Mayor Terry Bellamy recently availed to the public a copy of a document entitled, “Conference Report on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Preliminary Overview,” from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It summarized the tentative direction of stimulus funding as of February 11. Among other amazing statements, it claims providing up to 33 weeks of extended benefits and $25 extra a week for the unemployed, and increasing food stamp benefits at least 13%, will boost the economy because:

• Every dollar in unemployment benefits creates at least $1.63 in economic activity, according to chief economist Mark Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com.
• Every dollar of food stamps creates at least $1.73 in economic activity, according to chief economist Mark Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com.

I can only make the math work with double-counting or inappropriate boundary conditions.