Perdue, Bredesen may reject jobless stimulus funding

[bijou]

WASHINGTON — Tennessee and Georgia may turn down some of the economic stimulus money if the restrictions outlined in the package cause budgetary hardship in the future, the governors said Monday.

After meeting with President Barack Obama, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said some provisions in the package for unemployment benefits would force states to expand their programs permanently, even though the stimulus funding only lasts for two years.

“We are evaluating this piece of money, whether it makes sense for us to take it,” he said. “We may well be one of the states that say we can’t take on that portion of it.”

Of issue is the package’s unemployment modernization provisions, which require states to update their unemployment insurance systems and provide jobless benefits to workers who now don’t qualify for benefits.

...“We have an unemployment fund which is not in good shape right now,” Gov. Bredesen said. “We’re in the position of going back to our Legislature this year for changes in our tax structure just to keep our fund whole, and taking it to a new level may be too much of a lift for the Legislature this spring.”

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue said he is examining all aspects of the stimulus bill to determine whether his state should accept any funding. The unemployment funding, in particular, could cause Georgia to raise unemployment taxes when the stimulus money runs out, he said.

...

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/feb/24/perdue-bredesen-may-reject-jobless-stimulus-fundin/?local

[thundley4]

"After meeting with President Barack Obama, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said some provisions in the package for unemployment benefits would force states to expand their programs permanently, even though the stimulus funding only lasts for two years."

So where is the outrage from the left on unfunded mandates?

[Crazy Horse]

Well the other Govenor Perdue........D-North Kackalaki is jumping all over the stimulus money

I've known Bev for over 20 years and never expected this dumbassness from her.

[thundley4]

Thundley, that is THE BEST TAG GRAPHIC EVER!  It is SOOO stolen!!

I don't even remember where I first saw it, but it's been around on teh interwebz for some time now.

[Chris]

After meeting with President Barack Obama, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said some provisions in the package for unemployment benefits would force states to expand their programs permanently, even though the stimulus funding only lasts for two years.

Says the guy that foisted a statewide Pre-K program on the taxpayers and managed to spend nearly $1 billion in budget surplus in his first term.

I can't wait for this guy to be out of office.