In reading the article, I’m not seeing where the Congressional approval of these funds came from. Since when does the chief executive tap directly into the treasury to give away money?
Not that the Congress taking money from one group of citizens to hand it to another favored group of citizens, or non-citizens, would be constitutional either.
My guess (admittedly, that is all we’re left with now) is this is part of TARP money.
James Inhofe, the splendid Senator from Oklahoma, makes a good case for “ear marks” in this respect: Earmarks FORCE the executive to spend money AS DIRECTED BY CONGRESS. If there are no earmarks, the (in this case especially) CORRUPT executive branch can spend it any way it sees fit.