Jobs bill would direct millions to Md. schools, White House says
Maryland schools would receive $315.8 million in federal construction money and $114.2 million would be directed to Baltimore City Schools under the $447 billion jobs bill President Barack Obama sent to Congress this week, according to estimates released Tuesday by the White House.
The money is part of a $25 billion program the Obama administration says would be used to modernize 35,000 public school across the country. Of that money, $10 billion would be directed toward the 100 largest high-need public school districts, including Baltimore, Prince George's County and Montgomery County schools, according to a list released by the Obama administration.
New estimates on the impact of the jobs plan come as the administration tries to sell the legislation directly to the public. Obama travels to Ohio Tuesday to visit a high school in Columbus as part of that effort. The president unveiled the jobs plan in a speech to Congress last week and has aggressively pushed for its passage. The measure has faced resistance from some Republicans who are concerned about its cost and whether it would create enough jobs to have an impact on the economy.
The projections are only estimates and they are being crafted by the same administration that is pressuring Congress to pass the bill. Predicting the economic impact of economic policies is notoriously difficult as the Obama administration learned during the debate over the 2009 economic stimulus.
School money allocated by the latest jobs bill could not be used for new construction, only renovating or upgrading current buildings. To ensure projects and the hiring of construction workers gets underway rapidly, the bill requires schools to spend the money by Sept. 30, 2012.
The White House estimates the funding has the potential to create 4,100 jobs in Maryland.
Maryland's aging school buildings have long been a top concern for education officials and lawmakers. Baltimore County recently estimated it would have to spend $2.2 billion to modernize its buildings, while the estimated need totals $2.8 billion for the city.
In addition to the school funding, the administration estimates some $625.5 million in transportation money would be spent in Maryland under the plan. Another $541.7 million would be used to help the state pay salaries for teachers, police and firefighters. Maryland would receive $20 million -- the minimum for a state under the law -- to renovate foreclosed and abandoned properties.
Comments
So what? More money for teachers unions. We hire another 100 teachers. The stimulus runs out and we get another 10% budget increase we can't support. Awesome. This jobs bill is a horrible waste of money.
Posted by: Neil B | September 13, 2011 9:20 AM
The White House lies.ba
Posted by: Carole | September 13, 2011 9:38 AM
More good money after bad. How are remodeled buildings going to help failing schools. The entire public school system needs to be remodeled and and can be done without any money at all. Get rid of the unions and political correctness. Bring back moral values and discipline. Hire competent teachers, back them up and fire incompetent teachers. Get rid of tenure.
Posted by: Elaine Galeone | September 13, 2011 10:14 AM
I have been unemployed for 1 1/2 years. My benefits have long ago run out. There are no jobs in my field that I am capable of doing. Will this bill provide additional money for the long term unemployed.
Posted by: C W | September 13, 2011 10:17 AM
Yeah, after taking taxes out of our pockets. I used to see a similar shell game down on Baltimore St. You never expand an economy by increasing taxes, EVER. This so-called leader needs to be thrown out of office.
Posted by: J. Vincent Walker | September 13, 2011 10:36 AM
Take from those on the edge to feed the insatiable desires of the have nots. Obama's jobs plan to nowhere is more redistribution of wealth to unions, illegals, the entitlement crowd and welfare bumbs. Obama's so called jobs program will never see the proverbial light of day. He needs to be voted out when 2012/Nov. arrives, that is how we will create jobs and throw the deadbeats off the public dole.
Posted by: Mark Davis | September 13, 2011 10:44 AM
Regardless of how the money gets to the schools, this is long overdue. Our schools need $2 Billion in infrastructure repair and are the number one reason residents cite for leaving Baltimore City. If the school can be renovated to provide an environment for learning then I feel people would be more apt to stay.
Posted by: Joe | September 13, 2011 10:46 AM
This is nothing but the Democrats trying to get relected. why is money not being directed to help out people in the rest of the State. the counties getting alot of the money are primarily Democratic. what about the people on the Eastern shore or Western maryland that need help.
AAlso who is going to pay for this?
Posted by: Joe-Ball | September 13, 2011 11:41 AM
You can put every penny you have in the public schools and it won't make a difference. This is a total waste of taxpayer's dollars.
Posted by: Leon | September 13, 2011 12:36 PM
Still doubt O'Malley is the 2012 vice president candidate?Wait Until you hear the national news tell us how great he is for us Marylanders .
Posted by: Anonymous | September 13, 2011 1:25 PM
The Feds are borrowing all of this money. After Fed and State regulations and inside-bidding, each $5m upgrade will cost $10m. Each new hire will be laid off next year postponing some problems but the money will still be owed. This debt treadmill has to stop.
Posted by: Kevin | September 13, 2011 2:02 PM
Keep federal monies out of state schools.
Where in the Constitution does the federal budget support state schools???????
Posted by: nrb | September 13, 2011 3:29 PM
OH GREAT!!! Send some more of what we have none of to Baltimore so it too can be flushed down the toilet like the Johnsons did!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 13, 2011 4:47 PM
Just when and for what reason, have so many folks turned on teachers and teachers' unions? When did teacher become so hated?
Posted by: Woodie | September 13, 2011 4:53 PM
Wow, so a portion of that "shovel-ready" money is going to schools now? And just how is that going to work, when none of the $787 Billion in the first stimulus, oh, excuse me -- "jobs Bill" made it last time?
These morons in the White House just don't know when to stop lying to us. They will say anything at all in order to get themselves reinstalled in power next year.
Posted by: DCS | September 13, 2011 4:54 PM
Buying votes?
Posted by: mac | September 13, 2011 5:06 PM
Paid for by your local Chinese government.
Posted by: Kent | September 13, 2011 5:12 PM
What horrible uninformed vitriol is on this comments page. Judging by the level of informed analysis and discussion displayed on this comments section I think public schools could use the money.
So much for an informed democracy - all I read here are people shouting cliche political bullet-points at one another.
Posted by: eric22 | September 13, 2011 5:32 PM
Eric, The schools in its current model do need the money. But we need to pay our bills. The debt is pulling down any chance for economic growth, which affects the revenue that goes to government. Schools also should be a state issue, not a federal issue. Computer comments usually aren't a place for policy wonk-type debates, but good points are being made about city vs. rural money, the lack of success of the last stimulus, constitutionality, etc.
Posted by: Kent | September 13, 2011 6:02 PM
This whole thing is strategic, Obama needs to stroke that voter base the heck with everyone else.
Posted by: DHarri | September 14, 2011 12:49 AM