COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Tracking $787 billion in stimulus funds is difficult and it shows.
A review of the federal government's recovery.gov website finds millions of dollars mislabeled as heading to congressional districts that don't exist. The website details the money each congressional district has received and the number of jobs created or saved by stimulus funds.
Central Ohio's 15th district leads the way in the state with 13,212 jobs and more than $1.3 billion in stimulus funding reported. That job count is likely inaccurate as well.
A number of other congressional districts that do not exist also are listed as receiving funds. According to the website, district zero benefited from eight jobs and received $1.8 million dollars. The errors lead to doubt about the reliability of the website's information.
White House advisor Edward DeSeve responded to concerns online, writing that the errors stem from stimulus recipients that reported the wrong districts. DeSeve described the errors as inevitable, but not acceptable.
"When people send in 130,000 reports, some will have silly mistakes," DeSeve wrote. "But it doesn't really undermine the ability of the public to track and follow the data - or the fact that real jobs have been created."
DeSeve added that relatively few errors were made and the administration is working to fix those mistakes. The money appears to be accounted for properly, just mislabeled on paper.
Reacting today, 12th district Republican Congressman Pat Tiberi said, "for an administration that has promised openness, accuracy, and transparency, these errors are outrageous... The reporting issues need to be corrected."
Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, who represents Ohio's 15th congressional district said, "while I am glad that the administration has been extremely transparent, they have an obligation to get this right and fix
these ridiculous errors."
For additional information, stay with nbc4i.com and NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement