National Alliance For Healthy Communities

President Obama has continued to stress the importance of spending stimulus money not just quickly but well.

In a memo released last week , the president said it is imperative to spend the money on worthy projects.

“‘We must not allow Recovery Act funds to be distributed on the basis of factors other than the merits of proposed projects or in response to improper influence or pressure. We must also empower executive department and agency officials to exercise their available discretion and judgment to help ensure that Recovery Act funds are expended for projects that further the job creation, economic recovery, and other purposes of Recovery Act and are not used for imprudent projects.’”

“‘Decisions about how Recovery Act dollars are spent will be based on the merits,’” Obama told the National Conference of State Legislatures. Initiatives that maximize job creation, make health care affordable, rebuild crumbling roads and bridges, or provide other ‘enduring benefits’ to taxpayers must take priority, he said.”