Until the proposed economic stimulus package envisioned by incoming President Barack Obama is finalized, there can be only speculation as to the nuts and bolts of how the money will be distributed.

But odds are that the states, not federal officials, will have the major hand in deciding which projects merit and receive funding. The federal bureaucracy is bloated, but probably not bloated enough to properly evaluate all of the proposed projects from across the country that will be submitted for funding.

Information coming out of Washington indicates that Obama sees quick allocation of the money as an essential element in his economic-revival initiative. Thrusting that on the shoulders of federal bureaucrats would not be the right decision for achieving that desired end.

The states are a logical source of expertise for quickly prioritizing projects that meet the criteria of being "shovel ready" at the time Congress approves whatever stimulus package emerges. However, it also must be acknowledged that getting the states involved also has the potential of being a hang-up.

A good example of that is Pennsylvania. When the Keystone State General Assembly is involved with something, the potential exists for an issue or objective to become mired in governmental or political quicksand.

If distribution of stimulus money does become a role of the states, the overriding concern must be that projects are evaluated expeditiously on the basis of merit, rather than politics — although it would be naive to believe that politics will be totally out of the picture.

Still, having regional entities within the states — such as Western Pennsylvania's 10-county Southwest Pennsylvania Commission — making the case for funding of specific projects should rightly wield considerable weight to ensure — at least in most instances — that funds will be directed to the most worthy objectives.

Obama said Jan. 8 that the stimulus bill would not include any earmark or pet projects. To many government officials, that seemed to seal the fact that stimulus money distribution would be out of the hands of federal lawmakers and bureaucrats and, instead, be placed on the states' shoulders — although some influence by members of Congress still could come into play.

But exactly who will distribute the money and how it will be distributed is secondary at this point. With the virtual certainty that there will be a big, money-filled stimulus package emerging from Congress, municipalities, counties and regional agencies should be concentrating on bringing projects up to shovel-ready status, or as close to shovel-ready status as possible, and readying them for submission for funding consideration when they are advised to do so.

Amid all of what might be happening regarding the economic stimulus plan, there is a downside to what Obama is proposing that must not be ignored. That downside is that the children, grandchildren and possibly great-grandchildren of today's adults will be saddled with paying back the stimulus bill debt, regardless of how much good is accomplished as a result of it.

It also must be acknowledged that at some future time, the stimulus package might be one of the bases for a federal tax increase to bring down the nation's staggering debt.

For now, though, states, counties and communities are understandably looking for their fair share from what Obama is proposing. And few people would disagree that there is much needed across the country in terms of new and upgraded infrastructure.

It's important that this part of the state watches the soon-to-be-implemented process closely and reacts quickly to actions or developments — so that Western Pennsylvania, including Butler County, is at the doorstep, not in back of the line, when stimulus money is being distributed.