[Vision2020] Fw: [Spam 5.44] Idaho's 36 congressional districts

Wed Nov 18 11:39:22 PST 2009

I don't think the Recovery.gov system is referring to State Legislative Districts, which are typically referred to as such (or the local variant - eg, California has Assembly Districts).  I'm pretty sure it's meant to be US Congressional Districts.

I suspect there were simply typos in Recovery.gov's data and/or errors in aggregating the data.  I suspect low-level staff and/or unpaid interns were responsible for aggregating the data on a state-by-state and CD by CD basis ... I was tasked with drawing data from various government sources and putting together monthly state-by-state "Economy Under Clinton" documents when I was an (unpaid) research intern at the National Economic Council in early '96.  But my work product was always reviewed by staff before it got distributed to the media and beyond.

Knowledgeable higher level employees should have fully reviewed tested, and edited the electronic reports before the system "went live."  That's where things appear to have broken down.  Someone really mucked things up here - and that is a legitimate topic for criticism.  There are a lot of folks in the US who don't know jack about Idaho, but they should have been able to see "CD 35" and recognize that something was wrong because there's no way Idaho has that many CDs (even CD 8 should have been a tip off - WA only has 9).  But the idea that this was an intentional attempt to hoodwink the American people is, well, pretty silly.

- Selina

> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:20:40 -0800
> From: lfalen at turbonet.com
> To: thansen at moscow.com
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Fw: [Spam 5.44] Idaho's 36 congressional districts
> 
> Tom
> You may be technically correct as the post does not specifically say US or State Districts. You could leave off the rest of your comments. I am the Republican Legislative District 6 Chairman. 
> Roger
> -----Original message-----
> From: "Tom Hansen" thansen at moscow.com
> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:44 -0800
> To: "lfalen" lfalen at turbonet.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Fw: [Spam 5.44] Idaho's 36 congressional districts
> 
> > Mr. Falen -
> > 
> > Realizing that the state of Idaho does not have 36 federal congressional
> > districts, (and realizing that the state distributes stimulus funds to
> > each STATE congressional district), perhaps there are approximately 36
> > STATE congressional districts.
> > 
> > SHAZAM!
> > 
> > There are 35 STATE congressional districts within the state of Idaho.
> > 
> > See for yourself . . .
> > 
> > http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/house/membership.cfm
> > 
> > ----------------------
> > 
> > Pop quiz!
> > 
> > In which STATE congressional district is Moscow located?
> > 
> > Who are the state representatives of this district?
> > (Hint: You might find the "Beatles' drummer" if you stick to the "trail".)
> > 
> > As the theme from Jeopardy gently plays in the background . . .
> > 
> > ----------------------
> > 
> > Tom Hansen
> > Moscow, Idaho
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > >
> > > -----Original message-----
> > >
> > > From: "Idaho Freedom Foundation" wayne at idahofreedom.net
> > > Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:05:00 -0800
> > > To: lfalen at turbonet.com
> > > Subject: [Spam 5.44] Idaho's 36 congressional districts
> > >
> > > Dear L. Roger,
> > >
> > > Our investigative reporter, Jay Howell, has written
> > > [http://www.idahofreedom.net/blog/idahos-new-congressional-districts] an
> > > interesting story on the impact of the federal stimulus page on Idaho's 36
> > > congressional districts. What's that you say? Idaho has only two
> > > congressional districts? Well, don't tell the federal government, which
> > > apparently is under the impression Idaho has many more lists millions of
> > > dollars being spent to "save" jobs in congressional districts that simply
> > > don't exist!
> > >
> > > This week's
> > > [http://www.idahofreedom.net/blog/state-government-could-require-transparency-local-expenses]
> > > commentary is on the need for transparency in local government
> > > expenditures. The tools to hold local government accountable already are
> > > available. Why not use them? There's a great deal of waste out there; time
> > > to make it easy to track down and eliminate it.
> > >
> > > Interestingly, the state of Idaho has developed a
> > > [http://efficiency.idaho.gov] website so that citizens can suggest
> > > spending
> > > cuts and changes to how government operates. I think what we've been
> > > saying
> > > all along about the size of government and the waste we're seeing out
> > > there
> > > is starting to catch on within the halls of power.
> > >
> > > If you haven't done so already, please check out our new
> > > [http://www.idahofreedom.net/node/159] Events Calendar. Find out what
> > > events are taking place throughout Idaho. Something missing? Contact
> > > [http://steve@idahofreedom.net] Steve and let us know.
> > >
> > > We've added new taxing districts to our transparency website,
> > > [http://www.ouridaho.com] www.OurIdaho.com. Check it out!
> > >
> > > Finally, thank you to all of you who came to the Idaho Freedom Foundation
> > > luncheon featuring the Cato Institute's Randal O'Toole. We had a great
> > > turnout, and hopefully everyone learned a great deal about the city of
> > > Boise's streetcar proposal and similar operations around the country.
> > >
> > > Have a great week!
> > >
> > > Wayne Hoffman
> > >
> > > Executive Director
> > >
> > > Idaho Freedom Foundation
> > > This message was sent by: Parrhesia Project, Inc., PO Box 2801, Boise,
> > > Idaho 83701
> > >
> > > Email Marketing by iContact: http://freetrial.icontact.com
> > >
> > > Manage your subscription:
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> > >
> > > Forward to a friend:
> > > http://app.icontact.com/icp/sub/forward?m=365050&s=53484513&c=2PHJ&cid=479550
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > =======================================================
> > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > =======================================================
> > 
> > 
> > "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> > and the Realist adjusts his sails."
> > 
> > - Unknown
> > 
> > 
> 
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet, 
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. 
> http://www.fsr.net 
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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