Stimulus Funds Heading to W.Va. (Updated)

The Obama administration trotted out estimates alongside Tuesday's signing of the sprawling federal stimulus bill that suggest West Virginia will reap $1.6 billion and save or create 20,000 jobs from it, The Associated Press reports.

A separate estimate pegs the state's slice of funds at $1.38 billion, while the GOP continues to tout their alternative proposal to argue it promised 15,000 more jobs for the Mountain State.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., provided the White House spending estimates and talked to WOWK-TV and (updated) The Charleston Gazette about his support for the bill

Among the state's three congressional districts, the White House breakdown assigns a larger share of jobs to the 2nd District, where Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito was alone among the three in opposing the stimulus (but was joined by all GOP members present in each vote).

"Capito explained her stance against the legislation during a closed-door Tuesday meeting with Republicans in the state House of Delegates, where she once served," AP reports.

AP also cites the new special committee formed by the state House "to find ways to make the most of the funding, provide for a fair and transparent spending process and identify 'those projects and sectors that provide the best opportunity for long term job creation and economic growth.'"

MetroNews also reports on the House committee (audio here), with a separate item on the Republican objections (and audio from former GOP congressman J.C. Watts). MetroNews has the White House spending estimates as well.

The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington focuses on a $290 million section of West Virginia's share, while The Register-Herald of Beckley examines the highway portion.

Gov Joe Manchin, meanwhile, told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph that he hopes the federal dollars can be distributed equally among the counties. He also spoke to The Intelligencer of Wheeling about the state's share.

Update II: the Charleston Daily Mail focuses on stimulus funding slated for alternative energy and "clean coal." Public Broadcasting solicits legislative reaction. With video.