You can't blame folks for being suspicious.
What happened when Congress threw hundreds of billions of dollars at struggling banks?
Top executives of those banks took that money and partied, paid themselves bonuses, fixed up their already-posh offices and just generally had a fine old time.
As far as anyone can tell, not a dime of that money helped the average person buy a car, refinance a mortgage or get a business loan.
Those bank execs didn't have to tell anyone what they did with all that cash.
Now Congress has passed a new incentive package. This time, the money goes to the states.
Gov. Ed Rendell plans to select a "chief accountability officer."
He also wants a six-member panel to periodically review stimulus spending.
Somehow that's not reassuring.
Our state lawmakers vote themselves -- and just about every other elected state official -- pay raises with impunity.
State boards repeatedly fail their fiduciary responsibility -- spending tax dollars on junkets and perks.
Yeah, like we really believe the state won't fritter away any of that stimulus money?
Bottom line? It's up to us to keep an eye on things.
There are two state websites where you can do that: heretohelp.pa.gov and recovery.pa.gov.
Check the websites often. And let the Governor know if you don't like how the money's being spent.
Pennsylvanians have a right to be suspicious -- and a responsibility to help keep the Governor and the state legislature honest.
Well, as close to honest as we can get.
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