Almost a dozen Cabinet officials are being dispatched to campaign in various rural districts over the summer:
The White House is making sure it reaches voters in crucial swing districts. The itinerary laid out by the White House for its just-announced “Rural Tour” includes several politically competitive districts, which would give the Obama administration a chance to make its case to people who voted Republican in past congressional races but are now represented by Democrats up for reelection in 2010. As part of the tour, 10 Cabinet secretaries are being dispatched to nine states over the summer. Locations include several districts that Republicans are targeting in next year’s midterm elections.
At the same time, Biden just wrapped up a rural tour and announced that the White House is releasing $4 billion in stimulus money for Internet projects in those districts:
The U.S. government will soon release $4 billion of loans and grants aimed at expanding broadband access to underserved areas across the United States, officials said on Wednesday. The funds are part of a $7.2 billion program to build an affordable high-speed Internet structure in rural areas. The project is being pushed by President Barack Obama, in part, to shore up the U.S. economy with job creation in the telecommunications sector. “This funding is a down payment on the president’s commitment to bring the educational and economic benefits of the Internet to all communities,” Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement.
I’m a little wary of this whole thing, as I think it might be a violation of checks and balances. The Founders clearly wanted to reserve to the Legislative the power to buy votes with earmarks.
References:
* Obama administration touring competitive rural districts [LAT]
* UPDATE 2-U.S. gov’t to release $4 bln soon for broadband [Reuters]
Previously:
* Super Smart Stimulus Czar: Knowing About The Economy Is "Above My Pay Grade"
* Stimulus Czar Biden: In Fairness To Me, "Everyone Guessed Wrong" About How Few Jobs Stimulus Would Create
* Reader Poll: What’s The Dumbest Thing That Iraq Czar Biden Has Said About Iraq?
