we reform the way transportation money is invested to eliminate waste, give states more control over projects right for them and get better results for the money spent. we need to stop funding projects based on whose districts they are in and base them on how much good they are doing for the american people. no more bridges to nowhere. no more projects that are simply funded because of somebody pulling strings. we need to do this all in a way to get the private sector more involved. it s how we are going to put construction workers back to work now, doing the work america needs done. not just to boost our economy this year, but the next 20 years. finally, in keeping with the recommendation with my jobs council, i m directing agencies to have projects to put people back to work.
more than 2.5 million homes and businesses are still without power. the death toll has risen to at least 43. and thousands of people have evacuated from flooded neighborhoods and communities. yet, flood advisories are still in place for portions of seven states. one of the towns hardest hit is little falls, new jersey, along the passaic river. mary snow is there with the latest. mary, this is the worst flooding in a century there. are things improving at all? reporter: it s hard to believe that looking at the river behind me things are improving. take a closer look at the passaic river. some really incredible sight here. the passaic river actually crested here on tuesday, seven feet above flood stage, and the water is receding, but you can see the fury of this water and gives you an idea of what towns along the passaic are coping with. we have a before and after shot in nearby patterson. we were there all day yesterday and there are parts of that city just inundated with
from obamacare. again, this shows political favoritism and it is so corrupt and the the american people should be outraged. shannon: this administration has pledged more openess and transparency. we ll see what they have to say about it. i ll see indeed. shannon: monica crowley always good to see you. happen friday. can you get in trouble at work for things you look at and post on a private computer? that s what happened to a firefighter. you see him here. we re going to show you the decision in the case that could affect you and what you do online. plus, president obama today called for hundreds of millions to go to the national science foundation for new research projects. but you ll remember just a few weeks ago the nsf was getting blasted by conservative critics for funding projects like this. running shrimp, shrimp on a treadmill. is this program really about solutions or an expensive exercise and federal waste. the debate by both sides just ahead. [ female announcer ] ever wish
we re looking back because it was signed into law one year ago today. happy birthday, stimulus. we tried to check back on what this administration said about it in general. here is one thing that president obama said at the time. i hope this investment will ignite our imagination once more, spurring new discoveries and break-throughs in science and in medicine, in energy to make our economy stronger and our nation more secure and our planet safer for our children. there s no doubt the stimulus money has gone to all sorts of different projects. but what so many people keep asking us is where is this money going, how much is it. let s get straight to the numbers. first, according to the congressional budget office, the total cost of the stimulus over ten years, $862 billion. but what a lot of people may not realize is the majority of it actually does not go to funding projects out there. the majority is going to things like tax cuts, benefits like social security and food stamps.