How is having state government spend PFD money (on construction projects?) so much better for the economy than residents spending their PFD checks?  Either way the same amount of money gets spent into the economy.  

This whole PFD raid discussion is about whether people like Cruz will be able to use political influence to get a big fist full of that money.  If the money is spend by the people, it is much harder for people like Cruz to get their hands on it.