Another Gov (Perry/Texas) rejects stimulus funds

[masuki bance]

Perry rejects stimulus money for unemployment
By MONICA RHOR
Published: Thursday, March 12, 2009 3:47 PM CDT

HOUSTON - Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday he planned to reject $555 million in federal stimulus money that would expand state unemployment benefits.

Perry, an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus bill, accepted most of the roughly $17 billion slated for Texas in the plan.

But the governor turned down the unemployment benefits because he said they would require the state to increase the tax burden on Texas businesses to fund an expanded program.

"During these tough times, Texas employers are working harder than ever to move products to market, make payroll and create jobs," Perry said at a news conference. "The last thing they need is government burdening them with higher taxes and expanded obligations."

Perry said the requirements attached to the federal stimulus money would require a change in the state's definition of unemployment. He said such an expansion would counteract the package's objective of job creation by leading companies to limit hiring and raise prices.

To receive the full amount of stimulus money available, lawmakers would need to adjust the time period used to determine whether people are eligible for benefits.

Texas also is being asked to expand eligibility to include thousands of low-wage workers. Lawmakers have said the change would help part-time employees like single mothers, college students and senior citizens.

Perry's decision comes despite warnings from Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken that the state's unemployment compensation trust fund could be operating at a deficit by October. Pauken told lawmakers recently that insolvency might not be not far behind.

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/03/12/ap-state-tx/d96smjpg0.txt

wtf?

[PretzelWarrior]

1. fuck you, perry. I hope your hair chokes you to death.

I am happy these fucking morons are doing this. it shows everyone in the country what a bunch of shitheads they really are. they care nothing for their constituents. only the big $$$ from corporations.

[derby378]

2. God, I wish Chris Bell was at the helm...

It was his bad luck that the Texas GOP maneuvered the campaigns of Carole Keeton Rylander and Kinky Friedman to dilute Democratic voting strength in 2006. So now we're stuck with Governor Goodhair and his "let them eat cake" approach to the homeless.

[Eric J in MN]

3. What about Senator Charles Schumer saying it's illegal...

...for a state to reject just some of the stimulus money?

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Schumer argues that the stimulus plan is a comprehensive approach, and rejecting portions of the package of it would undermine it. "To protect the integrity of the recovery program, I urge the administration to issue implementation guidance clarifying that while any Governor may exercise his or her discretion to accept or reject the federal funds provided in the stimulus, no Governor should have the authority to arbitrarily adopt a select subset of the overall package," writes Schumer.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/24/schumer-to-gop-govs-on-st_n_169411.html
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Does the Obama administration disagree with Schumer?

[SoCalDem]

4. I thought it was all or nothing, too.. n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. You'll never get to be president of Texas that way, asshole. nt

[Better Believe It]

6. So the Democratic Party and other organizations should build a demonstration of the unemployed ....

demanding the benefits they are entitled to under the stimulus bill!

I'd like to see the AFL-CIO, ACORN and other progressive organizations support a serious effort to organize the unemployed in Texas.

We need some loud and BIG protests of the unemployed, workers who are threatened with unemployment and their supporters.

[mvd]

7. Geez, if he hates government so much, why doesn't he unemploy himself?

Same story with many of these right wingers. Why would we need governors? Then, we can deny Perry his benefits.