Here comes that money

...and they'll want the receipts.

The New York Times reported earlier this week that the Secretary of Education sent out a memo to state commissioners and local superintendents regarding the federal stimulus money.

Reportedly, $44 billion is coming by the end of the month to avert teachers loss for next year. The other priorities:

• create and keep jobs
• improve school achievement through school improvement and reform

The memo also pointed out the limits of the money: it's for two years. This is what we heard Jack Foley talk a lot about during last year's budget: there's a difference between money that's every year, and money that's good for only one or two years. If you hire someone on one year money, you'll have to fire them next year.

And that's where this memo ends up being self-contradictory. The Fed wants jobs saved, but they don't want the schools dropping off a cliff in two years, either. How are we to create and save jobs with two year money but not do so in a way that depends on the funds?