A Symbol Of Where America Is Going

Loves Games And Movies

Obama Stimulus Bankrolls ‘Workers Playing Board Games And Watching Movies At Government Expense’

President Obama Called Project: ‘A Symbol Of Where America Is Going’

“In 2010, Mr. Obama attended the plant's groundbreaking and said such grants would ‘unleash private sector growth’ and called the factory ‘a symbol of where America is going.’” (“U.S. Grant Funded Workers' Play At LG Chem Factory,” Wall Street Journal, 2/13/13)

• OBAMA: “But what I’m absolutely clear about and what this plant will prove is that we are headed in the right direction… This is a symbol of where Michigan is going, this is a symbol of where Holland is going, this is a symbol of where America is going.” (President Obama, Remarks, Holland, MI, 7/15/10)

BOONDOGGLE: Workers Playing Board Games And Watching Movies At Government Expense

’“A Michigan battery-maker that received a visit from President Barack Obama spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in stimulus grant money for workers to do things like watch movies and play cards, according to an inspector general report that blames poor management by the Energy Department.” (“IG: DOE Battery Grant Recipient Paid Workers For Leisure,” Politico, 2/13/13)

INSPECTOR GENERAL: “…idle workers playing board games and watching movies at Government expense. (U.S. Energy Dept. Inspector General Report, 2/13)

• IG: “LG Chem Michigan inappropriately claimed and was reimbursed for labor costs that did not support the purpose/objective of the grant, including costs for workers to perform volunteer activities, play games and watch movies during regular work hours.” (U.S. Energy Dept. Inspector General Report, P.1, 2/13)
• IG: “…we determined that the Department may have reimbursed the company up to about $842,000 for questionable labor charges for just the third quarter of 2012.”(U.S. Energy Dept. Inspector General Report, P.3, 2/13)

“…South Korean advanced battery maker never scaled up U.S. production despite receiving $142 million in federal grants.” (“U.S. Grant Funded Workers' Play At LG Chem Factory,” Wall Street Journal, 2/13/13)

• “…half-funded by a government grant and estimated to add some 440 jobs building battery cells for General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Volt… the company filled orders with cells made at a factory in South Korea, leaving the Michigan plant largely idle, according to the report by the Department of Energy's Inspector General…” (“U.S. Grant Funded Workers' Play At LG Chem Factory,” Wall Street Journal, 2/13/13)

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Tags: Symbol, America's direction, Obama Stimulus, Bankrolls, LG Chem, Workers Playing, Board Games, Watching Movies, Government Expense, Inspector General Report To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!