Is It In the Bill or Not?

We have a fun game for you this fine Tuesday- use this quiz on your friends and colleagues to learn more about your government in action. It goes a lil’ something like this: spending items are listed below Noah-style, two-by-two. One is actually in the stimulus bill Obama will sign into law today and one is fictitious.

Choose your answers wisely and then check your results at the end of the quiz. And for extra credit- send me a 100-word essay explaining why any of the below is emergency stimulation for our economy. Good luck.

1. Which is actually in the bill?
a.) $209 million on deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities
b.) $198 million for mobile audio subsidies for individuals earning less than $75k or families earning less than $150k

2. Which is actually in the bill?
a.) $100 million for states to implement or upgrade data management systems for supplemental nutrition programs
b.) $300 million in administrative costs to administrate the aforementioned data upgrades plus other supplemental nutrition program costs

3. Which is actually in the bill?
a.) $1 billion for science
b.) $600 million for procurement, acquisition and construction of satellites for climate modeling capacity
c.) $400 million for science
d.) $2.5 billion for “research and related activities”
e.) $2 billion for science

4. Which is actually in the bill?
a.) $6.2 billion to add to the kitty for the Weatherization Assistance Program (adding insulation, tuning heaters, replacing “unsafe” heating and cooling systems, installing smoke detectors, etc. for low income households)
b.) $5.4 billion to add to the Kitchen Modernization Act of 2007 funds (installation of efficient gas ranges, energy star refrigerators, extra durable marble countertops, etc. for low income households)

5. Which is actually in the bill?
a.) $2.4 billion for necessary expenses to demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration technologies
b.) $2.4 billion for necessary expenses to demonstrate nitrogen release and equestrian technologies

Answer Key:
1.) “A” is the correct answer but don’t for a second that B wasn’t scribbled on a notepad somewhere under the heading “ways to get re-elected”

2.) It’s a trick question; both are in the bill. Also a splendid example of governmental efficiency when it takes $300 million to administer a $100 million program.

3.) Another trick question; all five are in the bill. I’m sure the reams of research on scientific theories and suppositions will be reallllllllly stimulative.

4.) “A” is the correct answer. The distinction between the two is crystal clear though, isn’t it.

5.) “A” again is the correct answer. “B” might as well be the real answer.

You’re welcome.