But, after three weeks of reporting, the numbers reveal bleak generalities - stimulus money flowing at a trickle – and few details to clarify the data or overcome the layman’s obstacles to interpreting it
DEFINITIONS: 1. An agency incurs an obligation, for example, when it places an order, signs a contract, awards a grant, purchases a service, or takes other actions that require the government to make payments,” 2. By contrast, a disbursement is a federal agency’s payment “to liquidate government obligations.” In other words, cash or checks change hands. There’s not a glossary on Recovery.gov explaining these distinctions.
$6.5 billion—a touch under two percent of the $364 billion that has already been appropriated to the agencies—has made it into the economy as of March 20, the last date reports were filed. Another five percent ($18.49 billion) is obligated. Most of the money already spent went to the states to cover Medicaid expenses.
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