Today's BIPPS op-ed in H-L: 'Projected' savings vs. real ones

Gov. Beshear keeps saying he has "saved" Kentucky taxpayers $1 billion during his administration.

Yet, as Jim Waters, vice president of policy and communications, points out in an op-ed published today by the Lexington Herald-Leader: "projected savings does not mean realized savings. After all, a big difference exists between cutting spending from a proposed budget and actually spending less money.

"Proposed cuts offer spinmeisters the political benefit of appearing fiscally prudent. Actual cutting results in pain -- and possibly lost votes -- stemming from making tough decisions.

"But that's why we pay elected officials like Beshear the big bucks. Isn't it?"

Unlike state government, Kentucky families who have had to cut back to make ends meet know a real spending cut when they see one. If Frankfort had to live within its means the way hardworking, taxpaying citizens do, the commonwealth would likely be in the "black" instead of continuing to dig the hole of debt deeper by the day.

Kentucky spent federal stimulus dollars on WHAT?!

Last February, Gov. Beshear created the Kentucky at Work program to implement the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in Kentucky. The plan, as described by Beshear on the Kentucky at Work home page, was simple:

"ARRA will provide a much-needed, one-time infusion of dollars that will allow us to maintain our jobs and quality of life through investments in education, health care and public safety; and to make strategic investments now to position Kentucky for the future."

Has Kentucky used the $3 billion in federal funds to "maintain our jobs and quality of life?" We'll let you decide:

• Nearly $1 million to fund a program to improve the cardiovascular health of male inmates.

• More than $940,000 to Algood Food Company to distribute peanut butter products domestically. Algood also grabbed more than $3 million for peanut butter manufacturing!

• Another $600,000 to the University of Kentucky to investigate the fundamental constants, elementary interactions and basic symmetries of the Standard Model.

• UK also received about $570,000 to research Salamanders because they are model organisms in areas of human health.

• More than $120,000 to the city of Lancaster for an award description titled "arra stimulas" (yes, spelled this way) to fund an unknown project.

• Go Green Louisville got $7 million for energy efficient traffic signals and lighting and installation of renewable energy technologies on government buildings.

• A Louisville grocery store that has yet to even be built got $3 million -- in the name of "community development."

• $890 for work boots.

• More than $357,000 to repair an abandoned furnace in Fitchburg, Kentucky after a failed attempt in 2004 that cost over $660,000.

Could it be that about the only "strategic" activity being stimulated with federal stimulus dollars in the commonwealth is a lot of check-presentation ceremonies -- on Kentucky taxpayers' dime -- for a governor fighting for re-election?