French stimulus spending on fast track

PARIS, July 7 (UPI) -- France is getting a cultural face lift this summer thanks to a charge-ahead program on government spending, a government official said.

Patrick Devedjian, in charge of directing the government's $37 billion economic stimulus spending, said 75 percent of the funding would be spent this year. In contrast, while managing a far larger sum -- $787 billion -- the U.S. government aims to spend 75 percent of its stimulus package by late 2010, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

"America is six months behind. It has wasted a lot of time," Devedjian said.

In France, 50 historic chateaus and 75 cathedrals, including Notre Dame, are receiving restoration funds. Work has already begun on the 800-year old Fontainebleau, a 1,500-room commune near Paris.

Money is also flowing toward infrastructure projects, like bridge repair and railroad maintenance, the newspaper said.

In contrast to the United States, "all projects must start in 2009. We want rapid results," Devedjian said.