NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Imaginary Districts Receive Stimulus Money

Imaginary Districts Receive Stimulus Money

By Mark Bellinger

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - There are questions about how the federal government is spending tax dollars. It appears millions of economic stimulus dollars are being spent in Congressional districts that do not exist. 

In Tennessee, federal economic stimulus money is being spent on several projects including the creation of thousands of jobs. 

The money became available when lawmakers passed the stimulus package earlier this year. President Obama promised government transparency. 

Americans would be able to see where every dollar was spent by going to the government website Recovery.gov. 

People started checking and they've found problems. 

Ben Cunningham is with Tennessee Tax Revolt, an advocacy group for taxpayers. 

"It just adds to the stereotype that government can't find it's behind with both hands if you'll excuse the expression,” said Cunningham. 

Recovery.gov showed stimulus money spent in imaginary congressional districts, seven districts that are in Tennessee. 

According to the website nearly $54 million had been spent in the districts, and nearly $41 million in a district called 00. 

There was an imaginary 47th district where the government had apparently spent $2.3 million. 

"Yes, the 47th district in Tennessee. That's right. Boy, we're going to have a lot of pull in Congress next in redistricting,” said Cunningham. 

Tennessee has only nine congressional districts, and they are numbered one through nine. 

State documents appear to show stimulus money earmarked for the same phantom congressional districts. 

Governor Phil Bredesen's spokeswoman, Lydia Lenker, said state officials did not file any of the reports responsible for the errors.

Lenker said some of the questionable reports look like they came from recipients in other states who may be doing work in Tennessee. 

She said they may have filled out the paper work wrong, either leaving out a congressional district or writing down the wrong number. 

NewsChannel 5 started working the story Wednesday morning. Since then the government has made some changes to the website. 

They've removed the imaginary congressional districts from Recovery.gov. 

Instead of listing the districts, the website now reads $54 million was spent in unassigned districts in Tennessee. The money created just 28 jobs. 

A House Committee in Washington is scheduled to discuss the discrepancies at a hearing Thursday morning.

email: mbellinger@newschannel5.com