Stimulus Money Already Creating Jobs

CBS Evening News: A Look At The New Jobs -- Blue-Collar And White-Collar -- In Three Cities

(CBS)  President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package won final approval less than a month ago, and the money is already being put to work on construction, infrastructure, government and social services projects around the country. CBS news correspondents Jeff Glor and Ben Tracy take a look at two places where the stimulus package is creating jobs.

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Electrician George DiBruno has a family of four to support and a construction job that lasts only eight more weeks.

After that?

"After this one we don't know what's gonna happen," he says.

Which is why the seemingly humdrum meetings he's attending these days are so exciting for him. They're new construction bid meetings - fueled by stimulus money - that are launching government projects nationwide.

It's estimated 1.8 million jobs will be created in middle- and low-income fields by the stimulus bill - jobs in construction, manufacturing, retail and hospitality. One-third of those will be union construction jobs - electricians, carpenters and project supervisors - that typically pay 3 to 6 times minimum wage.

In other words, there are jobs out there. The money is there. People like DiBruno and welder Al Brown just need to land them.

If Brown's small, struggling welding business wins a contract, it'll mean jobs for 8 to 10 workers.

"We're attending the outreach meetings. Letting people know who we are, what we can do," Brown says.

Bob Lund is managing transit system stimulus money for the city of Philadelphia. With $191 million dollars to use, Lund's work could create 5,000 jobs.

That's 5,000 people who, if the stimulus money weren't available, wouldn't be working at all, Lund says.

"We're just waiting on the check to actually hand the contract and start the work," he says.

For workers like DiBruno and Brown, the checks can't come quickly enough.

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In Los Angeles, a branch of the QueensCare Family Clinics is waiting for its own cut of the stimulus money - a promised $1.3 million check.

"We knew that in the stimulus package there was money for health centers but had no idea it was going to be this fast," said Terry Bonecutter, president and CEO of the clinics.

The money will help treat the growing number of working poor needing subsidized healthcare. The clinic's overwhelmed doctors have already seen 5,000 more patients in just the past year. The stimulus money will give them what they need most, more co-workers - all of which are white-collar jobs being created by the stimulus plan.

Just three weeks ago, the clinic laid off 20 people. Now, with the stimulus money, they plan to rehire 10, including doctors, technicians and the medical assistants who work the front desk.

"We wouldn't have been able to do it without the money," says Bonecutter.

New white collar jobs may also be on the way in Texas, where one construction company is bidding on a stimulus-funded project to widen a major freeway in Dallas.

"Instead of seeing 10 to 15 people being laid off, I think we have the possibility of seeing 10 to 40 being added," said Jim Andoga president of Austin Bridge and Road.

That includes engineers, accountants and marketers.

In fact approximately 1.1 million traditionally white-collar jobs are expected to be created by the stimulus package - jobs in sectors ranging from financial services to education to health care.

But right now, any jobs are a boost for struggling communities - no matter the color of the collar or the coat.

[tmorganriley]

I don't know what planet your on! The unemployment rate keeps going up! No new jobs have been created! Stop the incorrect news being spread to the American public! Go to the website for unemployment! It will show the facts!

[quiltcrafts]

What I'd like to know is how illegal aliens/immigrants can receive the stimus checks when they are illegal? If I've paid taxes for years, worked, and don't get FREE motel rooms, groceries, medical, and transportation, how can OUR GOVERNMENT (thru companies such as Telamon Corp) give all this to illegals free?

[wvu74621]

1.8 million for 12 million unemployed?

[dottydo]

TEA Party dumping Obama plans in the Harbor seems to be coming from his own base.
Where are money backers like Kennedy,Terry Kerry, Clintons,Buffet, the Dem Senators and their base, Hollywood to prop up the market?
The new Party of the people seems to be no longer Republican ,Democrat ,Independent ,or Greenparty.

The States will be fineand taxpayers will take care of their own, but it looks like no one is willing to prop up this administration.

How long before Impeachment and a President Biden to navigate our gracious vessel back on course...the course of success?

[tucano2]

Yell, Scream, E-Mail, Fax, Phone "your" Senator and insist E-Verify be included in every piece of legislation. Elected employees of yours like Pelosi, Reid, Feinstein, Boxer and others (are they all Communist Anti-Americans?) are working hard to put Americans on the bread line and illegals on the job line so all can be manipulated and controlled. Revolt, Rebel, RECALL.

[skyk-2009]

Hey morons.......how much money did it cost to create these few jobs????? One heck of a deal huh?????? Democrats...keep swallowing until your hearts content because your stomachs are bound to get full some day and you'll choke on your own vomit.
Posted by dongo3 at 3:09 AM : Mar 8, 2009

You can't even define the word Stimulus so why are you here? You never make any sense with your rants and you haven't the education to base your arguments on sound fact so why bother?

[dowisnow2000]

Obama says:

"Dont worry, in my long term plan we will ALL be Goverment employees"

"I know how to spend your money better than you - relax"

"I realize - your retirement is worth 50% of what is was in Jan 2009 - sorry folks"

"Trust me, I know what is best for you"

[curse914]

If they weren't in debt, but rather, saved their money by keeping their materialism in check, there wouldn't be this massive mountain of debt to default on in the first place.

