Federal stimulus money should be flowing more quickly to state projects later this summer and fall, Gov. Deval Patrick said yesterday.At a State House press conference, Patrick expressed some frustration with the pace of funds released from Washington, saying the Obama administration had to find a balance between getting the money out to states as fast as possible while making sure money is properly spent.
But many of those red-tape hurdles have been cleared, said Patrick, who predicted spending will pick up later this summer and fall.
“We need the jobs,” Patrick said yesterday.
The pace and effectiveness of the huge $787 billion stimulus package has come under intense criticism lately, mostly from Republicans, who say President Obama’s economic-recovery plan isn’t working.
The Herald recently reported that Massachusetts contractors are also frustrated with the pace of the distribution of the federal funds for infrastructure projects.
UPDATE: More from the Globe and Herald.
SECOND UPDATE: From Red Mass Group, the New York Times, Richard R. Tisei, Todd Feinburg, Reason Magazine, Mary Z. Connaughton, Michael Graham, Matt Margolis, Scot Lehigh, Holly Robichaud, the Salem News, the Globe and the Herald.
THIRD UPDATE: More from the Globe and the Herald.