Stimulating the Stimulus? Stimulus 2.0? You Be the Judge

Today’s roundup of stimulus coverage:

So, what’s really in a name? The Senate is on the verge of dropping another $20 billion on jobless benefits for the unemployed and an extended, expanded tax credit for homebuyers. Some Democrats are asking for new funds to cover it, while Republicans want to see it folded into the existing stimulus bill, reports Politico. Either way, says Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.,  "If you take $85 billion to AIG, $700 billion in TARP, $787 billion in stimulus" and compare them to what the $16 billion first-time homebuyer tax credit has done, "it’s a pretty good return on the investment."

Rebellion in Georgia! Georgia is the latest of at least a half dozen states to forgo plastering their stimulus work sites with the green highway signs alerting passers-by that the project is funded by the stimulus, reports The New York Times. The signs have been criticized as a waste of money.

And finally, on the eve of an official announcement about how many jobs have been created or saved by the stimulus, the White House has started doing damage control, reports The Wall Street Journal. The numbers coming out on Thursday will reflect only the jobs for people hired directly by contractors receiving money through infrastructure and social program spending – which may be as small as $6 billion of the entire stimulus package.

Are you tracking the stimulus? ProPublica has set up a mailing list for reporters covering the stimulus, and you’re welcome to join.