Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who voted against the stimulus bill, isn't satisfied.
McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, said the stimulus is not working fast enough nor creating the jobs promised, noting unemployment is up. Helping small business would have been a better way to go, he said.
McCarthy also argued the recovery act lacks accountability and transparency. For example, he said the Web sites tracking the spending should better define the projects.
"I still feel like it's going too slow and not going to the places that are creating jobs," McCarthy said. "There are so many more things we could have done to propel people into jobs."
He wouldn't comment on any of the Kern projects because he's not "seen enough of them being built yet."
In April, though, McCarthy applauded the awarding of $31 million in federal stimulus money to the planned downtown Bakersfield federal courthouse.http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x944962143/Kerns-share-of-stimulus-funds-tops-200-million