Sebelius, Biden and construction equipment (photo from KC Star video)
Overland Park. U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden visited Overland Park yesterday to tout a construction project being paid for with $76 million in federal stimulus funds, and about $6 million in funds from Kansas.
President Barack Obama put VP Biden in charge of overseeing the stimulus spending and avoiding waste. Biden recently said “Our credibility depends on transparency” for how taxpayer dollars are spent, but then admitted “there are going to be mistakes made.” But was there government waste yesterday just to make a photo op for Biden?
Perhaps one of the mistakes Biden should now avoid is wasteful use of resources, like construction equipment and workers paid for by tax dollars, to be props in his appearances.
Stimulus briefing with construction equipment (photo from KMBC Channel 9 video)
A comparison of media photos and other pictures taken before, during and after Biden’s event yesterday, show that construction equipment and workers were put in the background of the Biden event on Thursday, but the equipment and workers were not present on Wednesday or Friday (today).
Construction equipment (photo from Fox 4 video)
Below are two sets of “before and after” pictures showing how the construction equipment was put in place likely only to be a prop for Biden’s yesterday.
It not clear at all from the pictures whether the “work” being done during Biden’s visit was anything useful, or part of what is needed for the $82 million project paid for with tax dollars.
Before and After Set 1
Construction equipment and workers used as backdrop for event on Thursday
Workers and equipment are missing on Friday
Before and After Set 2
US 69 on Wednesday evening before the event
US 69 near event immediately after Biden's departure (when security allowed access)
US 69 near event today
Where are the construction workers and equipment today, now that Biden is gone? What did they really do yesterday?
Picture Credits
Stills of Biden and construction equipment were taken under fair use from video from the following media sources:
- Fox4, Biden Praises Economic Recovery Project in Overland Park, John Pepitone, June 11, 2009.
- Kansas City Star, Stimulus dollars for roads, Dave Helling, June 11, 2009.
- KMBC Channel 9, Uncut: Joe Biden Speech in Overland Park, June 11, 2009.
Related:
- Vice-President Joe Biden Pushes Stimulus in Overland Park, Kansas Meadowlark, June 11, 2009.
- Joe Biden and Kathleen Sebelius to Stimulate Overland Park Tomorrow, Kansas Meadowlark, June 10, 2009.
Tags: Debt-Stimulus, Joe Biden, Kathleen Sebelius, Overland Park
