Rep. Joe Wilson calls for audit of Stimulus Funds

Representative Joe Wilson is questioning a government website that tracks how federal stimulus funds are being spent, saying there are significant errors.

Wilson appeared on FOX Business News Tuesday morning and said he is calling for an audit.

By having an audit commission, I introduced the bill yesterday, the scandalous information actually came out today, but we’re providing for an audit of the stimulus funds. It’s based on “recovery.gov,” which is the official government web site which we know had fake jobs, fake congressional districts. The general accountability office indicated that ten percent of the money is not accountable. That could be $70 billion, and so we need to have an audit.

Expressing concerns about how the federal government is keeping track of job growth from the stimulus program, Wilson said he asked President Obama to appoint a panel.

I sent a letter to the President three weeks ago urging him to appoint the audit panel. I indicated that if it was not done by December 1, that we would introduce a separate bill, and yesterday we did introduce the bill. I’m grateful we have over 20 co-sponsors already requesting an audit of the stimulus spending.

Wilson says the government website recovery.gov had reported incorrect information. He noted that South Carolina was shown to have 10 congressional districts, when there are only six. He says the website also reported those “phantom districts” spent $40 million to create 155 jobs.