Posey joins Treasure Coast Republicans who say stimulus package jobs numbers incorrect

U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, has joined a growing number of Republicans to question the federal government’s attempt to showcase economic recovery efforts.

Posey noted that the Recovery Board, created to oversee money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, has recorded on its Web site, recovery.gov, money and jobs going to Florida congressional districts that do not exist.

“Florida is listed as having 6 extra congressional districts and the last time I checked there was no ‘double zero’ district, or an 88th district,” said Posey. “This has to be examined to make sure the funds are being spent properly.”

There are 25 congressional districts in the state. The Web site reports the stimulus program created 52 jobs in the 34th Congressional District of Florida and five more in the 86th District.

In a district numbered “OO,” 46 jobs have been created. The site also lists the state as having a 35th, 53rd and 88th district.

Jeff Ostermayer, the spokesman for Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, earlier said “The administration spent $16 million on this Web site and they can’t seem to tell anyone where all the jobs are being created.”

Ed Pound, communications director for the recovery board created to track the stimulus spending, told ABC News that the nonexistent congressional districts were caused by human error. So far, they have found 700 mistakenly credited congressional districts out of more than 130,000 stimulus grants.

“Some recipients clearly don’t know what congressional district they live in, so they appear to be just throwing in any number,” Pound told ABC News.

Vice President Joe Biden has already directed the board to correct the mistakes.

According to recovery.gov, in Rooney’s 16th District, which includes portions of Martin and St. Lucie counties, the Web site shows 156.2 jobs have been created, with $174.9 million spent.

In Florida’s 15th District, which includes Indian River County, 198.3 jobs have been created, according to recovery.gov.

In Florida’s 23th District, which includes western portions of Martin and St. Lucie counties, along with most of Fort Pierce, 299.1 jobs have been created, the Web site states.