "Audits" "Filings" and "Disclosures" which are all official documents that can send a person to prison if it is falsified.

All accounts have their signatures and their deposit and withdrawal transactions available for analysis. Auditors can track money in the accounting systems and follow them to the various filings and reports that are triggered when certain codes are filtered.

Now, having said that...every person knows the story of the auto mecahnic who owns a car in great need of repair; a plumber with a dripping sink in his own home; an electrician with defective switches and outlets in his own home; etc...Bankers have to use the same tools for their clients as they do themselves...thus the auditors are quite busy.
Reply to this comment
by ormondbeach1 February 25, 2009 9:38 AM EST
Biden has always followed the money, why change now. He is a Democrat and if it is free to him that is all that matters.
Reply to this comment
by colt8881 February 25, 2009 9:37 AM EST
chuckie2u

YOu have it all mixed up Girl.

Bush and his Administration had ZERO accountability with the the IRAQ and Afaganastan and Hurricane Katrena money. D ICKeY CHENEY had a huge bonus check waiting for him at Halliburton when he left office and so did all of Bushies Cronies thats why Hundreds of Millions of dollars are unaccounted for they are all in the bank accounts of the cronie Republicans.

The Republicans are just mad because now the Democrats have started something new its called Accounting & no more Rubber Stamped, Blank Checks for the Republicons.
Reply to this comment
See all 24 Comments

About Political Hotsheet

Stay up to the minute on the latest news and developments from Washington, from the White House to Congress and everything in-between with the best political reporters from CBS News and CBSNews.com.

E-Mail Political Hotsheet
Follow On Twitter

Add to your favorite news reader
google
yahoo
msn
  • MOST POPULAR
HOTSHEET ON TWITTER