And your attempt to blame lenders is ludicrous. They weren't chasing people down, forcing them to accept debt they weren't seeking.

Get real.

What drove this massive accumulation of debt was desire for it, plain and simple.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 6:20 PM : Mar 7, 2009

Saying the lender does not share blame is absurd.

Lenders took advantage of the unregulated Financial Market to lend to individuals that they should not have been lending too.

_snip_
Oct.-Nov. 1999


Congress passes Financial Services Modernization Act


After 12 attempts in 25 years, Congress finally repeals Glass-Steagall, rewarding financial companies for more than 20 years and $300 million worth of lobbying efforts. Supporters hail the change as the long-overdue demise of a Depression-era relic.

On Oct. 21, with the House-Senate conference committee deadlocked after marathon negotiations, the main sticking point is partisan bickering over the bill's effect on the Community Reinvestment Act, which sets rules for lending to poor communities. Sandy Weill calls President Clinton in the evening to try to break the deadlock after Senator Phil Gramm, chairman of the Banking Committee, warned Citigroup lobbyist Roger Levy that Weill has to get White House moving on the bill or he would shut down the House-Senate conference. Serious negotiations resume, and a deal is announced at 2:45 a.m. on Oct. 22. Whether Weill made any difference in precipitating a deal is unclear.

On Oct. 22, Weill and John Reed issue a statement congratulating Congress and President Clinton, including 19 administration officials and lawmakers by name. The House and Senate approve a final version of the bill on Nov. 4, and Clinton signs it into law later that month.

Just days after the administration (including the Treasury Department) agrees to support the repeal, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, the former co-chairman of a major Wall Street investment bank, Goldman Sachs, raises eyebrows by accepting a top job at Citigroup as Weill's chief lieutenant. The previous year, Weill had called Secretary Rubin to give him advance notice of the upcoming merger announcement. When Weill told Rubin he had some important news, the secretary reportedly quipped, "You're buying the government?"
_snip_

[fedup12]

LOL I see rowdys paranoid fixation on slownews is still there.

Rowdy - is the face of the republican party. Why else did we go to war with Iraq when the war was clearly in Afghanistan.

Paranoid delusions... Thats why.

[formrusmcsgt]

Good evening, all.

As always, a pleasure.

[shawshank22]

Anyone who is ashamed of serving there country,is a John Kerry,JaneFonds scumbag who would be better served in Venezuala with an Obama like dictator for your fearless leader..........you are sick and un=American

[formrusmcsgt]

Thats Exactly what they want you to believe that its the fault of those who barrowed and lender lending the money to those who did not qualify ....
Posted by shazmigangs0007 at 6:13 PM : Mar 7, 2009

Americans, in general, spend every dime they make and even money they haven't made yet satisfying material desires.

If they weren't in debt, but rather, saved their money by keeping their materialism in check, there wouldn't be this massive mountain of debt to default on in the first place.

And your attempt to blame lenders is ludicrous. They weren't chasing people down, forcing them to accept debt they weren't seeking.

Get real.

What drove this massive accumulation of debt was desire for it, plain and simple.

[formrusmcsgt]

We are now China with Obamanomics
Posted by dowisnow2000 at 6:11 PM : Mar 7, 2009

What analogy would you use for losing 4 million jobs while running up 4 trillion in debt?

[dowisnow2000]

Stimulus Money Already Creating Jobs

___

Duh !!

Well by that definition, we will all be working for the Gov soon.

We are now China with Obamanomics

[formrusmcsgt]

Lord, Slownewsday, aka, rightaboutit, formrusmcsgt, you just crack me up talking to yourself.
Posted by RowdysBack at 6:03 PM : Mar 7, 2009

We dealt earlier today with your delusion that everyone else here but you is actually the same person.

Give it a rest already.

[formrusmcsgt]

I served my country.. I was ashamed. Its where all the misfits go. All the losers.. Ya never met a bigger buncha losers than when yer in the military. Scum sucking pigs..
Posted by arthur182 at 6:01 PM : Mar 7, 2009

Sounds like you'd fit right in....

[formrusmcsgt]

Well Said! Been a pleasure.
Posted by rightaboutit at 5:51 PM : Mar 7, 2009


All mine, Sir.

[formrusmcsgt]

Semper FI! No Doubts!
Posted by rightaboutit at 5:44 PM : Mar 7, 2009

I have been fortunate to have achieved many goals in my lifetime (now 56), but none shadows my pride in having served my country amidst it's most valiant.

[formrusmcsgt]

Getting old but still love to learn. What would be the correct personell name for a Marine?
Posted by rightaboutit at 5:39 PM : Mar 7, 2009

Marine.

[formrusmcsgt]

And then asking the tax payers to pay for rescue plans in trillions ....
Posted by shazmigangs0007 at 5:34 PM : Mar 7, 2009

The only people who have a right to complain are those of us who are not indebted as the crisis was principally brought about by the millions who bought what they didn't need with money they didn't have....